When you own a pet, it doesn’t take long for them to become part of the family, clearly displaying their own personality traits. Over time, you get to know your pet even better and are able to tell when they aren’t acting their normal self. For cat owners, sometimes the signs that something is off can be relatively subtle, or they can be clear as day and grab your attention immediately.
One issue that cats can suffer from is anxiety and stress. Just like with humans, there are a number of triggers that can “set them off” and leave them in that anxious state. Unlike our pets, we have instant access to professional services like BetterHelp to help us in dealing with stress & anxiety. So, how can you tell if your cat is stressed and, better yet, what can you do about it if they are? Here is some information that can help you to make your cat feel more relaxed.
Common Signs Your Cat is Anxious or Stressed Out
While not every cat is going to show signs that they are anxious or stressed, in general, they tend to display at least a couple of these red flags. Of course, it helps to be aware of what your cat’s “normal” behavior and personality are so that you can gauge if something seems off. Here’s a look at some of the most common red flags to watch for:
The cat starts to urinate outside their litter box. This is even more of a sign if your cat isn’t known for having “accidents”.
- Your cat seems to be suffering from constipation or diarrhea for no explained reason.
- Your cat is overly chatty.
- They aren’t interested in their food.
- They start scratching or grooming themselves way more than usual. It can actually seem like compulsive behavior.
- The cat sleeps more than normal.
- Your cat goes off and hides.
- Signs of aggression towards people and/or other animals in the house.
What Causes Anxiety and Stress in Cats?
There are all kinds of reasons your cat may be feeling anxious or stressed out, but there are some situations or items that tend to act as triggers. These include bringing home a new family member such as a new baby or introducing a new pet. Any time there is a new member of the household, the balance can be thrown off temporarily and affect your cat.
Other reasons include a visit to the vet, which is never fun for any pet. Also, if your work schedule suddenly changes and your hours are different, your cat is going to feel it and sometimes react. If you move, again this is a very stressful situation for your cat.
What Can You Do to Help Them?
Of course, you want to be able to do what you can to help your cat, which means helping them to relax. While there are different ways to go about that, cannabis oil for cats is something that is really growing in popularity as of late. Take a look at Canna Companion, which sells a variety of cannabis products created specifically for animals. One of the issues it can address is temporary stress and anxiety.
Another tip is to speak to your vet and figure out a treatment plan that makes sense for your cat’s needs. Medication can be very helpful in extreme cases.
