Unlike you, your cat can’t pick up a book, sign up for a yoga class, or sit back in the therapist’s couch to de-stress himself. Yet, your cat experiences stress and anxiety just like you. And if stress and anxiety makes you feel and act crazy, you better believe it’s also doing that to your cat.
If you think your cat may be stressed, don’t ignore it! Ignoring the problem will only make it worse. Also, stress and anxiety could be a sign of a bigger health issue. Stress can also suppress your cat’s immune system making them more prone to sickness and diseases.
Why could your cat be stressed? Well, there’s many reasons, and it’s not always easy to pinpoint the exact cause. Sometimes, it could be a combination of a few different causes. Here are some potential reasons as to why your cat may be stressed:
- He is bothered by other animals in the house
- He isn’t comfortable in a new home you moved into
- He feels too confined/can’t see or go outdoors
- He isn’t OK with change in his or your daily routine
- He has fleas or worms
- He has a physical injury
- He is bored or lonely
- He is afraid of something or someone in or outside the house
If you’re on the fence about whether your cat is truly stressed or anxiety, here are some signs your cat will exhibit when experiencing these feelings.
- Urinating outside the litter box
- Pacing back and forth
- Excessive grooming or scratching or crying
- Hides and isolates himself a lot
- Loss of appetite
- Aggression
These are just a few of the reasons your cat may be stressed. It’s best to talk to your vet about your cat’s behavior, and work with him or her to determine if your cat indeed is stressed/anxious or if there is some other issue going on.
Besides working with your vet, there are a couple other things you can do at home to make your cat calm and happy again.
- Purchase cat trees and cat toys to put around your home so your cat has many places and things to climb and play with.
- Schedule play time with your cat daily so he feels like he is getting attention from you.
- Clean the litter box often so he doesn’t look for elsewhere to urinate.
- Opt for a natural herbal calming supplement to help your stressed/nervous/anxious cat relax. Ark Naturals offers Happy Traveler capsules and soft chews for cats. This product was developed by a holistic veterinarian and PhD herbal scientist to ease anxiety and motion sickness, whether you’re bringing you cat for a car ride or if he’s unhappy in the home. You can purchase Happy Traveler here.
In the end, it’s up to you and your vet to determine the best steps to take to get your cat purring again.
At Ark Naturals, we take pride in creating products that promote health in cats so they can live healthier and happier lives. Click here to view and purchase all our health and wellness products for cats
