- aggression towards people or other pets
- urine marking (spraying) or going outside the box
- hiding
- not eating
- even hair loss, a condition called psychogenic alopecia
NOTE: as with any health concerns, such as not eating, hair loss, urinary behavior problems, etc., please see your veterinarian first before assuming that stress is the cause. Medical problems should always be ruled out first.
What causes stress in cats?
Some of the more "nervous" personality cats are easily stressed by many things -- a new baby, loss of a pet, visiting family member, loud noises, other cats, and so on. What is surprising to many people is that even the more "laid back" cats can become stressed, even if outwardly still calm.
My own cat, Herman Quinn, is very mellow and always has been. Several years ago, after a new baby was added to the family and while doing some remodeling on the house, my sisters came to visit. Herman loves people and activity, so I did not worry about him being stressed. The reality was that the visiting family sent him over the edge. He responded by urinating IN my sister's shoes to get the message across. My other cat, Greta, who is the same age as Herman is much more of a "high stress" cat, responded to this situation by grooming all of the hair off of her belly and hind legs! Meanwhile, the dogs were fine.
What can be done to reduce stress in cats?
While some of the stress scenarios will be obvious, some will not, and you may never know why your cat is stressed. Even mundane things such as loud music or traffic can be annoying to cats -- they hear much better than we do! Same goes for any odors that they may come in contact with (and we may never even be able to smell). For my cats in the above situation, we created a "cat room" that they could retreat to at any time they felt like it, and it was only accessible to them -- no dogs and no kids. This was immensely helpful!
Take time to assess your cat's living situation and try to rule out any possible stressors. Here are some places to start:
- Multicat household: give each cat some "space" -- a safe place to retreat to, away from other cats, people and pets
- Multicat household: have at least one litterbox per cat, an extra one or two boxes above that is great
- Multicat household: offer food separately -- either in different locations or with cats separated to ensure that everyone can eat in peace
- Multipet household: ensure that the cat(s) have a place to get away from the dogs or other pets
- Offer a variety of toys for fun, exercise and general distraction
- Offer climbing spaces where cats can hid or perch from -- cats often like to be up high where it is "safe"
- For vacations and other extended absences, consider a live-in petsitter or boarding facility so your cat(s) are not as lonely or stressed about your return
- For a new baby or visiting guests in your home, try as much as possible to create a gradual introduction with a "safe place" for your cat to retreat to, if overwhelmed.
In summary, it is often best to keep changes, all changes, for your cat(s) to a minimum or at least with a gradual introduction. Of course, this isn't always possible, but even small things, like not suddenly changing the brand of cat litter or food will help keep stress levels at a comfortable level.
Another option is the use of an environmental pheromone treatment, such as Feliway® to create some "feel good" moods of your feline population and hopefully reduce overall stress. If all else fails, please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss the current medical treatments that are available for pet behavior problems.
Related Reading:
Tips to reduce cat stress in the car and at the vet
Psychogenic Alopecia in Cats (Glossary entry)
Veterinary Q & A - Feliway® Use in Cats
Photo credit: Elmo the Cat © GenGlo
