Cats are creatures of routine, and any disruption to their daily habits can lead to anxiety and stress. In Australia, understanding what causes stress in cats is crucial for ensuring their well-being. Stress in cats typically stems from three key areas:
1. **Environmental Factors**: This involves changes in their surroundings, such as moving to a new home, shifting furniture around, gaining or losing household members (whether they’re human or animal), being confined, alterations to daily routines, or sharing a home with other cats.
2. **Physical Health**: Cats can experience stress due to health issues like obesity, illnesses (such as flea or tick infestations), surgeries, or physical injuries.
3. **Emotional Well-being**: Emotional stress may arise from fear, jealousy towards a family member (human or pet), boredom, loneliness, or the dynamics of a multi-cat household.
**Environmental Stress**
Changes to a cat’s environment in Australia might include:
- Relocating to a new house.
- Shuffling around furniture or bringing in new items.
- The arrival or departure of household members, both human and animal.
- Confining the cat to a limited space.
- Shifts in daily routines, particularly during holiday seasons.
- Co-existing with other cats in the home.
**Physical Stress**
Physical health issues contributing to stress can include:
- Obesity.
- Illnesses, particularly those caused by parasites like fleas or ticks.
- Undergoing surgical procedures.
- Physical injuries or trauma.
**Emotional Stress**
Common emotional stressors are:
- Fear.
- Rivalry or jealousy towards other pets or humans.
- Boredom or feelings of isolation.
- Navigating life in a multi-cat household or in a shelter.
**Spotting and Tackling Stress**
Stress can manifest in various ways, and some signs might be unexpected. Look out for behaviours like excessive grooming (or neglecting grooming), changes in appetite (from not eating to overeating), aggression, issues with using the litter tray, or chewing on non-food items such as fabrics or plastic. To help your cat, the first step is identifying the stressor and, if possible, removing it.
Begin by ruling out any health problems. Check your cat thoroughly and, if necessary, take them to the vet, especially if there are signs of obesity or parasites. Discuss any behavioural changes with your vet to rule out physical causes.
If jealousy towards another pet is the issue, a gradual reintroduction might be necessary. Start by keeping the pets separate and giving each of them individual attention. Place their food bowls on either side of a closed door, slowly moving the bowls closer as they get used to one another. Playing under the door can also help ease tensions.
If stress-related litter tray problems arise, try changing the type of litter (like using Cat Attract) or adding an additional tray. A good rule of thumb is one tray per cat, plus an extra. While cats may share, having their own space is essential.
For single-cat households, ensure your cat stays entertained when you’re out. Provide plenty of toys, leave the radio or TV on, and set up a window perch. Positioning a cat tree near a window can offer your cat a view of the outside world, providing natural entertainment from watching birds and other wildlife.
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