Causes and Signs of Stress in Cats

1 What Triggers Stress

A new household member — a person, another cat, or a dog — can raise a cat’s stress enough to cause a reaction.

Conflict in the home: being scolded or hit, loud arguments or fights, and other animals battling all unsettle a timid cat.

Over-handling: ignoring the cat’s mood and petting too much or too roughly backfires.

Loss: a familiar person or cat leaving brings separation anxiety that can tip into stress.

Crowding: too little territory and too little room to move.

Scarce resources: in multi-cat homes, one litter box or bed and skimpy meals breed tension.

Change: a sudden move, new furniture, or a shifted territory.

2 How Stress Shows

Under stimulation a cat’s stress response kicks in — uncontrolled behavior as it protects itself. A frightened cat may go on the attack, raising blood pressure and thickening the blood, which invites clots. Some show a racing heart and reduced heart-muscle blood flow; the worst cases refuse food, damaging the liver, and prolonged or intense stress can cause sudden death.

The signs split into two groups. Physical: dilated pupils, puffed fur, arched back, fast breathing, rapid heartbeat, drooling, and slow growth in kittens. Behavioral: freezing, bolting, fear of people, hiding, hissing, and over-grooming.

Stress is a root cause of many common feline illnesses and most odd behaviors, so day to day, cut the triggers and protect both the cat’s physical and mental health.