At the cats only boarding facility, I’ve encountered lots of stressed cats at very different levels of stress — from the shy cat who hides behind her litter box to the panicked cat who lashes out at anyone who reaches into the cage.
If your cat is showing a dramatic behavior change, your first step should be a visit to the veterinarian. Illness may be behind the behavior change — being sick can be a big stress on a cat! Rule out any physical causes first, and then you can work on any emotional causes.
Some sources of stress could be:
- Other animals (a neighbor’s cat, a dog being walked) outside the window.
- A change in the owner’s work schedule.
- A family member leaving home for a long period of time.
- Moving.
- Holidays.
- A new baby or other addition to the human family.
- A new pet in the household.
Some sources of stress can be avoided. You could pull the shades so your stressed out cat can’t see what’s outside and get upset. At the boarding facility, we’ll often cover part or all of the condo with a towel so the upset guest can’t see the other cats or the staff moving around. For some cats, that’s all it takes to calm down!
When absence is the problem, you can often ease the stressed cat by paying more attention. More play time, more grooming, more togetherness can often help solve stress-related behavior problems. Try to stick to a regular schedule — cats like routines and predictable environments.
If something chaotic is going on in your household — like holidays or moving — you might want to set up a “safe zone” for your cat. Pick one room where the cat will have all her necessities (food, water, litter box, toys, etc) and let her stay there, safe and sound. She’ll be out of the way of the chaos. During crazy times, familiar scents can be reassuring. Try giving your cat a tee-shirt that you’ve worn. She can cuddle up with your shirt (and your scent) and feel safe. You can also try a calming pheromone spray to help ease anxiety.