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The Ultimate Guide to Cat Stress Relief
Cats often have a reputation for being easygoing, self-sufficient pets; while this is largely the case, they can in fact be highly sensitive. This means that they can often become frustrated or anxious by certain events. It can be difficult to spot and know how to handle cat anxiety. However, there is no need to worry - we have compiled this ultimate guide to cat stress relief, to help you identify and soothe symptoms of cat anxiety.
Why do cats get anxious?
The sources of cat anxiety are generally associated with changes in their environment or company. These include moving home, new household additions, home decoration and a change in your routine. Temporary changes in circumstance such as travel, fireworks and thunderstorms can also induce stress in cats.
How can I spot signs of cat anxiety?
Cat anxiety can often be picked up through slight differences in your cat's behaviour. According to Battersea, these include:
Physical symptoms
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Sudden changes in weight
- Sleeping more than usual, or appearing lethargic
- Excessive drinking and/or eating
- Not going to the toilet as often
Behavioural symptoms
- Excessive scratching or grooming
- Using the toilet outside of the litter tray
- Aggressive behaviour
- Reluctance to engage in their usual activities, such as coming inside, going outside or playing
- An increased dependency on, or withdrawal from, yourself or your family
How can I provide cat stress relief?
When it comes to calming your cat, the method will depend upon the source of stress. For example, cats should be introduced gradually to any changes in their environment. This extends to any introduction to new family members or other pets within your household.
Remedies for calming your cat
There are also a number of remedies to help calm your anxious cat in situations such as travel and fireworks, as well as unfamiliar environments. These include:
Feliway Cat Pheromone Diffuser
Feliway works to produce a sense of calm by diffusing cat pheromones into the air. This will help to stop behaviours such as excessive grooming, scratching and urine spraying.
Johnson's Travel-Eze Tablets
If you are looking to keep your pets calm on their travels, Johnson's Travel-Eze tablets can help reduce the effects of vehicle motion. This will make travel more comfortable for your cat.
Kalm-Aid Liquid
This product is perfect for any fear or anxiety-causing situation, whether your cat is scared of fireworks, thunderstorms, travel, or has separation anxiety. Kalm-Aid contains L-Tryptophan and L-theanine, which affect the central nervous system and therefore calm your anxious pet.
We also advise that you take your cat to the vets if you have noticed any problems with your cat's physical health.
If you are looking to calm your anxious dog, we also offer helpful product recommendations and advice in our previous blog post:
If you are looking to make transitions and anxiety-inducing events as easy as possible for your cat, why wait?
Stock up on essential cat stress relief methods today!
This post was written on behalf of Vet Pharmacy by Carla Moore from Pharmacy Mentor.