Cats can be very sensitive animals and it’s important that we keep a close eye on them to make sure their happy and healthy. Because they’re so resilient and skilled at hiding their problems, we might not notice our cats are stressed or unhappy. Be sure to keep an eye out for these 9 signs of stress in your cat so you can improve the situation as soon as possible.
#1 – Hiding & Isolation
Does your cat seem to be hiding more than usual? Some cats are shy and it might be harder to tell if yours is hiding more than usual, but most owners know their cats well enough to be able to tell if something is abnormal. Hiding and isolation is a red flag and almost always means there’s something going on with your feline friend.
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#2 – Excessive Grooming
Cats only have so many ways to release their stress and they sometimes begin to develop obsessive behaviors. One of the most common signs of stress in cats is excessive grooming, as cats will often relieve stress through self-care. But if left untreated, they may lick and scratch their hair completely off.
#3 – Decreased Appetite
Most cats come running when they hear their food dish or can opener, but if you notice your cat seems to have lost interest in her food it’s a good idea to make sure there’s nothing going on. Cats under stress will often lose their appetite and don’t want to come out to eat, especially if it requires them to be in a high-traffic area of the house.
#4 – Lethargy
Cats sleep a lot, but if you notice your kitty is sleeping a lot more than usual or seems generally uninterested in moving around, there’s a good chance something is wrong. An increase in sleep is a sign of stress in cats, regardless of whatever is causing that stress.
#5 – Aggression
Your playful kitty might suddenly become a lot more grumpy towards you and other animals. If you notice such a change in your cat, it’s important to make sure you can find the underlying cause. Whether your cat is stressed due to changes in her surroundings or because of another physical cause like pain, sudden aggression is an excellent way for your cat to tell you she isn’t doing so well.
#6 – Crying & Excess Vocalization
Some cats are very talkative, while others keep more to themselves. Whatever your cat’s normal behavior is, an increase in the amount of vocalization is sometimes a sign that your kitty is stressed out. Make sure to take note when your cat is talking to you more than he usually does.
#7 – Eliminating Outside the Litterbox
Cats will often start acting strangely when under stress and eliminating outside their litterbox is certainly no exception. Whether it’s directly outside the door or somewhere else in the house, a sudden change in bathroom habits is a sign that your cat isn’t feeling quite right.
#8 – Heightened Startle Response
It’s a bit easy to scare a cat, but cats typically get used to noises they hear around their own home. If you notice that certain things that never used to bother your kitty and now startling him, you might want to make sure there aren’t any other changes going on. A stressed cat is often a frightened cat and a heightened startle response is likely due to him being worried about something.
#9 – Gastrointestinal Upset
Just like people, cats may get diarrhea and have upset stomachs when they’re experiencing a lot of stress. If you notice your cat has loose stool or other bowel problems and you haven’t changed food or gotten any new treats, it’s probably a good idea to make sure that stress isn’t the culprit.