Have you ever thought that your kitten might be stressed out? Cats are extremely sensitive as well as being susceptible to change. It's no wonder that most cats will experience periods of stress or anxiety at some point during their lifetime. In this article, Happy & Polly brings you 10 common causes of stress and anxiety in cats and ways to help your cat relax a little better.
It's important to remember that stress is actually a response in the body to the appearance of certain stimuli. This could be from within or without either way. It can affect the well-being of your cat. This could be in the form of behavioral changes or even help encourage the development of certain diseases. Here are the causes and some tips.
- Visiting the Vet
Most cats hate visits to the vet. This could be due to the use of a carrier or simply being out of their normal comfort zone when taken to a new place. Ideally, you should let your cat get used to spending time in the carrier before you even take them to the vet. You can also lookout for a cat-friendly veterinary clinic that is certified and adapted to minimize stress cats or territorial animals that like to control their environment.
- Moving house
Have you ever seen your cat rub against the furniture? They do this to mark their territory and permeate their smell throughout the house which they consider theirs. When we move to a new home, we often see stress-related behavioral changes that reflect their insecurities in a new place to make the transition to a new home smoother.
- Changing the furniture
We can buy synthetic pheromones to put around the new house as with changes in residence, changing furniture can have a negative impact on your cat. If this happens, you'll often see your cat compulsively marking any new furniture in your home. This can be one of the most stressful factors for a cat.
- The arrival of new family member
Whether we're talking about the arrival of a new cat, a dog, a houseguest or even a baby, cats can show avoidance behavior, and even enter into depression. It's important to allow them a period of adjustment and to encourage a positive association through the use of positive reinforcement distraction activities and even synthetic pheromones.
- Loud of constant noises
As we have said, cats are very sensitive animals, and their well-developed sense of hearing can make them even more so. This can mean noises that we can barely register are unbearable to account. Avoid yelling at them, playing loud music or rattling too close to them. Can you imagine how annoying this jangling would be to you if you heard it all the time?
- Using laser pointer
Many people find laser pointers to be a great tool to motivate cats foreplay. Some even claim they can be good ways to help obese cats lose whiz. However, constant use of a laser pointer can be incredibly frustrating to a feline, as they have a need to hunt and then capture their prey. The inability to actually apprehend the red lizard dot can be very disconcerting.
You can play with your cat using a laser from time to time, but ideally, toys such as fishing rods are more positive for them. >>For more cat toys and teasers.
- Visits from outside persons
In general, especially if we haven't socialized our cat well with other people, it can happen that they become stress and even frightened when new people enter the home. They might hide or avoid going anywhere near them. If this is the case, we recommend you ask friends and family to come round and interact with your cat in a positive way.
- Los Gritos Y Castigos Inadecuados
Be careful not to force them out of hiding, as this can also increase their anxiety. Screaming at our cat is a type of the aforementioned loud noise, which can cause anxiety in our pets. Scolding as punishment, in general, is not an effective or recommended tool and feline education. It's much better to use positive reinforcement to encourage them to repeat the behaviors you like and not the ones you don't.
- Changing their food
If you have a cat, you will know that there are animals with a discerning palate probably due to the greater amount of taste buds compared to other animals. If you change your cat's food, it can happen that they reject it and express their displeasure with meowing urination and protest or even scattering the food across the floor.
We need to give our cat the right nutrition and often this means high-quality food. If they lose their appetite for other reasons, it may be due to your pathology which requires a vet visit for diagnosis.
- No Scratcher Available
All cats need to scratch, even those which let their nails be cut calmly, not just to by trimming their claws but is also a form of marking. Ideally, we should catch it up at least two scratches where they can sharpen their claws, if not; you will soon see the deterioration of your silver.
>> Cat Scratcher Online Shopping
- Lack of mental stimulation
Although many cats are quite independent animals, they also require attention and stimulation to stay mentally active. These activities also work to strengthen the bonds we have with our cats, improve their well-being, and help to prevent behavioral problems.
We hope this can help your cat relax a little better. If you enjoyed it and would like to see more news, do not hesitate to visit Happy & Polly website on https://happyandpolly.com.
