What
is it?
Signs of stress include any new
behavior such as hiding, cowering,
not using the litterbox, not eating,
not greeting you, not grooming, lack
of coat luster.
What
to do
about it?
If your cat
is showing signs of stress and
medical causes have been ruled out
then try
to lower your feline's stress. Keep your cat in
one, quiet room with everything he
or she needs and try the following:
-
Provide routines
and stability
-
Increase resources or
decrease number of cats
-
Give more attention and
grooming
time to the cat
-
Provide daily interactive play
and exercise
-
Provide quality food and
fresh water around the clock
-
Keep litter
box scooped
at least
twice daily
-
Provide high places
for your
cat rest
-
Provide places to hide and
seek privacy
|
If
your cat gets a clean bill
of health,
then most
likely, the stress is coming
from something or someone in
the home environment or just
outside the home. |
What not to do?
Do not sooth the
cat when showing stress as studies
indicate that soothing may be
perceived as encouragement or
reinforcement of the stress
behaviors.
Do not give any attention when the
cat is showing stress.
Do not approach the cat as you may
get attacked or bitten.
Do not
add to the stress
by forcing anything or anybody on
the cat.
Do not change anything such as food
type unless recommended by the
veterinarian.
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