Posted by Danny MacDonald on 2020 Mar 16th
Stress, more so negative stress, is part of our life. As much as stress is closely associated with humans, cats experience stress too!
Whether in a human or cat, stress can have devastating effects on the health of either group. With cats being extremely sensitive creatures, they often fall victim to stress, which is mostly seen through behavioral changes. Stress in cats is a significant trigger of cat behavioral problems and in some cases can lead to health issues.
In this piece, we will provide insights on how to handle the issue.
What Stresses Do Cats Endure?
Mostly, cats fall victim two types of stress namely:
Causes of Stress in Cats
There are many possible causes of cat stress. Some of the significant causes include
How Do you Spot Signs of Stress in Cats?
While suffering from stress, cats show it in many ways, but you’ve got to watch closely to see its impact on your pet.
Below are the common signs to watch out for while determining if your cat is stressed:
How Do you Relieve Stress in Cats?
If you notice any of the above signs of stress in cats, your first move is to take them to a vet to make sure there aren’t any underlying health issues. Once ruled out, you can seek professional behavioral advice or take action to alleviate cat-stress with the following measures:
No matter the effort put to create an ideal environment for your cat, they may be exposed to stress in one way or another. However, that’s not to say that you’re a bad cat owner.
Remember that each cat is unique and what stresses one may not necessarily stress another. With cats being pros at concealing their emotions, one can only constantly keep an eye on their cat to observe behavior that indicates stress signs. Should you notice stress signs, liaise with your vet to get to the root of the issue. Above all, avoid things that trigger stress in cats while providing good care and attention for them.
Do not forget that a happy cat is a happy you!