Do you feel that your cat is under stress? A stressed cat will show some easily visible physical symptoms, such as bending his back, flattening his ears, screaming or meowing, or even urinating on the spot. However, chronic (long-term) stress is not easy to realize. If you think your cat is under stress due to a change in your household, follow these steps to find out if your cat is really stressed.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Looking for Digestive Problems
Step 1. Pay attention to your cat's pee
Cats are very clean animals. They will look for a specific place to urinate, for example in the litter box that you provide. If your cat urinates outside this designated area (such as in the yard), your cat is under stress.
- Peeing anywhere other than the litter box is a signal your cat gives to signal that something is wrong. It is not an act of resistance against you. The cat may be sick or stressed, and if you see this behavior, you need to pay extra attention.
- Don't punish a cat who pees outside the litter box. The cat is not trying to irritate you, but is trying to communicate that he needs help. Punishing will only make him more depressed and afraid.
- There are many reasons why cats prefer to poop outside the litter box. It could be, the cat is not comfortable urinating in the box. Make sure these reasons are gone before concluding that your cat is under stress.
Step 2. Watch your cat's digestion
In addition to a place to urinate, you should also pay attention to whether your cat has diarrhea or constipation. Changes in a cat's environment can stress him out and his digestion can be disrupted.
- Cat diarrhea is soft and watery in texture. The color is light brown or dark dark brown.
- It's okay to have blood in your cat's diarrhea, unless it's a large amount.
- If your cat continues to have diarrhea or can't poop at all for a few days, take her to the vet.
Step 3. Measure how much food there is
When stressed, cats may lose their appetite. He'll try to hide himself and avoid things he enjoys when he's not stressed, like eating.
- Cats don't fast like humans. Avoiding food is a sign that something is wrong.
- If you leave a bowl of food before you leave the house in the morning, pay attention to how much you finish in the evening when you get home. If you ask someone else to feed you, also ask him to pay close attention to the cat's eating habits.
Part 2 of 4: Watching for Excessive Behavior
Step 1. Observe your cat's cleaning habits
Your cat will definitely clean up frequently by licking himself and his kittens for most of the day. However, if you notice that your cat can't seem to do anything other than clean, you need to be vigilant. This is not normal, and could be a sign that something is wrong. It can even be a sign of depression.
- Cats can lick their fur off. If you notice that your cat is shedding hair without any other signs of infection, your cat may be over-cleaning.
- If it turns out that excessive cleaning behavior is causing bald spots on your cat's fur, take your cat to the vet immediately.
Step 2. Check your cat's scratching habits
While there are many reasons cats scratch their skin, including fleas and skin infections, you should know that excessive scratching is a sign of stress. You should act immediately if you notice your cat is constantly scratching its skin. Find the source of the stress, or call the vet.
- Fleas can make cats scratch their skin constantly, especially cats who are allergic to flea saliva. Before determining that his scratching is a result of stress, you need to make sure that your cat is not actually bothered by fleas.
- Watch for streaks or bumps under your cat's fur. If there are no signs of such an infection, your cat's scratching habits may actually be stress related.
Step 3. Pay attention to your cat's sleeping habits
If your cat is getting less sleep, it may be a sign that he is stressed. If your cat looks tired and restless, you need to be alert.
Part 3 of 4: Observing Changes in Cat's Social Behavior
Step 1. Observe if your cat is trying to hide itself
Cats are not social animals; they sometimes prefer to be alone than with the owner. However, your cat shouldn't always be trying to run away from humans. He may be requesting that environmental stressors be reduced.
- If your cat is constantly running outside or hiding behind furniture whenever someone enters her room, you need to find out what's freaking her out.
- The new cat will probably hide more often than the old cat who is used to being in the house. You don't need to be afraid that your new cat is often hiding.
Step 2. Beware of aggression towards other animals
If your cat lives with other animals, you should know whether her anger is normal or not. If your cat is constantly challenging or fighting animals that he used to play with before, it's a very clear sign that your cat is under stress.
Maybe your cat is sick, not stressed. You need to determine what is stressing him out before taking him to the vet
Step 3. Watch for resistance against humans
You may also know how your cat interacts with other humans. If your cat is usually friendly to humans or is used to being "ignorant" to humans, you should be wary of suddenly becoming aggressive towards people.
If you're confused by a change in behavior, pay close attention to your cat's environment and determine possible stressors. If not, your cat may be sick
Part 4 of 4: Finding Solutions
Step 1. Find the cause of your cat's stress
There are many things that can put your cat under constant stress. Most likely related to changes in the environment. If you think your cat is stressed, find ways to reduce the cat's stress or help it adapt.
Causes of cat stress include a change in routine, a new person or pet in the house (or a new person or pet leaving the house), new smells, new sounds, new furniture, construction around your home, moving, even a new cat in the environment. around you
Step 2. Create and stick to a daily routine
One way to reduce stress, if you think your cat is stressed, is to create a daily schedule and stick to it, at least for the cat. A change in routine or the absence of a routine can put your cat under constant stress even if there are no other causes of stress. Even if there are other causes of stress, your cat will actually be helped by having a fixed daily routine.
If it's only a brief change, like when you go on vacation, for example, you need to get back into your old routine right away
Step 3. Play with your cat
Physical activity will relieve stress for you and your cat. Play with your cat for 20 to 30 minutes, divided into two sessions (eg in the morning and in the afternoon). This will probably keep your cat entertained again.
- Incorporate playtime into your routine to give your cat a chance to spend her energy and not be distracted by new changes until she gets used to it.
- Give toys to the cat. Rotate this toy once a month to keep your cat interested.
- After playing, give your cat a treat. You can also schedule playtime right before your meal.
Step 4. Take your cat to the vet
If you notice any of the symptoms in this article, call and seek advice from a veterinarian. Some of these symptoms may indicate problems other than stress. Your vet can help find the cat's problem.
Tips
Eliminate stressors one by one until you can find the real stressor. If you've followed all the steps above and your cat is still having problems, contact your veterinarian immediately
Warning
- Be careful when interacting with your cat for long periods of time so he doesn't hate you.
- Don't touch your cat when she's angry/sad/disturbed. You or your cat may get hurt. Tell your family members and guests about this.
