Feline Stress: 8 Reasons Why Your Cat is Stressed or Anxious
- Rachel
- Nov 24, 2024
- 10 min read
Updated: Apr 24
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Cats are extremely good at hiding their stress or pain to keep themselves safe from predators in the wild, a trait that lives on in our domestic cats. Unfortunately, this makes it easy for owners to miss the signs or mistake abnormal behaviour for a cat acting out.
A cat's stress response, also known as "fight or flight", is triggered by a release of hormones that prepares them for danger, such as running from a predator. However, cats are less well-adapted to deal with long-term chronic stress, and this plays a significant role in behavioural problems such as:
Inappropriate elimination (urinating outside the litter tray, spraying, fouling).
Overgrooming.
Excessive vocalisation.
Hiding.
Aggression.
You might be surprised to learn that a cat's ability to cope with stressful situations develops before they're born. If a mother cat experiences stress during pregnancy - such as poor nutrition, illness or injury - then her kittens may be more prone to stress later in life than those who haven't been exposed to it in the womb.
I can attest to this myself as a parent of two orphaned kittens that had to be hand-reared after rejection from their mother. Whatever the reason, Drax and Simba are the most skittish cats I've ever had - which has led to some rather problematic behaviour that you can read more about here.
Aside from genetic predisposition, a cat's stress response can be affected by age, breed, sex and health. Other contributing factors include cats learning from previous experiences and their environment.
Physical signs of chronic stress such as vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and skin problems are similar to digestive disorders. It's important to pay attention to every aspect of your cat's behaviour so the vet can rule out health concerns and find the most suitable treatment.
Feline stress is extremely common and, in many cases, easily solved with a few simple changes. Recognising the potential triggers can go a long way in avoiding worst-case scenarios like rehoming, which is one of the most difficult decisions for a pet parent to make.
Get to know other stress-related signs and symptoms in this detailed post: Signs of stress in Cats, Causes and Treatment
8 Causes of Feline Stress:
Illness or Disease
Since cats instinctively hide their pain, illness can trigger an emotional response - that response being stress. For example, a cat that's overgrooming could be experiencing pain in the area that it's focusing on; or it could simply have a flea infestation or allergy. If a cat has developed cystitis then it might start urinating outside the litter tray.
So too, certain hormonal imbalances and deficiencies can affect a cat's behaviour. It's important to rule out medical issues by getting cats checked over by a vet.
Some common illnesses that contribute to stress include:
Feline lower urinary tract disease.
Dental problems.
Arthritis.
Changes to the Environment
A cat's environment concerns their territory, which can be affected by numerous factors. The biggest and most obvious change is moving house, which is extremely stress-inducing for humans, let alone a cat that doesn't understand what's going on.
Your cat will know every inch of its home: every piece of furniture and every nook, cranny, window and doorway. What's more, it will have scent marked most of those areas with its own specific pheromones so they're safe and familiar. If you're as observant as me, you might have noticed your cat's reaction upon spotting something that wasn't there before.
I once left a vase of flowers on the mantelpiece and the moment Drax walked into the living room, his neck stretched up like a giraffe in what I can only describe as a fusion of apprehension and curiosity. Meanwhile, Simba will manically swat a stray shoe on the floor.
These "changes" are insignificant or even unnoticeable to humans, and while my cats are rather extreme examples, you can see how they're ruled by instinct, first and foremost. That's not to say all cats are of such a nervous disposition. A curious kitty may sniff the invading object before moving on, while a confident kitty might ignore it completely.
Major changes to the home can be more problematic: renovations, decorating, new furniture or even moving furniture around can affect a cat's sense of security by throwing a literal spanner into their works. Unfamiliar people coming and going, strange new smells and excessive noise is highly distressing for cats.
Comfort Zone plug-in pheromone diffuser for single or multi-cat homes. Creates a calm, relaxing environment to help reduce stress and other problem behaviours, as well as tension and fighting between household cats.
For this reason, it's best to keep cats away from any building work if possible. You can do this by blocking off the area or providing a private room away from the noise. Temporary residence with a friend or family member is another option, unless it's likely to cause your cat more stress. If this isn't possible, you might consider booking into a cattery on a short-term basis.
If moving home, ensure cats have some of their old bedding, toys, litter trays and other resources as familiar objects. I highly recommend investing in a plug-in diffuser that emits synthetic pheromones, similar to what your cat would release naturally to scent mark its environment.
New People or Pets
Changes to a cat's environment usually go hand in hand with a change of routine, as is the case with a new baby. We know cats are sensitive to sound and smell, and what are babies if not noisy, smelly creatures? Coupled with the lack of attention, which will all fall onto the new human, your cat may feel as though its territory is being completely taken over.
You can aid the process with a gradual introduction, which starts before the baby arrives by allowing cats to inspect any new furniture and access to the nursey. The same would apply to new people if, for example, your partner moves into the household. It's perfectly fine to leave items of their clothing around so cats can familiarise themselves with the new smell before they move in full-time.
Feliway Friends plug-in diffuser mimics the pheromones that a mother cat releases to her kittens to help reduce tension and conflict in multi-cat households.
If your kitty is slightly antisocial and you have lots of visitors or host regular parties, it's crucial to follow the advice above by providing plenty of safe places, as well as asking people to kindly not maul your anxious cat.
Of course, new additions to the home or family can extend to pets, and extra measures should be taken when introducing other cats to limit the chance of aggressive or territorial behaviours. This should be done by following the same strategy as outlined in the separation and reintroduction process.
Territory and Resources
If you thought dealing with one stressed kitty was complicated, try dealing with multiple kitties! Due to their independent natures, you could say that cats aren't built to live together - yet we know they can, as demonstrated in feral colonies and even lion prides.
The wild cat is a solitary hunter and only seeks out other cats for the purpose of mating. Stray or feral cats band together out of convenience, as they're often fed by humans and learn where to get all the best scraps. By doing this, there's less chance of outsider cats or other colonies from encroaching on their food supply. It also offers greater protection from predators and mating availability.
Much like house cats, colonies will create what's known as a "group scent" to keep intruders away, which further emphasises their territorial nature. However, this doesn't mean that all colony members live in harmony. While there may be some element of companionship, they're still looking out for number one!
PawHut Cat Stand with a large polyester bed, jute scratching posts and two hanging pompoms. Stands at 42cm and made from sturdy particle board with a wide base to prevent toppling.
Of course, we can't compare this life of survival to our domestic moggies because they're provided with food, shelter and care. Expecting cats to live in confined conditions is a far cry from their natural habitat, not to mention sharing that space with other cats not of their choosing and noisy humans.
A cat's basic resources include food and water, litter trays, bedding, safe places (such as cat trees which double up as beds), scratch posts and toys. The amount you need will depend on how many cats are in the household. Can you imagine urgently needing the bathroom, only to find that it's already occupied? This is annoying for a human, let alone our territory-obsessed kitties.
It's often not enough to provide one resource per home but, rather, one resource per cat - plus one extra. For example, three cats would need four litter trays, four beds and so on. These should be spread around the house and placed away from busy areas to give cats the privacy they need.
Cats have a tendency to take their frustration out on their housemates by lashing out, which can lead to an offensive/defensive relationship. I encountered this problem with my own boys and it quickly became territorial, which was much harder to remedy.
Signs of a territorial kitty aren't always obvious and could be described as passive-aggressive. One cat may guard or block access to resources, spread themselves across doorways and stare at the other cat in an attempt to intimidate them. This bullying behaviour can escalate into chasing, ambushing and full-contact fights.
What you have to figure out is if the problem is between the cats themselves or an external factor, so removing all potential stressors is a good place to start. This includes ensuring you have enough space for the amount of cats in the home, which you can increase by providing vertical climbing areas and cat-friendly shelves.
Yaheetech Floor-to-Ceiling Cat Tower has an adjustable height of 228-255cm. As well as multiple platforms, it contains two roomy condos; two baskets; a sisal ladder and built-in scratching mat.
Learn more about the importance of resource sharing in this detailed post: Feline Aggression: How to Stop Cats Fighting and Attacking Other Cats
Other Cats
We've spoken about resident cats, but what about strays and other cats in the neighbourhood? This isn't limited to those that have access to outdoors; just spotting an intruder through a window can trigger a territorial response. This is a classic example of redirected aggression, whereby kitty gets spooked or overstimulated and can't reach the source of the scare, so it lashes out at the nearest thing - usually, other resident cats.
I've had this issue regularly over the last couple of years, not with other cats but loud noises like thunder or fireworks. If your cat has picked up the smell of an unfamiliar feline then it might start urine spraying to surround itself with its own scent and boost security.
Recommended solutions include:
Limiting outdoors time, particularly the hours of dusk and dawn when cats are most active and therefore likely to bump into one another.
Cleaning yards, patios and exterior doors with a strong disinfectant.
Covering cat flaps.
Closing curtains where you think an intruder has been spotted or using self-adhesive privacy films.
Separation Anxiety
This is more commonly associated with dogs who can be known to bark from the moment their owner leaves home until the moment they return. Cats too may engage in excessive vocalisation, but there are some other signs to be aware of.
Urinating or pooping on a human's belongings in an attempt to scent mix.
Urine spraying around the home.
Overgrooming.
Not eating or lack of appetite.
Hiding.
Separation-related behaviour is rare in cats but more likely to occur in single-pet households. Despite being content in their own company, there's less to do when their owners are absent and they're confined indoors.
Beaphar Herbal Calming Treats contain hop flowers, Melissa and valerian which is known for its calming properties. They help to promote relaxation and reduce the symptoms of stress including scratching, spraying and excessive vocalisation.
In fact, cats that live strictly indoors are more prone to separation anxiety as they don't have access to outdoor space and are completely reliant on their owners for food, water and entertainment. This can result in a much deeper attachment, as is the case with bonded cats that may display similar behaviours after losing a companion.
Some cats thrive on physical contact and become stressed when they don't get it or are left alone for long periods of time, particularly if it falls out of their normal routine. Others are more solitary and too much physical contact can leave them in a state of anxiety or arousal. Therefore, it also depends on the personality of the cat in question
Some other factors that can affect cats are being separated from their mother too soon, hand-rears and spending a lot of time in shelters which contributes to insecurity.
Boredom
Domestic cats are generally less active than their wild counterparts, but this is even more the case with indoor cats who don't get the opportunity to climb, hunt and explore. A sedentary lifestyle affects much more than physical health - even humans are encouraged to exercise to improve mental and emotional wellbeing. Cats need to exhibit their natural behaviours, which is best achieved through play.
Cats are known for their ability to sleep for sixteen hours a day - there is a purpose to this, but since our domestic kitties have no need to hunt for food or escape predators at any given moment, they need to burn off energy in other ways. From teaser wands to catnip mice and interactive toys, check out these 12 types of cat toys and games for inspiration.
Lack of stimulation can be especially problematic in multi-cat households as it's more likely for conflict to break out. Whether that's a young or hyperactive cat terrorising an older cat, two cats squabbling over territory or no appropriate channel for their energy, play has a crucial role in minimising inter-cat aggression.
Fear
Fear is often a trigger for acute stress, such as fireworks on New Year, which is more easily remedied because you know the cause. Remember, a cat's first instinct is to run from danger, so they should have plenty of hiding places to retreat to, away from other cats and humans. As tempting as it is to soothe your frightened cat, this can risk it becoming overstimulated and attacking.
Of course, if kitty seeks comfort or attention then by all means offer it, but otherwise it's never a good idea to try and pick up a cat that's shaking, panting, rigid, growling or hissing - unless it's in immediate danger.
As mentioned, pheromone diffusers, calming sprays and other products can help during particularly stress-inducing events.
Fear-based stress can also be chronic, as we see in cats that have been abused or traumatised. This could be due to previous bad experiences with humans or lack of socialisation, such as those living on the streets.
As shocking as it is to think that people are capable of harming animals, rehabilitation usually requires intense behavioural therapy. This can take a lot of time, patience and money if you're working with a behaviourist, yet it's one of the most rewarding processes.
For carers, seeing an animal that was previously terrified of humans or spent all day hiding under a bed begin to integrate with people and other animals is an achievement like no other. Equally, the animal gets to experience the love and care it was previously denied.
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Have you got a stressed kitty at home? Share your experiences and solutions to help out fellow parents or get in touch for more help and advice.
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