Understanding Cat Stress
Like humans, cats also suffer stress, and it can have negative effects on their health. Stress in cats can also lead to sudden behavioral changes, such as inappropriate elimination or urinating and defecating in places outside of the litter box. Cat stress symptoms are usually easy to recognize. However, to be safe, before you conclude that your cat is only displaying symptoms of stress, the first protocol is always to rule out possible medical problems in your cat. If your cat is in good health, then it’s time to consider stress as the source of the problem.
Cat stress can be caused by a number of reasons. The following discusses some of the environmental and emotional causes of stress that your cat may be experiencing.
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Jealousy of new cats inside the house
Introducing a new cat in the home can be a source of stress for your previous cat. Your old cat may feel jealous and agitated that another cat is in its territory and sharing your affection. Because of this, your old cat may turn aggressive not just toward the new cat but even toward other animals and people in the house, including you. To avoid this, you should follow the recommended steps on how to introduce a new cat in your home.
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Seeing other cats outside the house
When your cat sees another cat in the backyard or in its territory, its first instinct will be to let the other cat know that it is trespassing. Cats communicate through body language and sounds. However, when your cat is sitting by a closed window and sees another cat strolling by its backyard, frustration arises because it cannot go out and claim its territory. This is a common source of cat stress. As a result, your cat may display redirected aggression and lash out on whoever it is near to.
When your cat shows signs of aggression, observe your surroundings to see if there are other cats in the neighborhood. If there are, find ways to prevent your cat from seeing the source of its stress.
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Death in a member of the household
Cats have emotions too. When a member of the family dies, cats seem to feel the emotions of people around them. They also miss the presence of the deceased family member. Because of this, they may suddenly manifest behavioral changes because of stress, such as inappropriate elimination for an otherwise litter-trained cat. Some cats turn aggressive while others withdraw. You can minimize this kind of cat stress by putting an item, such as old clothes, that has the scent of the deceased family member close to the cat to help your cat cope with the loss.
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Transferring to a new place
Another source of cat stress is moving to a new place. A different environment can be intimidating to a cat, and it will take a while before it can adjust to its new home. When you transfer to a new residence, bring your cat’s old things, such as blankets, beddings, and toys. Being surrounded by things that are familiar to it will help the cat adjust more easily and will instinctively know that it is at home.