Pet Health: What You Need to Know

What You Should Know About Anxiety In Cats

2 June 2020

Connor Hawkins

If you are a cat owner or are planning to become a cat owner in the near future, what you may not know is that cats can suffer from anxiety, just like their human counterparts. Get to know some of the facts about anxiety in cats you should know and what you can do to help them deal with it if your cat develops or has anxiety. Then, you can better care for your cat going forward.  

Know There Are Many Causes of Anxiety in Cats

One of the things to keep in mind is that there are a number of reasons that a cat might develop anxiety. Sometimes, you can figure out what causes your cat's anxiety. Other times, it will remain a mystery. If you recently adopted a cat and they seem anxious or overly fearful, they may have been abused, which is a common cause of feline anxiety. 

Any changes in the household can also lead to anxiety. This can include (but is not exclusive to) moving, a new baby, a new pet, the loss of a pet, or even moving furniture around. If your cat suffers an injury or illness, they may develop anxiety as a result of that as well. 

Recognize the Signs of Anxiety in Cats

When a cat has anxiety, they can exhibit numerous signs and symptoms. Your cat may be fearful of loud noises, for example. They may also be quite clingy and follow you around constantly (needing you in their sight at all times). On the flip side, hiding constantly could also be a sign of anxiety. 

Other signs and symptoms of cat anxiety include urinating and defecating outside of the litter box, vomiting, aggression, pacing, diarrhea, and excessive grooming to the point of losing fur.

Take Your Cat to the Vet at Signs of Trouble

If you notice signs of anxiety in your cat, the first thing you should do is take them to the vet. Many of these symptoms can also be caused by other health conditions. As such, your veterinarian will want to perform a physical exam and will likely run blood work. This will help rule out infections or other possible health issues. 

Should your veterinarian find no signs of physical issues in your cat, they may diagnose them with anxiety. Anxiety in cats can be treated with lifestyle changes and with medications. Lifestyle changes can include sticking to a set routine with your cat, like cleaning their litter box every day and feeding them at the same time every day.

You could also try pheromone diffusers as they are designed to help calm cats down. Medications for anxiety in your cat should come directly from their veterinarian as the medications and dosages appropriate for cats are different than those of humans. 

Now that you know some of the things you should know about anxiety in cats and what you can do to deal with it, you can be sure to contact your veterinarian if your cat is showing signs of anxiety. 

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