Stress in cats

How to spot the signs of stress in cats

Spotting the signs of stress in cats can be difficult. Unlike dogs, they do not have the range of facial expressions to tell us how they’re feeling. Many of the signs that cats show are extremely subtle, meaning they can be easily missed.

Cats will often display a combination of signs to show they’re stressed, including changes to their:

• behaviour
• body language
• health

Changes in your cat’s behaviour

If your cat is feeling stressed, they may show subtle signs in their behaviour, such as:

• avoiding situations or people more than usual, for example, not wanting to interact with you anymore
• hiding away for long periods of time
• not wanting to go outside anymore
• irritability or agitation
• aggressive behaviour towards people or other pets
• toileting or spraying in the home

Your cat may also do certain things more often than usual:

• Over-grooming
• Increased vocalisation
• Scratching furniture – although many cats do this, an increase or scratching in a new place could suggest a rise in stress
• More alert than usual
•  

Changes in your cat’s body language

You may also notice some subtle changes in your cats body language, including:

• a tense, hunched up body
• flattened ears
• dilated pupils
• increased swallowing or lip licking
• skin twitching or ‘rippling’

Changes to your cat’s health

Stress can also contribute to your cat's health, causing problems such as:

• urinary tract issues or cystitis
• diarrhoea
• skin issues
• digestive problems
• general decline in physical condition
• a lack of appetite

Not all of these health issues are caused by stress, but long-term stress can contribute towards illness. Speak to your vet if you're worried your cat is unwell or you notice changes in their behaviour.

What causes stress in cats?

Most cats are adaptable, but they’re also a very sensitive species. Changes to their life, their owners and environment can affect their stress levels. Some common causes of stress include:

• a threat to their territory
• multi-cat households
• being handled more than they would like
• changes to the smell of their home

Threats to your cat’s territory

Cats are very attached to their territory and this is where they should feel safe. If they feel threatened, they might become stressed.

Perceived threats might include:

• introducing a new dog or a new cat in the home
• a new baby in the home
• moving house
• building work or decorating
• unfamiliar cats coming into the garden or breaking into their home

Multi-cat households

Although cats can form friendships with their other cats, many prefer their own company and do not enjoy living with other cats.

If an introduction is rushed, or if there is not enough space or food for them to live together easily, then living in a multi-cat household can become very stressful for some cats.

Over-handling your cat

Being stroked or picked up when it’s not wanted or enjoyed is stressful for cats. Many cats will enjoy the company of younger members of the household. But some very young children can be overly enthusiastic when it comes to stroking cats and this persistent attention can become very stressful.

Changes to the smell of your cat's home

Cats have an incredible sense of smell which is much more powerful than ours. Significant changes to the smell of their home can be a real concern to cats, even though it may not be obvious to us.

How to reduce your cat’s stress

There are some things that you can do to reduce your cat's stress:

See a vet

If you think your cat is suffering with stress, the first thing to do is contact your vet. Long term stress can make your cat unwell, so it’s important to see a vet as soon as possible.

Speak to an animal behaviourist

If you feel you need additional help with your cat’s behaviour you can contact the Animal Behaviour and Training Council to find a qualified feline behaviour expert.

They will be able to assess your cat’s individual situation and give you specific advice tailored to you and your cat. This can help to resolve the problems your cat is experiencing.

Take a look at our advice

If you think you know why your cat is experiencing stress, then we have a range of advice available:

• Advice on scratching furniture
• Advice on toileting and spraying issues
• How to manage multi-cat households
• How to introduce to cats to each other
• How to introduce dogs and cats
• Introducing a cat to your baby
• Introducing a kitten to your children

What if your cat is so stressed you cannot keep them any longer?

We know that sometimes people’s circumstances change. Giving up your cat is a really difficult decision and it can help to speak to someone about it. If you can no longer look after your cat due to their stress, our rehoming team is always happy to talk to you about your circumstances.

Contact your nearest Blue Cross rehoming centre to talk to one of the team or find out more about giving up a pet.