Is your cat stressed? Probably. But don't let that stress YOU!
I recently caught up with Tom Dock, Director of Communications at Noah's Animal Hospitals, to talk about how to see the signs AND how to help!
The MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT CATS AND STRESS:
A point that both Tom and I want to make sure that all cat lovers and caretakers should know: Cats are unique from humans and dogs in that they are BOTH predator and prey.
Can you imagine spending every moment thinking, "I need to make sure I eat and I need to make sure I don't get eaten."
No wonder they're stressed, right???
While they are good hunters, their small size also means that they are prey animals to larger hunters, like coyotes, bigger cats, or a neighborhood dog. Keeping their anxiety unnoticeable is an evolutionary advantage.
And get this: Some of those cat behaviors that stress you out are actually your cat's way of telling you "I' stressed too!"
Tom reminds us, "Anxious cats may excessively groom themselves or they may be prone to tearing up furniture, drapes, or other fabrics. Some cats might inappropriately urinate or even attack a housemate that has been around for years. The signs for cats are often easy to miss and, in many cases, owners may not even know what’s causing the 'bad' behavior."
Thankfully, there are ways to reduce your cat's stress:
1. Talk to your vet about your cat's behavior. It's important to rule out medical issues. If a clean bill of health is given, go a step further and ask your vet, "So how do we help with these behaviors that indicate stress?"
2. Consider beefing up your cat's natural defense against stress with pheromone products. Tom says, "Pheromone therapy can be helpful. A popular product sold by both veterinarians and pet stores is called Feliway. This product is derived from facial pheromones that cats use to mark their territory. These pheromones create a calming effect for most cats and reduce anxious behaviors."
Feliway also offers a Multi-Cat option that recreates the pheromones a mother cat produces to keep her kittens getting along. This is a good option when you have cats who aren't getting along.
Other products that have been shown to be helpful including Zylkene for Cats (alpha 1 casein – major protein in cow’s milk)
In addition, consider your cat's environment. Some cats feel safer and less stressed with shelving so they can observe from up high. Others may be less stressed when you provide them food puzzles/toys and other ways to help meet their instinctual needs while building confidence and reducing stress.
Warm wishes and whisker love,
KJ
Your Kitty Correspondent
Looking for more answers on how to build your bond with your cat? Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, just go to KJontheair.com.
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