Recognising the signs of stress in cats

Cats aren’t always articulate when it comes to letting their humans know they’re unhappy. They’re renowned for concealing their discomfort because they consider themselves vulnerable and at risk when they’re sick or injured. They display similar signs when their pain is emotional – even when it’s not related to a physical ailment. Cats can become stressed with changes to their environment, when being transported and when coming into contact with new household members. This includes humans and other pets. It’s important to recognise the signs of stress in cats to improve their comfort and also ascertain whether they may be suffering from something more sinister.

Some signs are more apparent and severe then others – unfortunately, if your cat is vomiting and/or has diarrhea, they may have been stressed for some time, potentially in response to an underlying condition. Less obvious signs include their coat quality deteriorating from over grooming, which can cause large bald patches or sores. Changes in weight and appetite are also indicative of stress with some cats losing interest in food and becoming emaciated while others can eat and gain excessive weight. They may start ingesting non-food items from around the house such as textiles pulled from furniture or small plastics in what is known as ‘pica’. Their toileting habits may also change in frequency, indicating stress.

While cats most certainly can hold a grudge with their excellent memories, not all of their ‘jerk’ behaviour is personal. There is a vast difference between playful swatting and becoming unruly or aggressive towards their humans or other household pets. Any out of the ordinary responses to your cat’s usual routine should be monitored. They can express themselves by withdrawal or extroverted agitation – and anything in between. Loud and excessive meowing, scratching and spraying furniture and toileting outside of the litterbox, are some of the high intensity behaviours that can be noticed more easily. Hiding frequently, reluctance to interact or play and seeming detached to things that are going on around them are some examples of introverted behaviour which may be more difficult to detect.

Facial expressions and bodily mannerisms can also reveal stress in your cat. Tense crouching with dilated pupils is often observed in a cat that is assessing something it deems to be a risk, such as a new visitor to the house. This stance will usually make way for relaxation or greeting when the cat has decided it’s safe to do so. However, when this continues without any explanation, there may be something more serious going on. Other signs include head shaking, fixated staring, swallowing that seems exaggerated like a ‘gulp’ and erratic unfocused grooming.

One of the best ways to prevent stress in cats is to anticipate and prevent some of the causes, which you can read about in our other blogs here.