Signs of stress and anxiety in cats

Stressed cats change their behaviour. They hide, eat less or more, groom too much or too little, stop using the litter box, spray, or become unusually aggressive or clingy. These changes can also be signs of illness, so see a vet first. If the vet finds no medical cause, look for what changed in the cat's world and make the home calmer and more predictable.

Cats are creatures of routine. Many cope badly with change, and many hide how they feel. Learning the signs lets you act early, before stress turns into illness or a long-term behaviour problem.

Signs of stress

No single sign proves stress. Look for a change from the cat's usual self, and for several signs together.

Body and posture

• Crouching low, a tucked tail, flattened ears, wide eyes and dilated pupils.
• Freezing or trying to make itself small.
• Trembling.
• Panting or open-mouth breathing, which is a medical warning in cats.

Hiding and withdrawal

• Hiding for long periods, avoiding people or other pets.
• Sleeping more or less than usual.
• Staying away from favourite spots.

Eating and drinking

• Eating much less, refusing food or eating faster than usual.
• Drinking more or less.
• Vomiting or diarrhoea.

Grooming

• overgrooming, which can cause bald patches, thin fur or sores. Common areas are the belly and the inner legs.
• A matted, greasy or unkempt coat in a cat that has stopped grooming.

Litter box and marking

• Urinating or defecating outside the box. See litter box aversion.
• Spraying urine on walls, doors or furniture.
• Visiting the box often, or straining.

Voice and behaviour

• More crying, yowling or growling, especially at night.
• Hissing, swatting or biting without clear cause.
• Pacing, restlessness or sudden bursts of running.
• Clinginess or constant following.
• Scratching furniture more than before.

Remember that all these signs can have a medical cause. Pain, urinary problems, thyroid disease, dental disease and many other conditions look like stress.

What causes stress

Common triggers include:

• Change. A move, new furniture, a renovation, a new baby, a new partner or a change in your working hours.
• Other animals. A new pet, a cat in the garden, a dog, or conflict in a multi-cat household. Cats seen through windows can cause strong reactions.
• Too few resources. Not enough litter boxes, feeding stations, water bowls, beds or hiding places.
• Noise and activity. Building work, parties, children, loud music, fireworks or a vacuum.
• Handling and vet visits. Rough handling or frequent carrier trips with a bad experience.
• Boredom. Lack of play, climbing and things to watch.
• Unpredictable routines. Feeding times that vary, or a household that is chaotic.
• Dirty or poorly placed litter boxes.
• Illness and pain.
• Being left alone for long periods, for some cats.

Cats differ. What upsets one cat leaves another unmoved.

What you can do

Start with the vet. Book a check-up if you see any change that lasts more than a day or two, or sooner if the cat is not eating. Then work on the home.

1. Find the trigger. Think about what changed before the signs began. Keep notes for a week or two.
2. Keep a steady routine. Feed, play and clean the box at set times. Predictability calms cats.
3. Provide hiding places. Boxes, covered beds and shelves let the cat retreat. Place them in quiet spots in several rooms.
4. Offer height. Cat trees, shelves and window perches give a sense of safety and a view.
5. Give each cat its own resources. Provide one litter box per cat plus one, and separate food, water and resting places, spread through the home. The litter boxes and new-cat checklist tool shows how many you need.
6. Play every day. Two or three short sessions with a wand toy use energy and build confidence. See enrichment for more ideas.
7. Give choices. Let the cat decide when to approach. Do not force handling.
8. Block the view of outdoor cats when they trigger a reaction, with frosted film or blinds.
9. Introduce changes slowly. Move furniture a bit at a time, swap foods over several days and introduce pets gradually.
10. Keep noise down during stressful events, and provide a quiet room with a bed, food, water and a litter box.
11. Consider a pheromone product. A plug-in pheromone diffuser helps some cats settle. Evidence is mixed, so use it as an extra and not as the main step. Ask your vet.
12. Use gentle handling. Pick up cats only if they like it. Support their body.
13. Be calm yourself. Cats pick up on tension in the household.

Do not give a cat any calming supplement or medicine without asking your vet. Some products are not safe for cats, and the right choice depends on the cat's health.

Common mistakes

• Punishing stress behaviours. Shouting at a cat that hides, sprays or has accidents makes stress worse.
• Assuming stress without a vet check.
• Forcing a cat out of hiding.
• Changing everything at once.
• Leaving out the quiet room during parties or building work.
• Ignoring early signs. Cats that suffer chronic stress can become ill.
• Expecting the cat to adjust in a day. Some cats need weeks.
• Overcrowding a small space with cats.
• Believing an indoor cat has no stress. Indoor cats can be bored, crowded or frustrated.

When to call a vet

Stress can lead to physical illness, and illness looks like stress. Call your vet promptly if:

• The cat stops eating for a day or more. A cat that does not eat can develop a serious liver condition called hepatic lipidosis.
• A male cat strains to urinate or passes little or no urine. Go to an emergency clinic at once.
• The cat urinates more often, passes blood or cries in the box.
• The cat vomits repeatedly or has diarrhoea that lasts.
• Breathing is fast, laboured or with an open mouth.
• The cat hides for many days, is limp or very quiet.
• Grooming has caused sores or bald patches.
• Aggression is sudden, severe or directed at people.
• The signs persist after you have made changes.

Your vet may check for medical causes, discuss the home and suggest a referral to a qualified behaviour specialist.

Summary

• Stress shows as changes in hiding, eating, grooming, litter use, voice and temper.
• Many signs overlap with illness, so see a vet first.
• Find the trigger and keep the routine steady.
• Provide hiding places, height, play and enough resources.
• Make changes slowly and never punish.
• Call a vet if the cat stops eating, strains to urinate or breathes with difficulty.