Just like humans, cats can experience stress. Recognizing and addressing stressful situations is essential for maintaining your feline companion's well-being. In this article, we will explore common sources of stress in cats and provide practical tips for managing and alleviating their anxiety.
Stress - managing stressful situations
Being anxious or scared are both bad feelings that can make cats unhappy.There is a feeling called anxiety that happens when someone is expecting a real or imagined danger that could put their safety or well-being at risk.Fear is a feeling that people feel when they know something bad is going to happen or when they are in a tough situation. Because we can't know how a cat is feeling, it can be hard to tell the difference between these two feelings. When a cat is scared, we can't tell if it's about something that might happen or something that is happening right now. But both worry and fear are linked to feeling very excited and having bad things happen.
How can I tell when my cat is anxious?
If you have lived with cats for a while you will probably be quite familiar with the body language they use to express their emotions. Cats that are anxious show different facial expressions such as:
- Wide eyes
- Staring/fixating on threat or turning gaze away (especially to the left)
- Eyes tightly shut
- Ears lowered, rotated, or flattened against head (can also signify frustration)
- Tense/tight muzzle and jaw
- Fast blinking
- Whiskers fanned and pointing forwards
- Exaggerated swallowing
- Nose licking/tongue flick (can also signify frustration or conflicting emotions)
Their body postures may also change:
- Body and all four paws close to the floor, paws under body
- Muscles very tense
- Head drawn inwards towards the body
- Hiding
- Tail wrapped closely around body
- Crouched/tucked up
- Feigning (pretending to) sleep
- Trembling/shaking
- Freezing
- Trying to escape/run away
What effect does anxiety have on my cat?
Anxiety can change the way your cat's body works, just like it can in people. Our heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure all go up when we are stressed. The hair on your cat's body may stand on end, and they may sweat from their paws or drool more than usual. If the worry or fear lasts for a long time, these changes in the body can show signs of illness. Fear or worry that lasts for a long time can make cats more likely to have stomach problems, FIC (feline idiopathic cystitis), soiling the house, and over-grooming.
How can I help my cat feel less anxious when travelling?
Cats are usually scared of things they have never seen or smelled before. If they aren't used to traveling, the box and car may scare them! Your cat might not want to go in the carrier again if they had a bad experience with it when they were traveling in the past, like getting sick, nervous, or scared while in the carrier. Some cats get stressed out when they are in a cage because they can't get out. So, try getting your cat used to its cage before you need to take it on a trip. Have the carrier out all the time (make sure it doesn't smell like a vet) and give your cat a safe place to rest in it.
Give your cat treats, play with it, and praise it in or near the box to help it feel good about it. Slowly get your cat used to riding in the cage by closing the door and taking short trips around the house at first. For your cat to rest on and hide under while you travel, make sure there is plenty of soft bedding inside. Spray Feliway Classic pheromone treatment spray on the carrier before you go on the trip to help your cat feel safer during the trip.
Make sure the carrier is strong and secure and carry it carefully when moving and ensure it is secured properly during travel to reduce the amount of motion of the carrier with your cat inside. If you partially cover the carrier during travel it will help your cat to feel safer. The environment of travel is also important and you should avoid strong odours or loud noises in the car during a journey.
How do I reduce the stress for my cat when moving house?
Before you move, make sure your cat is okay with its cat box. If you put synthetic pheromone on the carrier 30 minutes before you leave, it might also help with the trip. Once you get to your new home, keep your cat in one room until he or she feels safe and comfortable and the moving is done. Bring your cat's old bedding with you to the new house so it has something that smells like home. It might be best to leave your cat at a cattery while you move so that it doesn't have to deal with the stress of moving and unpacking.
How can I make my cat less anxious when we go to the vets?
There are a number of things that may stress your cat about a visit to the vets. It may be going in the cat carrier, travelling in the car, waiting in the waiting room where there are strange smells and sights (and even dogs) or it may be the actual examination itself. It is common for a combination of these events to stress a cat. Travelling time and waiting time are both known stressors to cats so don't make any extra stop offs to or from the vets. At the vets, place the carrier high up if possible and try to keep in an area of the waiting room away from dogs.
My cat does not like being stroked – what can I do?
If a cat has not been socialised well as a kitten (not enough positive experiences with people) it might never learn to actually enjoy being stroked. Some cats just like to sit or play with their owner without being touched. Provide places for your cat to perch and rest in rooms where you spend most of your time and your cat can join you without physical contact.
This is something your cat might want, and you should accept their wishes. There isn't much you can do about a cat's choices. Some cats get scared when they don't know what their owner is going to do next, especially if they are picked up and held or cuddled a lot. They might not like how bad this is and how much power they've lost. You should always let your cat come up to you if it wants to play, but you should leave it alone if it just wants to sit next to you quietly.
A cat will usually let its owner know when it wants to stop being petted, but if you miss these cues, the cat may get more and more irritable and strike out. Pay attention to how your cat acts. Allow your cat to be calm and happy before you stroke it. Wait for signs that your cat is unhappy, like a wagging tail, twitching skin, pupils that get bigger, ears that stand back, a quick turn of the head, growling, hissing, etc.
If your cat is in pain, they might become very angry when you touch them or try to avoid you. There may be something wrong with your cat that you should take them to the vet to check out. If the trouble lasts for a long time, get help from a vet and/or a clinical animal behaviorist.
How do I help my cat get used to new things?
Cats are creatures of habit and they generally don't like change to their environment. If you are bringing new furniture into the home give cat time to investigate furniture (including cat furniture). Use synthetic pheromone therapy on new furniture (test a patch first to make sure the fabric is not damaged by the spray) to help your cat feel more relaxed around the new item. If your cat allows, you can try scent swapping: gently stroke your cat on its face with a clean cloth/sock (under chin, top of head and cheeks) to gather facial pheromones and scents and then rub the cloth on the new furniture to transfer scent.
Most cats don’t appreciate the arrival of visitors to the house. If you are having people to stay, ensure your cat has ‘safe place’ to hide and relax away from where new people are. Place any essential resources nearby, eg litter trays, so your cat does not have to bypass unfamiliar people to use their toilet. Try to keep noise to a minimum. Ask visitors to leave their shoes, bags, and coats at the door. This prevents more unfamiliar scents being introduced into the cat’s territory and ask them not to approach your cat. A pheromone therapy diffuser (Feliway Classic) may help cat feel more safe and secure.
I want to get a new pet – how do I help my cat adjust?
Different animals should not be in the same area as cats. If you want to get a new pet, you should think about whether it will be a good fit for your family. For example, bringing an older cat to a new puppy could be very stressful for both of them. Never bring a new cat into a home where there are already behavior problems between cats.
Bringing a new cat into the house should always be done slowly; you should never just "let them get on with it." This will almost certainly go badly. Before the new cat comes, set up a Feliway Classic or Optimum synthetic pheromone device in the house to make it feel calm. Switch things, like blankets and bedding, between the new and old cats in the house so that each cat can check out the new cat's smell before it comes. Set up a "safe room" for the new cat that is quiet and has all of its basic needs met, such as food and water bowls, a litter box, beds, places to scratch, and new toys. Let the cat stay there for a few days or weeks to get used to its new surroundings. Scent swapping is then done by rubbing a soft cloth around the head and chin of one cat and giving the other cat the cloth to check out. Then, if the cats will let you, rub each one on the back with a cloth or sock that smells like the other cat.
Very gradually introduce the cats to the sight of one another once they are familiar with the other cat’s scent. Keep a barrier between them, eg wire mesh or extra high baby gate, or only allow them to see each other through a crack in the door. Watch the cats closely during the introduction phase for any negative reactions, eg hissing or growling. As the cat’s start to come into contact use separate games with toys and treats to create positive association with each other. Once both cats are happy, allow short (a few minutes), supervised periods together. If any conflict occurs always go back to the previous stage.
Once the cats are relaxed in each other’s company, they can be left together for longer periods of time, but always ensure resources are easily accessible. Ideally resources should be spread throughout the household, so each cat has easy access to whatever they want. A general rule for resources is one per cat, plus a spare, eg two cats need three litter trays.
Because cats evolved to hunt and eat on their own, they should be able to play with their owners alone and be fed in different areas. When there are more than one cat in the house, they often fight over food. Not lining up litter trays next to each other is not a good idea because cats will see it as one tray and may try to avoid or bully other trays.
Providing vertical room, like cat trees, shelves, and perches, is a great way to help cats in homes with multiple cats feel less stressed. In other words, cats can stay away from each other and still see what's going on around them. Cats that are older might need extra furniture, like steps or ramps, to get to a safe place to rest.
Cats that live next door and use the same area can also be scary and cause stress. If you already have cats that are having problems with cats outside, you shouldn't bring another cat into the house.
How can I help my cat adjust to my new baby?
Cats don't like when things change around them, and babies are rough and noisy. Having a baby means that a lot of things will likely change in your home. You should slowly add new baby things to your home before the baby comes so that your cat has time to get used to them before the baby comes. Before the baby comes, set up a Feliway Classic or Optimum synthetic pheromone device in the house. Playing baby sounds on YouTube in a low volume might help your cat get used to them before the baby comes. If you rub a clean cloth or sock on your cat and then on the baby items, you can scent swap them to give the new things your cat's familiar smell. If you can, bring something home from the hospital that smells like the new baby for your cat to check out.
When you bring the baby home, make sure your cat has lots of "safe places" to hide and relax away from babies, toddlers, and bigger kids. Beds and perches that are higher up are great for this. Kids and babies should always be supervised around cats. Teach kids and toddlers to respect your cat's space (don't wake it up!) and to only stroke it when it's actively trying to get your attention.
How can I make my cat less afraid of fireworks?
A lot of animals are scared of fireworks because of the loud noises and bright lights, and these shows seem to be happening more often all year. When there are fireworks in your area, try to keep your cat inside and make sure they have a safe place to hide and rest. The best things are cardboard boxes, raised platforms, and beds. To block out noise during the fireworks, you can play soft or classical music or leave the TV on. Also, make sure the blinds are closed so your cat can't see outside. To help your cat feel safer and less stressed, use a synthetic pheromone treatment. You can spray Feliway Classic or Optimum on the cat's bed 15 minutes before use, or use it as a diffuser.
Tips for Managing Stress in Cats
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Provide a Safe Haven:
- Create a quiet, comfortable space where your cat can retreat when feeling anxious.
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Gradual Introductions:
- When introducing new pets, do so slowly and under supervision, allowing them to acclimate at their own pace.
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Maintain a Consistent Routine:
- Feeding, playtime, and bedtime should follow a regular schedule to provide a sense of security.
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Environmental Enrichment:
- Offer toys, scratching posts, and interactive play to keep your cat mentally stimulated.
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Hideaways and Vertical Space:
- Provide hiding spots and high perches to give your cat a sense of security.
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Consider Pheromone Products:
- Feliway diffusers or sprays release calming pheromones that can help reduce anxiety.
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Regular Veterinary Check-ups:
- Address any potential medical issues promptly to prevent them from contributing to stress.
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Positive Reinforcement:
- Use treats and praise to reward calm behavior and create positive associations with potentially stressful situations.
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Consult a Professional:
- If your cat's stress levels persist or worsen, consider seeking advice from a veterinarian or professional animal behaviorist.
Understanding and managing stress in cats is crucial for their overall well-being. By creating a supportive environment, providing mental stimulation, and addressing potential stressors, you can help your feline companion lead a happier, healthier life. Remember, patience and compassion are key when dealing with a stressed cat.
