In general, cats are easily stressed. What seem like minor inconveniences to you can create intense inner turmoil for your cat. Your feline friend’s anxiety can manifest as a behavioral problem, physical illness, or both. Reducing your whiskered pal’s stressors is paramount to their overall wellbeing and long-term health. Our Oak Creek Veterinary Care team’s guide to cat stress explains what you need to know to help your feline friend cope with anxiety.

What causes feline stress?

A cat can stress out over any internal or external factor. Illness and pain commonly cause feline stress, which can lead to another illness, resulting in a never-ending cycle. Seemingly insignificant changes or events in your cat’s life can cause them extreme anxiety, and you likely won’t recognize the problem right away. Simply put, cats seem indestructible, but they are actually quite sensitive. Your whiskered pal may experience acute or chronic anxiety for a variety of reasons, including the following:

  • Houseguests 
  • Construction inside or around your home
  • Rearranged furniture
  • Closed doors or barriers
  • Dirty litter boxes
  • Competition with other pets over resources
  • Strange cats outside
  • Frustration or boredom (i.e., inadequate mental stimulation)
  • Adding a new pet to the household
  • Veterinary visits  
  • Their carrier
  • Noise
  • Separation

What are feline stress signs?

Cats’ stress reactions manifest similarly to those of people, causing behavioral issues and physical problems. As a consequence of increased stress hormones, an anxious cat may exhibit the following signs:

  • Urinary tract infections or inflammation (i.e., cystitis)
  • Urinating outside the litter box
  • Upper respiratory infections
  • Immune system suppression
  • Aggression toward people or other pets
  • Hiding or withdrawing
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Overgrooming
  • Excessive destructive scratching around the house

Should my stressed cat have a veterinary examination?

A cat’s stress, pain, and anxiety signs all look similar and are closely intertwined. If your feline friend is stressed, they may have an underlying medical problem, or the stress itself could be causing a medical problem. The first step to help alleviate your whiskered pal’s stress is to schedule a visit with our Oak Creek Veterinary Care team, so we can rule out any medical issues. Our team will perform a thorough physical examination, blood work, and a urine test. We may also take an X-ray or ultrasound to see what’s going on inside your feline friend’s body. A healthy cat exhibiting anxiety signs will likely benefit when you reduce their stressors at home.

How can I prevent or diminish my cat’s stress?

You can prevent or diminish your whiskered pal’s stress by organizing your home in a way that appeals to them. To meet your feline friend’s most basic and instinctual needs, provide them with the following:

  • Secure resting places — Provide each household cat with an elevated, cozy resting place that has at least two escape routes. Cats like to survey their surroundings from above and feel safest when they can make a quick exit should a predator approach.
  • Opportunities to scratch — Through scratching, your whiskered pal maintains their claws, relieves their anxiety, and communicates. If you don’t provide multiple scratching posts, your cat could become stressed and inappropriately scratch your furniture or carpets, destroying them.
  • Opportunities to play — Play simulates hunting and stalking prey, an important natural behavior that cats must be able to practice.
  • Predictable human interactions — Predictable and positive daily interactions with you are necessary for your cat’s mental health. Set aside time each day for play, pets, cuddles, grooming, or whatever your cat enjoys.
  • Multiple resource stations — Competition for resources among household cats is a huge stressor in multicat homes. Provide each cat with their own food and water bowls, bed, and at least one litter box per cat, plus one extra. Place litter boxes in hallways or along walls, avoiding corners.
  • Safety from other pets — Vertical spaces to which a cat can escape other pets, are essential in a multipet home. Use wall shelves, perches, or cat trees to increase available vertical space and alone time for your feline friend.

What treatments are available for my stressed cat?

Sometimes pets need extra help to get over their chronic stress and anxiety after our team has ruled out underlying healthy issues and you’ve taken the appropriate measures at home. Anti-anxiety medications, calming supplements, and pheromone sprays can help. By consulting with a veterinary behaviorist, you can ensure your whiskered pal receives effective medications, along with a behavior modification program designed exclusively for them. 

Your cat’s physical and mental health are closely linked, and keeping their stress levels low helps ensure your feline friend’s immune system remains robust so they can resist disease. The first step to addressing feline stress is a visit with our Oak Creek Veterinary Care team. We can rule out underlying illness, help you address your whiskered pal’s at-home stressors, prescribe anti-anxiety medications, or refer your cat to a qualified trainer or behaviorist who can provide the care your feline friend needs to cope with their frayed nerves.