Just like people, cats can suffer from stress; admittedly lack of money, workplace stress or how they look will not cause your cat to be stressed. Cats, however, are quite sensitive creatures and there are many ways you can help if your cat is suffering from stress.
First Things First
It’s definitely a no-brainer that you need to identify what’s causing your cat to be stressed. Most important is to rule out illness; your local vet will need to check your cat to make sure that an underlying illness is not the root cause. If your cat is otherwise fit and healthy then evaluate their living environment to try and work out what’s causing your cat to be anxious. The following are common examples of situations that may be stressful for cats:
- Moving home, decorating, building works
- Multi-cat household (even siblings sometimes don’t get along)
- New baby
- Changes in your routine
- Fireworks or loud noises
- People visiting
- Pet conflict e.g. unneutered male cats in the area
- Vet Visits
Physical Symptoms your Cat is Stressed
It is important that you reduce stress in your cat as much as you can, if your cat is stressed, they can become both emotionally and physically unwell and may develop physical illnesses as well as displaying problem behaviour. There are many physical symptoms cats will display when they are stressed. Many of which are also signs of other illnesses, which is why it’s important to seek veterinary advice first.
- Diarrhoea / Vomiting
- Bald patches or sores on the coat caused by over grooming
- Eating non-food items such as wool, paper or plastic
- Sudden weight loss or weight gain
- Frequent squatting, painful urination with blood in it (e.g. cystitis).
Behavioural Symptoms your Cat is Stressed
- Spraying urine on furniture, walls and other items around the home
- Urinating or defecating outside the litter box
- Fur Pulling, excessive grooming
- Aggressive behaviour directed towards you or other pets
- Excessive meowing
Cat Anxiety Prevention and Treatments
Cats are creatures of habit and they are at their happiest when they have certainty and routine in their life.
- Establish a routine for your cat and stick to it
- Introduce new pets and people slowly
- Make sure you have several drinking, eating and litter tray facilities in multiple cat homes
- A cat tree for safe perching and climbing encourages natural behaviour and helps them feel safe.
- Provide mental and physical stimulation with cat toys
- Somewhere to hide and get away from it all, empty cardboard boxes rank high for cats.
- Never shout at your cat, they don’t speak English and this will stress them more!
- Try natural calming treatments
Urine Spraying
If your cat is stressed it might start spraying walls and furnishings. They don’t do this to be naughty they do this to make themselves feel safe, or to let you know they are not happy. Most people believe cats spray to mark their territory which offers some truth. Cats also spray when they are stressed the scent from their urine can help to make them feel safe. We however can’t stand the smell!
Odour Removers
Many household products simply mask smells and don’t remove the scent. Which means your cat will still return to the same area to urinate.
PowAir Urine and Odour Remover Spray eliminate the pheromones from animal urine to help prevent animals from marking those spots. This odour eliminator contains a proprietary blend of 40 natural essential oils and high-performance enzymes that eliminates odours at the molecular level. Urine and Odour spray helps break down pet stains and smells, including urine, faeces, vomit, pheromones trapped in carpets and upholstery.
This natural spray has been a complete game changer for our house, our KD cat simply can’t help urinating in the home. Now we simply spray the area and the odour vanished…. amazing see the full range of Powair for fabulous natural scents!
If you’re looking to help your cat or dog enjoy a long, healthy happy life browse our ethical pet shop for wonderful products they will love.
About Snooty Catz
Are you new to Snooty Catz? We are a small UK independent business that loves to live ethically for both ourselves and our pets. This is why we stock a fabulous range of natural wellbeing products for both people and their pets. As well as ethically sourced homewares and eco gifts.
Snooty Catz is an ethical business, and deeply cares about the environment. So each order is sent in eco-friendly, plastic free packaging. We have also partnered with Ecologi and will plant one tree for every order placed. There’s a lot of good happening over here!
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