Stress can make people feel tense and anxious, and in fact, cats can also experience significant stress! Unlike with humans, you can’t always tell from their facial expressions. Certain behaviors in their daily life are actually warning signs from your cat. Let’s learn more about them!
Signs of High Stress
Signs of high stress:
- Abnormal urination: Inappropriate urination/defecation / strange posture
- Behavioral problems: Starting to show aggression or destructive behavior / becoming timid and hiding everywhere / suddenly becoming very vocal
- Physiological problems: Over-grooming leading to hair loss / decreased appetite and weight loss / soft stool or diarrhea
If your cat suddenly exhibits the abnormal behaviors mentioned above in daily life, it is recommended to first seek veterinary care to confirm they are not caused by illness!
9 Major At-Home Stress Relief Methods
When you observe signs of high stress, it is recommended to first identify the source of stress (e.g., changes in the living environment, new members in the household) and try to improve or eliminate it. If necessary, please also seek help from a behaviorist!
Learn these 9 major stress relief methods for cats! Let’s help your little monster unwind~
- Catnip 2. Silver Vine Fruit 3. Silver Vine 4. Calming Music for Cats
- Pheromones 6. Interactive Play 7. Puzzle Feeders 8. Cat Tunnels 9. Cat Trees
Stress-Relieving Plants
Natural plants like silver vine, silver vine fruit, and catnip contain ingredients that can make cats feel euphoric. The actinidine and nepetalactone in them stimulate the cat’s senses, leading to happy behaviors such as rolling, drooling, and rubbing.
Cat-Specific Calming Music
Musicians and scientists abroad have collaborated to produce music albums specifically for cats. Based on user tests, this music can potentially soothe a cat’s feelings, making them as happy as we humans are when we hear music we like.
Pheromones
Cats have glands distributed on their face, paw pads, chest, and near the anus, which represent different emotions. The pheromones from the face carry a pleasant scent, so most pheromone products simulate these facial pheromones to make cats feel relaxed.
Interactive Play
Hunting is a cat’s instinct. Making good use of cat wands and other feather-type toys allows domestic cats to experience the stimulating entertainment of the wild. Besides expending energy and diverting their attention, it also achieves the purpose of companionship, serving multiple purposes at once.
Original article by 搬运工, if reproduced, please cite the source: https://www.kaipet.com/en/cats-stressed-9-stress-relief-tips-share
Comments(2)
This is so helpful! I’ve noticed my cat chewing its fur. Could this specific behavior also be a stress indicator?
@CriticX：Thank you for sharing, CriticX! Yes, you’re right to connect fur chewing with stress. Our article mentions ‘over-grooming leading to hair loss’ as a sign of high stress. We recommend consulting a veterinarian first to rule out any underlying medical conditions for your cat.