Are you worried that your cat may be stressed? It is easy to tell when he reacts to a particularly anxious situation, because he arches his back, flattens his ears, hisses or growls and sometimes even urinates on the spot; however, when the stress is chronic (lasting), it is not so easy to be able to identify it. If you think any changes in the family may have negatively affected your cat, follow the instructions in this article to diagnose the problem.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Controlling Digestive Problems
Step 1. Watch where you urinate
Cats, as you probably already know, are meticulous in their cleanliness and this sense of hygiene also affects manure. Typically, they use the litter box, if it is left available, and leave their litter outside or in other defined areas (such as in soft sand or garden soil) only when they are in distress.
- Urinating outside the litter box is a sign of some problem, rather than a gesture of rebellion; when your cat behaves this way they may be sick or very stressed and you need to be careful.
- Do not punish him if he urinates outside the area designated for his needs. The cat doesn't want to mess it up, it's just trying to let you know it needs help; if you punish him you only stress him further and scare him.
- There are other reasons why cats choose to defecate outside the litter box, for example when they suffer from some ailment. Make sure you rule out other possibilities before you come to the conclusion that he is stressed.
Step 2. Check his stool
In addition to where he urinates, you should also check if he is suffering from diarrhea or constipation. Environmental changes are a source of stress for cats, which often manifests itself in variations in their normal evacuation habits.
- You may see that their stools take on a watery and soft consistency or that they are light brown or dark brown in color.
- If you notice traces of blood in the diarrhea, you shouldn't be particularly worried, as long as it is not present in large quantities.
- Take your cat to the vet if the diarrhea persists or if the animal is unable to discharge at all for more than a few days.
Step 3. Check how much you eat
A cat's reaction to stress is a loss of interest in food. When they are anxious they often tend to become lonely and avoid things they usually enjoy, including food and meal times.
- Cats don't fast like humans sometimes do; therefore, if you see that he is not eating, it means that something is wrong.
- If you leave the bowl full of food before you leave the house, check how much is left when you return. If there is another person in charge of feeding the animal, ask them to carefully observe their daily eating habits, in case you are concerned that they are stressed.
Part 2 of 4: Observe Excessive Behavior
Step 1. Pay attention to excessive cat cleaning
Of course, everyone knows how cats groom themselves, licking themselves and their kittens for most of the day. But if you feel like he doesn't do anything else, you should start worrying; this is not normal behavior, it often indicates that there is some problem and sometimes it is also a sign of depression.
- The cat can also potentially lick itself to the point of shedding its fur; if you see patches of alopecia and there are no other signs of infection, the cause is probably due to excessive cleaning of the cat.
- If you come to the conclusion that the loss of large strands of hair is due to excessive licking, you should take your pet to the vet for advice.
Step 2. Look for excessive scratching
Although these cats tend to do this for a variety of reasons, including fleas and skin infections, if your cat is scratching compulsively every day it is a sign of stress. In this case, you need to take steps to resolve the problem, either by identifying the source of his discomfort or by contacting your vet.
- Fleas cause cats to scratch and touch each other with their paws incessantly, especially if they are allergic to the saliva of parasites. Do whatever it takes to rid your cat of the infestation before determining stress is the cause.
- Check for scratches, scabs, or bumps under the fur. if you don't find any of these signs of infection, your gesture could be stress-related.
Step 3. Notice if she sleeps less than usual
When cats are under emotional pressure, they begin to reduce the number of hours of sleep; if your cat also exhibits these symptoms, you need to be careful.
Part 3 of 4: Controlling Changes in Social Behavior
Step 1. See if they tend to isolate themselves
While it is common knowledge that these animals are not typically particularly social creatures and that they often prefer to be alone rather than constantly being held by their owners, your furry friend shouldn't continually try to get away from people; if they do this, it means they want to reduce their exposure to environmental stressors.
- When the cat is constantly running away from the room or hiding under furniture every time someone enters, you should try to figure out what the problem is.
- Newly adopted cats hide more frequently than dogs that are now used to living at home; So you don't need to be alarmed if you have a new kitten that tends to hide for some time.
Step 2. A cause for concern is aggression towards other animals
When a kitty is living in the house with some other pet, it should be easy enough to tell if her aggression is normal or not. If he starts to react badly or to fight with other animals, with whom he has always played happily, it means that he is definitely stressed.
The cat may actually be sick rather than stressed; you must therefore identify the factor that triggered this behavior, before taking the cat to the vet
Step 3. Check for aggressive behavior towards people
Of course, you are already able to understand how the cat interacts with other humans. If he is typically affectionate or otherwise passively accepts their presence, but suddenly begins to attack them, it's a clear sign that a problem has arisen.
Again, if you are surprised by such aggressive behavior, examine the home environment and try to identify the elements that can stress the cat. if you do not find any responsible factors, the cat may be sick
Part 4 of 4: Finding Stress Solutions
Step 1. Identify the stressors
There can be many reasons that lead a cat to live in a continuous state of anxiety and most of these can be due to changes taking place in the home environment. If you think your feline friend is under pressure, find a way to alleviate that discomfort or at least help manage it.
Reasons for stress can be changes in daily routines, a new pet or a new person in the house (as well as an animal or person leaving the house), new smells, noises, furniture or even new buildings nearby. home, a move, a new cat in the neighborhood and so on
Step 2. Set up a daily routine and try to stick to it
If you think your cat is stressed out, you can find ways to relieve their anxiety by setting a plan to follow each day, at least for the cat. Changes in normal habits or not having them at all can create a constant state of emotional tension in the animal, even if nothing in particular is happening; in any case, even if there are other stressors, a regular planning of the day can only help him.
If there is only a temporary change, such as a vacation, try to restore the same old routine as soon as possible
Step 3. Play with the cat
The principle is valid for both cats and humans: physical activity removes stress. Playing with your feline friend for even just 20 minutes or half an hour a day, split into two moments (for example in the morning and in the evening), can help them relax.
- Make time for play as part of the routine so your cat can let off steam and distract from any changes until they are over.
- Provide him with toys, changing them every month to keep his interest alive.
- At the end of the game, offer him some treats or set the play time just before meals.
Step 4. Take him to the vet
If you notice any of the symptoms described in this article, you should contact your vet for advice. Some of these signs may be clues to problems beyond stress; it is therefore important that the veterinarian knows how to formulate a diagnosis as soon as possible to eliminate stress factors.
Advice
Remove the stressor for your cat as soon as you notice it if you can spot it. If you've done everything you can, but the problem hasn't resolved, go back to the vet for help
Warnings
- Pay attention to the interactions between different pets to prevent them from fighting each other.
- Do not touch the cat if it is irritated, as you could risk being injured or hurt the cat in turn, and invite other family members or guests to do the same.
