Stressed out cats

I have recently completed a diploma on managing stress in cats. During my studies I have learnt that modern living with our busy lives can be a cause of stress for our pet cats. The increase in popularity in keeping cats as pets over the past two decades has resulted in large increases in the number of cats in urban areas. Couple that with the decrease in living space due to increases in property prices resulting in houses being divided into flats and the consequent reduction in average garden size - the result is a significant reduction in the territory available for each cat. Cats are territorial by nature and having to share a territory with neighbouring cats can cause considerable stress to the individual. We have also seen an increase in multicat households, often unrelated cats are brought together under one roof which goes against the cat’s natural instinct for space and independence. For the less sociable cats this can create a stressful living environment.

Stress in cats can manifest in many ways. Chronic stress can result in physical illness, for example cystitis; overgrooming; destructive behaviour such as excessive scratching of furniture or door frames and in extreme cases, indoor marking with urine or faeces. It is important to remember that the cat is not being naughty and should not be punished, instead these extreme behaviours should be viewed as a cry for help from a very stressed cat.

Thankfully we have access to very effective supplements and aids to help our stressed out felines lead calmer, happier lives. We use Feliway diffusers in our clinic to increase the cat’s sense of security and reduce the stress associated with visiting the vet or a stay in our hospital. Many cat owners have found the use of Feliway diffusers at home very helpful in dealing with stress related problems. The diffusers are best used before a stressful event - plug one in before moving house, in the lead up to bonfire night, during the later stages of pregnancy before the new arrival comes home, before introducing a new pet etc etc. It is also available in a spray form which is ideal to spray inside carriers at least 30 minutes before a trip to the vet! If you are thinking about adding a supplement to your cat’s food we have very palatable gel (Kalmaid) and powder (Zylkene) formulations available.

Click here to view our full stress relief range for cats

We also have a stress relief range for dogs which I hope to write more about soon.

Click here to view our full stress relief range for dogs

If your cat is displaying any signs of stress or changes in behaviour, please arrange a check up with your veterinary surgeon for a full assessment and to check for underlying medical conditions before starting any of the supplements mentioned in this article.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 11th, 2011 at 2:30 pm and is filed under News, Stress. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.