Stress in cats: causes, symptoms and treatment features

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

When looking at a cat sleeping peacefully on the sofa, it seems that there is no more calm and unflappable creature. In fact, this is not so, pets react quite sharply to external stimuli, as a result of which they can be stressed. In cats, neuroses develop quite often, and not always the reason for this is the unfavorable situation in the house. In this article, we propose to consider the question of why cats experience stress, how they are expressed and how to get rid of them.

Stress and its consequences

Stress in cats is a neurological disease that develops under the influence of certain events. When the nervous system is stressed, both the behavior of the animal and the work of the internal organs change.

Stress in cats, like in humans, can be short-term and long-term. If the first passes quickly and without consequences, then the second can greatly affect the he alth of the pet. With long-term stress, immunity decreases, the animal becomes maximallysusceptible to infectious diseases. Stress adversely affects the gastrointestinal tract and the genitourinary system. Possible risk of developing hypertension, skin diseases (eczema and dermatitis), high blood sugar levels.

Stages of development of stress

Stress in cats develops in three stages:

1. The first stage may go unnoticed by the owner. The animal becomes wary, anxious, may show both hyperactivity and apathy. Inside, too, changes are taking place: breathing quickens, body temperature and pressure go down.
2. The second stage is adaptation to the new state. During this period, the cat calms down and begins to behave as before.
3. Exhaustion - this stage occurs if the causes that led to stress are not eliminated. The restorative forces of the cat are running out, it falls into the strongest apathy. In this case, the animal refuses food and water, exhaustion, dehydration, then dystrophy occurs. This stage can be fatal for the animal.

Causes of stress in cats

Stress resistance, the state of the nervous system and adaptability for each cat are different, therefore, under the same circumstances, some individuals experience stress, while others do not.

An animal's habits and environment influence the perception of stimuli. What is normal for some cats may be stressful for others.

There are several types of stimuli that provoke its occurrence:

1. Physical: burns, injuries,frostbite, too cold or hot environment, excessively dry or humid air.
2. Chemical: smoke in the room, poisoning by combustion products or other substances.
3. Biological: lack of vitamins, protracted illness, hunger.
4. Mental: abrupt change of environment, housing, regime, fear, insufficient or excessive attention.

The most common kind of reason is the last one. Any failure in the lifestyle of the animal leads to stress. For example, the meal schedule was changed, a move to another place of residence took place, new furniture was bought, the animal was left to itself, although before that it was surrounded by care, or vice versa - excessive attention is shown from children, grandchildren, relatives, guests, despite the fact that the cat used to loneliness and does not like affection.

It has been proven that a cat is not as attached to a person as to a house. If you decide to go on vacation or a business trip, it is better to ask your friends to look after your pet than to take it with you. Another thing is moving to a new place. The cat will react sharply to this change of scenery, it may refuse food in the first days, even run away. It is not recommended to let the cat go for a walk immediately after the move, she must adapt to the new place, get used to it.

In addition to moving, a change of scenery also affects the cat's psyche: repairs, rearrangement of furniture, new interior items and furniture. Also, cats are sensitive to the appearance of new pets, frequent visits from guests.

Signs

Symptoms of stress in a cat manifest themselves in different ways. There are strong manifestations of anxiety and weak ones that many may simply not pay attention to:

• refusing to eat or, conversely, overeating;
• strange taste preferences, which can be expressed in eating clothes, houseplants, earth from pots and so on;
• low tone, low pressure and temperature;
• apathy or overexcitement;
• ignoring the host;
• aggression;
• retardation;
• constant licking, which leads to baldness and irritation, or, conversely, lack of craving for hygiene, against which the coat becomes dull and unkempt;
• diarrhea;
• frequent yawning.

If you notice signs of stress in an animal, then you need to identify the cause, eliminate it. If nothing can be fixed when moving or changing the environment, then walking with a cat, playing with old toys, stroking, caressing and talking in a calm voice will help.

Prevention

To prevent stress, you need to follow simple rules:

1. Don't forget to feed and water the cat.
2. Don't leave alone for a long time if she is accustomed to communication, and do not burden her with too much attention.
3. Set up a cat house or couch in a remote corner. If guests come, do not allow climbing to the animal, especially children. She herself, if she wants, will leave the shelter and make contact.
4. When moving firsttake out the cat house, bowl, toys and tray. Equip her with a corner of the usual things, show her a new place for the toilet.
5. Do not limit your pet's access to the window, cats are very curious and love to watch life flowing by. If there are plants on the windowsills, move them so that the animal can fit there.

Treatment

How to relieve stress in a cat if prevention and the first measures taken to eliminate the causes did not help? In this case, you will have to apply medical treatment. But it is worth remembering that only a qualified veterinarian should prescribe medications and dosages.

In order for the cat to adapt to the new environment, pheromones are prescribed, which are sprayed on walls and furniture.

Benzodiazepines are psychoactive substances used to treat stress. The drugs of this group are addictive, so the treatment should be supervised by a veterinarian, and the course should be completed gradually.

It will be necessary to choose the right food. Choose foods that are high in omega-3s, these are:

• olive, vegetable and linseed oils;
• chicken eggs;
• sea fish.

Treatment of cat stress is a must. The process will take some time, during this period it is necessary to be affectionate with the animal, do not scold it, act according to the recommendations of the veterinarian.

Doctors often prescribe a change in nutrition - the introduction of professional and balanced food into the diet for stressed cats. "HillsUrinari" is one of these foods.

Hills Urinari food - what is it?

Stress in 60% of cases causes the development of idiopathic cystitis in cats, which, in turn, causes urological diseases. Hills Urinari is a specialized cat food that, thanks to its unique composition, reduces stress and the likelihood of developing idiopathic cystitis.

Currently, there are no analogues of such food that can be purchased and used without a doctor's prescription. "Hills Urinari" helps the cat to quickly adapt to a new home, environment, children, people and other animals. The food is also recommended to reduce stress during frequent exhibitions and eating low-quality products.

Recommendations and contraindications

"Hills Urinari" is recommended for feeding in the following cases:

1. If you plan to move, change furniture, repair, visit guests for a long time, then you need to include this food in the diet in advance.
2. Urolithiasis (dissolution of stones and sand, urolithiasis of any type, urethral plugs, urinary tract diseases, and so on).
3. When feeding low quality food, stable shows, moving and leaving.

Contraindications:

• do not use food if the animal is given drugs that acidify urine;
• not intended for pregnant, lactating cats or kittens.

Form of feed release

Hills Urinari feed is produced both in dry form and in the form of canned food. The packaging contains the composition, the content of vitamins, minerals, as well as the dosage for mixed (natural food + dry and wet food) and constant feeding with dry and wet food.

Produced by Hills Urinari in France.

Cat is stressed: what to do?

It happens that you simply cannot do without the use of drugs. To calm down, veterinarians often prescribe "Stop-stress" drops for cats. There are a lot of reviews about this drug, and almost all of them are positive. They write that the medicine really helps with stress, but it will not be possible to cope with the natural temperament of the animal.

"Stop-stress" quickly relieves the pet's nervous tension, it is recommended when moving, changing the environment, replenishing the family (children, other animals), exhibitions and other moments when the cat starts to worry, get scared, hide.

The main active ingredient is phenibut. In addition to it, there are also auxiliary components that will help not only overcome stress, but also have a positive effect on the general condition:

• valerian;
• peony;
• motherwort;
• helmet;
• mint;
• hops.

The drug is produced in two forms - drops and tablets. First of all, we suggest that you read the instructions for the Stop Stress drops for cats.

How to give drops

Few cats will agree to take the drug voluntarily, so you have to try and forcefully drop the medicine into the pussy's mouth. Open her mouth, put one drop on the root of the tongue, it will be good if you immediately offer a piece of goodies so that the drug is completely swallowed.

Use the medicine twice a day. The course of admission is calculated based on the condition of the animal and ranges from 15 to 20 days.

How to give pills

It is not easier to give medicine in this form, but it is not more difficult either. "Stop-stress" tablets for a cat are given twice a day, but the dosage is calculated individually, based on the weight of the animal.

1. Up to 5 kilos - half a tablet twice a day.
2. More than 5 kilograms - a whole tablet twice a day.

The medicine can be put in the feed, but there is no guarantee that the animal will definitely eat it. It is better to act forcefully: open the cat's mouth, put the pill on the root of the tongue, close the mouth, hold the animal's head upside down, stroking the neck until the pill is swallowed.

The duration of the course is the same as in the treatment with drops.

Contraindications, side effects of pills

In no case should you give a cat "Stop-stress" if there is an individual intolerance to any of the components.

The drug is contraindicated:

• pregnant and lactating cats;
• for pets under one year old;
• for diabetes;
• with tumorformations;
• for MPS diseases.

Side effects may include:

• hyperexcitability or drowsiness;
• vomit;
• an allergic reaction that occurs on the skin of an animal.

If these symptoms were noted after taking the drug, then it is urgent to stop treatment with it and show the cat to the veterinarian.