Problem Solving & Advice by Pam Johnson-Bennett Cat Behavior Expert & Best-selling Author
Stress. It’s something most of us deal with on a regular basis. Whether it’s work-related, due to health issues, family problems, or because of financial concerns, there are so many opportunities for stress to set up camp in our lives.
When you think of what indoor cats go through during the day do you ever think of the possibility that they could also be affected by stress? If they’re lounging in a sunny window right now it’s probably hard to imagine that anything in life could cause stress, but surprisingly, there are many events that can result in stress to cats.
What Causes Stress in Cats?
Just as with people, there are some cats who are more easily stressed than others. You may have a cat who is rather timid and fearful normally and so even small stressors can leave her vulnerable. Things that you may assume are so minor that your cat shouldn’t even notice can create stress such as:
- having new carpet installed
- loud music being played
- dirty litter box conditions
- change in food brand
- change in litter brand or type
- travel
- new furniture
- being denied access to particular hiding places
- appearance of a strange cat in the yard
- a barking dog
- visitors in the home
- repairs being done in the home
Big stress triggers are easier to identify because they’re usually things that would affect our stress level as well, such as:
- divorce
- death in the family
- moving to a new home
- major renovation
- new baby
- illness
- abuse
- addition of an additional cat or dog into the home
- natural disaster
- injury
What happens in some cases though is that we get caught up in dealing with our own stress crisis that we don’t see how it’s also affecting the cat.
Signs of Stress in Cats
Cats don’t all show the same signs when it comes to stress and they can be easy to overlook. You might attribute your cat’s change in behavior to something else or the stress effects might happen so gradually that you aren’t even aware there is a change. If your cat tends to hide on a regular basis, it can be easy to not notice that her stress level has increased. Signs of stress may include:
- loss of appetite
- excessive grooming (which may result in a condition known as psychogenic alopecia)
- less interaction with family members
- pica (eating non-food items)
- hiding
- change in the relationship with companion cats
- elimination outside of the litter box
- aggression
Photo: Pam Johnson-Bennett
Reducing Stress in Cats
The first step is to have your cat examined by the veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical problem. Don’t assume that the cat’s litter box aversion problem or aggression toward a companion cat is due to stress until other health concerns have been looked into.
If possible, work to identify the cause of the stress. This isn’t always an easy thing to do because the stress trigger may not be obvious. Still, do your best to try to figure out what might be the source. When it comes to trying to determine any less-obvious cause of stress, it will help if you remember the sensitivity level of a cat’s senses. Your cat hears much better than you and her high-level hearing is especially sensitive. Imagine how ongoing loud music might affect her. Your cat’s sense of smell is also much more sensitive than a human’s so that scent that might not bother you could be disturbing to her. It could be the scent of another cat, the odor from having a room freshly painted, pest control chemicals sprayed in the environment, cleansers, etc. When it comes to your cat’s sense of touch, having a room carpeted or having the carpet removed and flooring put down could be disturbing not only from a noise and smell perspective but also from a textural point of view. If you have a cat who already tends to be a bit jumpy and reactive to change, imagine how these types of changes could cause an increase in stress.
Here are Some Tips:
Gradually prepare your cat for known upcoming changes so she won’t get blindsided. The bigger the change – the more prep time needed.
Cats do best with predictability and routine. It may be time to check your schedule and see whether you’ve been inconsistent with things such as mealtimes, playtime, litter box maintenance, or even how long the cat is left home alone.
Make sure your cat has safe hideaways and safe retreats for when she doesn’t want to be bothered. Hiding is an important coping mechanism and an option you should always have available for your cat.
Keep litter box conditions pristine and make sure the set-up is appealing (type of litter, type of box, location, number of boxes).
In a multicat home, if there is any tension, use behavior techniques to help each cat feel secure. Make sure there are multiple locations for resources. Offering choice is a great start toward decreasing stress. If there are issues between cats, this is the time to work on those relationships.
Make sure your cat has ways to get away from unwanted attention from others in the home (cats, dogs or other family members). Be sure all family members and guests know that when kitty is in her safe spot she is to be left alone. Make sure the cat always has safe retreats.
Engage in daily interactive playtime sessions to build confidence and help your cat develop a positive association with you or with certain areas of the home.
Increase vertical territory in the home. Cat trees are a great way to do this. Cats depend on elevated areas for security.
Do transitions slowly, such as switching brands of litter or food. This will help avoid rejection. With food, a gradual transition will also decrease the chances of stomach upset.
Increase environmental enrichment so kitty has activities to keep her occupied when home alone. Puzzle feeders, activity toys, cat entertainment video, etc., are valuable tools to use when creating more stimulation and fun in the cat’s everyday life.
If you have to travel, have a pet sitter or friend come to your home to care for your cat. Make sure it’s someone your cat is comfortable with. Don’t leave your cat home alone – even if it’s just for overnight. This can be very stressful. If you have the option to have someone come to the home instead of boarding your cat, that would be better so you cat has the comfort of territory familiarity.
Clicker train your cat so you can work on confidence-building. Cats are hard-wired to work for food. Clicker training can be a wonderful way to train, strengthen the bond between the two of you, and it can help your cat form a more positive association with certain areas of the home that might be causing stress or concern.
Need More Information?
Make sure you have your cat checked by the veterinarian so you can rule out medical causes. Your veterinarian may also refer you to a certified behavior expert if you need help in creating a behavior plan.
For more specific information on stress in cats, refer to the best-selling books by Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam’s books are available in bookstores and also online. We’ve included links to Amazon here on our website.
If you have a question regarding your cat’s behavior or health, please contact your veterinarian. This article is not intended as a replacement for your cat’s veterinary care. This article is for information purposes only and not offering medical advice or providing a medical diagnosis.
