14/09/2023
Cats are sensitive animals who like stability in life. They are susceptible to stress, and this manifests itself in a variety of ways.
1. What is stress?
Stress refers to a set of physiological and behavioral responses caused by unpleasant stimuli. It can manifest itself as several physical and behavioral changes, and can be acute, such as a sudden onset, or chronic, which is long-term.
Every cat has a different stress threshold. Some cats are very sensitive to the same stimulus and some are not.
2. What causes cat stress?
Every cat perceives stressors differently. For example, some cats are stressed by bathing, while others are not.
So what are the common situations that cause stress in cats?
Struggle for resources (cat litter box, nest, toys, few hiding places)
move place
Going out/traveling
bath
Cats don't get along
New family members (new animals, babies, roommates, companions)
Forcing a cat to do certain behaviors
The owner’s startled behavior
sudden noise
Cat litter box dirty
boring
Loss of a human or pet family member
visitors/parties/visitors
overstimulation
Not respecting the cat’s autonomy
Bad human-cat relationship
captivity
Inability to meet the cat’s physical and emotional needs
3. What are the symptoms of cat stress?
1. Acute stress
Acute stress can be caused by unexpected events or threats and is relatively easy to detect in cats.
Many of the following signs may be evident:
Do not move
Body - crouching, shaking
Abdomen - belly not exposed, shortness of breath
Legs - Bend
Tail - close to the body
Head - lower than body, still
Eyes - fully open
Pupils - fully open
Ears - completely flat (airplane ears)
Vocalize - to whine, roar, growl or be silent
Hissing, roaring, trembling, drooling
involuntary urination, defecation
2. Chronic stress
Chronic stress can be difficult to recognize because it can develop over time and the signs may be more subtle. It is more likely to affect behavioral patterns and habits. For example:
No eating, no licking, no urination, no defecation
Overeating
always sleep
hide
Increased dependence or fear of social interactions (depending on personality type)
Defensive aggression towards people/cats
Stay on high alert and have an increased startle response
Improper urination or defecation
Spray urine indoors
Excessive fur licking, pica
Always want to rub
4. The impact of stress on physical health
Stress in both humans and cats is directly related to shortened lifespan, because according to research, stress may cause changes in DNA (shortening of telomeres) and accelerate aging.
Stress can also affect the immune system and cause a variety of diseases. But it is sometimes difficult to define the cause-and-effect relationship between disease and stress because the disease itself can trigger stress.
5. The impact of stress on other aspects
Effects on mental health: Cats may become anxious or depressed depending on the intensity, duration and perception of each cat.
Affects cats' social situation: When cats are in a state of stress, if they adopt proactive strategies, they may behave aggressively, not only to other cats, but also to the human-cat relationship.
6. How to solve cat stress
1. Improve the environment and provide a stable living environment
Some stress is unavoidable and some is short-lived (such as a visit to the vet, moving), but stress should be avoided where possible and pheromones, amitriptyline, aromatherapy, massage can be used , T-touch, herbal treatments, nutritional supplements, behavioral therapy, etc. to reduce cat stress.
2. Provide a hidden place or an absolutely safe location
Place a basket on the top of the cabinet to provide the cat with an escape route, etc., and avoid disturbing the cat when it is stressed: For example, when the cat arrives at a new home, the new owner keeps playing with the cat forcibly, which will only aggravate the cat's stress response.
3. Keep the litter box clean and plentiful
Clean the cat litter box in time every day, keep the cat litter box clean, the cat litter is deep enough, and the number of cat litter boxes is sufficient.
4. Meet your cat’s emotional and physical needs
Spend a certain amount of time every day paying attention to the cat, accompanying the cat, meeting the cat's emotional and physical needs, and keeping the cat in a happy mood.
5.Multi-modal environment management
Provide cats with scratching posts, toys, and a place to play to enrich the environment.
Provide a safe hiding place
Enrich the environment (grab posts, toys)
Resolve conflicts between cats
Provide separate key resources (food and water bowls, nests, bedding)
Provide tools and opportunities to express their playful and predatory behaviors
6. If the cat has behavioral problems, correct them in time.
If the cat has problems such as frequent squatting in the litter box, random urination, random defecation, or biting, correct it in time and observe carefully to see if there are any health problems.
7. If the cat has developed a disease, seek medical attention promptly.
If the cat has symptoms of disease, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, frequent urination, hematuria, anuria, lack of energy, etc., take him to the hospital for treatment in time.