But it can just as easily be the owner's stress. You may have a cat who is rather timid and fearful normally and so even small stress triggers can leave her vulnerable. Illnesses – Chronic stress in cats can suppress their immune response, causing a broad range of ailments including cystitis. It may be the cat's stress, such as having a new cat to adjust to in the house. 10 Tips for Creating a Stress-Free Environment for Your Cat, Image: Liudmila P. Sundkova / via Shutterstock, Loud noises (e.g., nearby construction, thunderstorms, someone learning how to play a new instrument). These changes may not be immediately obvious to you, but some cats are extremely sensitive to them. Cats are often sensitive to any household changes including when people and pets living in your home come and go. Give your cat more scratching posts. Cats react to things differently like we do as humans. The tricky part is while the anxiety and fear associated with stress affects our cats in much the same way it does us, most cats tend to hide and mask their inner turmoil. Dr. Fern Crist, of The Cat Hospital of Fairfax, Virginia: "As a veterinarian, I frequently see cats that are urinating outside the litterbox. If you're concerned about your cat's behaviour, you should always go and see your vet. Our feline friends soon figure out this type of strategy does not work so they give up. Changes in Routine. Fortunately, we can also help our cats manage their stress appropriately and limit the potential stressors in their lives. Another cat may be causing your kitty to feel stressed. Is Your Cat Freaking Out? How to Reduce Stress in Cats. Helping Your Cat Avoid Stress. This will stress your cat, making your relationship difficult, but more importantly it will damage their overall health and well-being. If your cat is stressed because of another cat in the home, try reducing the monopoly of one cat by changing the environment. Here are just a few possible causes of stress for cats: Dirty litter box conditions Recent move to a new home New household pet New furniture or flooring in the home Friends of family visiting Loud noises (e.g., nearby construction, thunderstorms, someone learning how to play a new instrument) Or.....Have you moved recently, have a baby, recently became married or divorced, change in work schedule, etc? being denied access to particular … new furniture. Sometimes older cats hide because of an imagined danger brought on by the onset of Feline Cognitive Dysfunction (FCD). Any number of things can result in a hurried first encounter that could encourage unwanted stress and conflict. You will notice, excessive licking, scratching and grooming. She meets me at my bed in the morning with a high pitched meow and herds me down the hallway to the kitchen as if she is screaming at me. Underneath that façade, however, your cat may be suffering. In reality, you should have two boxes per cat for a total of four boxes. Things that may not seem stressful to a person can be perceived as extremely stressful by a cat, and the cat's physiological reaction to the stressors can manifest as illness. The anxiety and fear associated with stress affects your cat similar to the way it affects people, though cats tend to hide it well. Various dermatological conditions may start or intensify in times of stress, like the appearance of dry, itchy skin and rashes. Karen Allen, PhD, Jim Blascovich, PhD, Wendy B. Mendes, MS, ", 4. Stress can make anyone a little crazy, even our cats. Allowing your kitty to exercise his hunter instincts by playing with a wand toy or one that mimics rodent behaviorcan help him let off steam and feel calmer. 1 0. Stress also makes cats feel anxious. travel. Cat stress or what causes cats to be unhappy What causes cat stress? Some of the most common symptoms of cat anxiety include: Urination or Spraying. Stress in a very serious concern and one that should be addressed immediately. This may include such things as more frequent litter box cleanings, medication or therapeutic diets and setting up more areas in your home for your cat to perch, play and scratch. The cause of stress can be as various as the signs of stress. There are many stressors that can significantly upset your cat, from loud noises to the death of a human companion. An anxious cat is a cat that lives in constant fear and has phobias which it perhaps did not have before. Surely most of them live a pretty cushy life with their every whim catered for. It may be the cat's stress, such as having a new cat to adjust to in the house. From an in-person conversation with feline veterinarian Dr. Fern Crist, September 2008. This is why AnimalWised brings you 11 reasons why your cat is stressed so that you can think what might be aggravating your kitty. Here’s how to de-stress your cat. Cats feel a lot better when they feel in control of their envionment.Anything that interrupts their feelin of control can make cats unhappy. Sometimes, it may take something as drastic as a beloved cat getting sick before we make the necessary changes to take better care of ourselves. 2. 1. While this undesirable behavior may be caused by a variety of medical problems, it can also be caused or exacerbated by stress. This may be one of the most common symptoms of cat anxiety because urination is a natural way for cats, and other animals, to mark their territory. The other possibility is there is only two boxes, and the kitten is using both. Strange as it may sound, a stressed cat is not at all uncommon. Cats may react in a number of ways to new family members. But what do cats have to be stressed about? Skin Issues – This stressful symptom is quite common amongst felines. loud music being played. Cats do love a quiet spot out of sight at times but if your cat is suddenly hiding a lot more and doesn’t emerge when you try to coax it out, stress could be a prime factor. New People and Pets . Excessive Grooming – Licking spots on their body raw or bald. Where you place these resources is also key to ensure that your cat is happy to use them. This is especially true in cats suffering from allergies. The cause of your cat's behavioural problem can often be difficult to identify, particularly if there are a number of contributing factors. If a cat develops this type of behavioural problem due to the arrival of a new dog in the home, it is their way of dealing with the fact their environment has suddenly changed. Tian Xu, The Yale Cancer Center, and The Fudan-Yale Center for Biomedical Research, "Stress Triggers Tumor Formation,", 5. Things that you may assume are so minor that your cat shouldn’t even notice can create stress such as: having new carpet installed. change in food brand. Below are six common things that often cause cats fear. Physical symptoms. Increase interactive play with your cat. If you can't find a solution for the cat, you may want to rehome it into a more peaceful environment. Maybe you don’t have a separate room for your cat, or your personal time is challenged by work obligations outside of the home. Cats feel a lot better when they feel in control of their envionment.Anything that interrupts their feelin of control can make cats unhappy. 1 decade ago. To help your cat deal with fears, stress, and anxiety, the first step is understanding what types of things cause those feelings in cats. If you have recently introduced a new pet into the household this could be the cause. I have recently begun taking Cymbalta for Fibromyalgia which I believe is related to stress/anxiety and depression. Cats like to know what's coming, and disruptions in their routine can cause them stress. One creative way to reduce stress for you and your cat is to do yoga together. 1. We can keep their environment as calm and consistent as possible. Tian Xu and others, "Stress Triggers.". change in litter brand or type. Aggression – These aggressive actions may be towards people or other animals. Know the signs. Using a crate to transport your cat is essential and putting a light blanket over the crate until you are at the vet's office may help mask the steps of the journey. If You're Feeling Stressed, So Is Your Cat, Copyright © 2020 Feline Nutrition Foundation, A Diet for Your Cat's Urinary and Kidney Health, Buckley's Story, Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, Cardiovascular Reactivity and the Presence of Pets, Friends, and Spouses: The Truth About Cats and Dogs, A Pilot Study Using Synthetic Feline Facial Pheromone for the Management of Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. One of the most serious aspects of feline anxiety are compulsive behaviors such as stereotypies. Some cats will have more “accidents” – suddenly forgetting his or her housebreaking skills and using your home as a personal litter box. Cats show stress in many ways, and it often comes down to observing changes in normal behavior to determine whether yours might be stressed. Even worse, stress can be an indication that your cat has a health issue. Unfortunately, some of the things which stress out our cat are not always obvious. But did you know that it doesn't just make you sick, it can also make your cat sick? Anxiety is a great indicator of stress. Each individual cat is different and what might cause one cat stress will be of no importance to another. A psychological trigger may be to blame, like a traumatic experience, lack of proper socialization or a history of abuse or neglect. The catch is that many of these signs can also indicate various medical conditions, so it can sometimes be tricky to sort things out. Perhaps these cats make their stress evident in order to get us to change our ways? Using sprays or plug-ins containing pheromones can have a calming effect on the environment, and help with situations involving inter-cat aggression, introducing a new cat or baby to the household or any other issues that can be viewed as a disruption of normal routine by the cat. Diarrhoea; Vomiting; Large bald patches or sores on the coat caused by over grooming; Runny nose and eyes (e.g. Potential causes that may result in a stressed cat are wide and varied. Cat anxiety may be caused by pain or illness, exposure to something toxic or infectious diseases that affect the nervous system. Quite often, though, the stress is precipitated by a change in your cat’s environment. 4. What’s worse is that we can sometimes inadvertently be the cause of their stress. Once you identify what is causing feline urinary stress, and find ways to reduce your cat's stress level, it is important to help manage her stress appropriately moving forward. Today, let’s chat about the visual signs of stress in cats and how to encourage a stressed-out cat feel better. If you have multiple kitties, make sure one is not blocking the other’s resources, and that both cats have access to their own food and water bowls, litter box, and scratching post. One of the most important ways in which we can help our cats is by managing our own stress level. They may even … By understanding this and planning ahead, the concerned caregiver can help the cat avoid … He or she can rule out any underlying medical issues as well as make suggestions to help lower your cat's stress level. dirty litter box conditions. Signs Of Cat Stress. Causes of Stress in Cats . If you have been to the veterinarian to rule out medical causes of your cat's behaviors and you are left suspecting that your cat is stressed, here are some things you can do: 1. Do this as soon as possible as your cat could get into an excessive grooming habit that’s had to break. Often, especially when rescuing a new cat, there may not be the time or resources for a proper introduction. I wouldn't be surprised. Make sure each one of your pets has their own litter tray and their own food bowl and put them on different levels of the house if possible. Let’s take a look how…. Isolation – Avoiding interaction with people and/or other pets. What Causes Cat Stress? Cats experience stress for a number of reasons. So we know that our cats help us be less stressed. Yes, especially if being under stress is causing the cat to not eat as much or to stop eating - that can cause serious internal problems. Cats never behave randomly. While banishing all stress from your cat’s universe may not be possible, “a cat owner who really understands his cat may be able to avoid certain stress-causing situations,” Reimers says. Just as with humans, stress can cause a wide variety of health issues in cats by compromising their immune system. It’s good to note that stress and your cat’s health can be a two-way “Cause and Effect” game. Cat stress can cause unusual feline behavior. To feel in control, cats will carefully mark their home with "happy messages" (or pheromones). Everything they do communicates something. More importantly, our stress can also influence the development of actual physical illness in our cats as well as in ourselves. What is stress… According to Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D., a certified applied animal behaviorist, chronic stress … Well there is actually quite a lot in modern life that can cause stress and different factors such as genetics and socialization can influence how well each individual copes with these. And don't forget to manage your stress better, too! ThatGirl. Stress relief for pet owners won't solve every pet health problem, but can go a long way toward alleviating many of them.". And on the flip side, a health issue can be the primary cause of your cat’s stress. Some of our cats most common causes of stress include: 1. visiting strangers or a new baby 2. competition for resources such as food, water or litter trays 3. other cats both in the house or neighborhood 4. a chang… I have been dealing with stress and anxiety for years and I feel that this pet is adding to my stress on a regular basis. Cats will first run away from a dog but this usually just results in them being chased. 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