Updated: August 9, 2022 by Kristen Chapple
When we talk about stress, we talk about people without even thinking that humans aren’t the only creatures on this earth who can be stressed out. Cats can be stressed too, so read on to learn how to destress your cat.
We know – at least in theory – what we’re supposed to do when we get stressed, but with cats is a totally different story. Cats can get stressed for many resons and those reasons might not be always obvious, so learning to read your cat’s signals and respond to her needs in helpful ways will go a long way.
How To Destress Your Cat
Look For Common Signs of Stress and Anxiety
Some common signs that your cat is stressed include hiding, bad behavior, changes in eating habits, not using the litter box anymore, aggression towards other cats or people in the house, urine marking or even hair loss. Most behaviors that are not in your cat’s usual routine signal that something isn’t right with her.
Determine the Causes of Stress and Anxiety
Car rides, loud noises or music, kids, new family members, too many visits to the vet, dogs barking outside, or even other cats in close proximity can all become stress and anxiety causes for your cat.
While some causes are obvious, other won’t be, but it’s important to try and assess the situation and get as close as possible to the root cause. If your rule out the other possibilities one by one and get to the underlying cause of the stress, removing it will solve everything by magic.
If the bonding between you and your cat is strong, this process should be easier, as you will be in tune with your cat and be able to spot much easier what was the incident that triggered the anxiety in your cat.
Assess Your Cat’s Environment
Reviewing the environment your cat lives in might get you some clues about what’s going on. Make sure you provide your little furry friend with a quiet place of her own to rest and relax when she doesn’t feel too social.
Cats love to hide away when they’ve had enough and they need to feel comfortable and secure in that place. Also, make sure she’s got her own food tray. Cats usually don’t like sharing their food and water trays, so if you’ve got more than one cat, be careful about that too.
In addition to that, get your feline friend a scratching post, as they love to do that a lot and it reduces the stress and anxiety levels.
Spend Time With Your Cat
The affirmation that cats are independent might not always be true as cats need company as well. Especially when stress and anxiety hits. So it’s a good idea to spend some quality time with your furry friend.
Cats need entertainment and they get that through exercise and mental stimulation. In plain English, that means playing a lot with your cat. Get her some toys and make sure she gets to spend time outside if possible.
