10 Signs That Your Cat Is Stressed

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Cats have feelings too. If you thought that they have nothing to worry about, you are wrong! Through various emotions and mannerisms, cats exhibit things bothering them. Not addressing them at the right time may lead to depression.

While this sounds alarming, you can save your cat from stressed feelings by observing them closely. Some of the signs may give away readily but some don’t. Thus, if you are looking to understand the stress signs in your feline friend, read on!

This might be the first sign to show that your cat is going through stress. You can hear howls, excessive meowing, hissing, growls, and more. Typically, anything out of the ordinary will surely catch your ear.

Also, you will find that your cat begins to express more if they do not usually. This calls for a trip to a vet to understand if something is bothering your kitty. 

All of a sudden you can witness a big hesitation in using their favorite and comfortable litter box. Your cat begins urinating outside them at different places and this continues while using their other liked objects too.

Cat flaps and cat plays are no longer interesting for them. You may even find their playtime with you reduced. 

Losing interest in food and pushing away the food bowl is another sign that needs a vet’s attention at once.

Similarly, you can notice a reduction in drinking habits too. To make up for the lost interest in food, you may find them eating non-foods that can be harmful. 

Your cat’s behavior can easily indicate if something’s wrong with them.

If your cat is suddenly trying to avoid humans or other pet animals at home, then your cat is stressed.

Likewise, you will also find that some cats begin to show aggressive behavior when other animals or humans come near them. Picking up fights unnecessarily may become common. 

You might begin to witness a change in their sleeping schedule. Moreover, it can lead to drowsiness most of the time thereby making your cat lethargic.

They are no longer interested in playing or wandering around the house. This calls for a vet’s attention and is an important sign of stress. 

When they are trying to cover their stress by sleeping, they also tend to move into a corner while doing so. Hiding constantly or finding ways to escape into a secret place may be another tell-tale of stress.

Look for this behavior for an extended period to conclude. On the flip side, you can suddenly see your cat clinging to you for a long time in a day. This also means that they require somebody by their side while going through a stressful period. 

While this sign can mean a lot of things, it doesn’t harm to check your cat out when they show diarrhea, constipation, or other digestive problems. However, with the other stress signs shown here, you can tell for sure that your cat’s mood may be off.

A visit to the vet will clear your doubts. On the contrary, if it is a standalone symptom, it might go away from the medical supervision of your vet. If not, things may keep continuing. 

If you have ever wondered if scratching can become a symptom, then yes, it can. In times of stress, cats begin expressing their emotions in multiple ways. One such is excessive scratching.

Particularly, you will find them near furniture scratching most of the time. 

Cats and grooming go hand in hand. However, stress may lead them to keep licking their body or continuously groom their skin for relief.

You have to keep noticing this aspect as you cannot find anything wrong with a cat grooming itself many times a day. 

Outdoor cats may begin to stay home and indoor cats may not like their comfy home any longer. Even your presence may begin to irritate them.

Sometimes, a small sound may make them jump, or on the other hand, cats may not even react to loud noises anymore. Fussiness is through the roof, and you have no idea why. This might be another call of being stressed. 

Final Thoughts

Cats' behavioral and physical changes may indicate stress. You have to keep a close watch on them if you spot any of the above symptoms.

However, assess your cat well before approaching a vet. Yet, if you are confused, it doesn’t hurt to visit a vet for the well-being of your feline friend.