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Stress Relief For Cats: Symptoms & Treatments


Let's be honest; we all love our cats! Whether you have a cat that is your baby, or you love to spend time with the local shelter kitties, we all want them to be happy and healthy.

One of the best ways to help ensure they stay that way is by relieving stress. There are many ways for us humans to relieve stress: going out with friends, taking a bath, binge-watching our favourite shows on Netflix, or going to play a round of golf.

For our cats, their way of relieving stress is typically by taking a nap! While this may work for some, even the most laid-back cats can have times when they become overstressed.

So how do we help our cats to manage their stress, and what can we do to make our cat's environment a happy one, free from stressful situations?

Below is a list of things that cause stress for most cats and how we might provide stress relief for cats.

 

 Symptoms Of Cats Feeling Stressed

When a cat is stressed, it may exhibit physical and behavioural changes. While loud noises or a new pet sitter might cause short term stress, it's essential to know the signs of long-term stress.

Most cats will hide themselves away when stressed, often finding a quiet corner to curl up in where they've got the advantage of being able to see their surroundings. You may notice them 'nervously' grooming or licking themselves more than usual or excessively licking you (or other pets). Some other tell-tale signs include:

Although this list isn't exhaustive, many cats will exhibit some or all of these behaviours when stressed. A new baby, other cats, moving house and dogs can increase a cat's stress. A small change for us might be a whole new environment for our cats.

 

Short-Term Stress Relief For Cats

If you need a solution to calm your cat down and relieve them from stress and anxiety in the short term, there are some simple things that you can do that will help reduce stress.

Hopefully, this gives you some ideas of things you can do to make your cat feel more relaxed in the short term. However, if your cat is doing any of the above on a more regular basis or showing other symptoms, it's worth taking them to your vet and looking at long-term solutions, which we'll cover next.

 

Long-Term Stress Relief For Cats

If you suspect there may be an underlying cause for your cat’s stress aside from what is listed above, then it can be useful to take them to see their vet. They might prescribe cat medication or other cat stress relief products that can be bought over the counter.

Some of the most common reasons cats suffer from stress are medical conditions, including chronic pain or arthritis. Cats are masters at masking symptoms, so it's possible you won't even know they have an underlying health issue.

If your cat does continue to suffer from stress and anxiety, then long-term solutions can help. Some of these include pet behaviour counsellors, feline medicine and supplements and calming pheromones and essential oils. We explore these and more in further detail below.

 

Stress relief for cats

 

Cat Behaviour Counsellors

Sometimes we all need a little outside help when it comes to getting to the root of our cat’s anxiety and stress. This is where a cat behaviour counsellor comes in. According to Battersea, the behaviour counsellor should work with your vet to talk about their medical history and discuss the best route forward. Then, they will work with you to help you to understand why your cat is acting in this way and what you can do to help soothe their anxiety.

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Cat Calming Supplements

One of the most popular ways of helping your cats to feel calmer is with supplements. Many of us take supplements to help us deal with our stress, and the same basic idea also applies to cats.

These supplements work by giving your cat the vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids that their bodies need. With a calming supplement, you can address the emotional state so that you can start the retraining process, showing them that there is nothing to be afraid of.

 

Plug-Ins & Diffusers

Plug-ins and diffusers can also be a great way of helping your cat feel calmer and at home. They work by releasing pheromones into your home, which are imperceptible to you but should have an immediate effect on the cat.

They are particularly helpful if you are trying to help a new cat to settle into your home. It is worth noting that a pheromone diffuser may not be enough on its own and that you may need to look at additional support.

 

preventing stress in cats

 

Cat Stress FAQ

There is nothing more upsetting than knowing that your cat is stressed and upset and not knowing what to do about it. Here are a few answers to frequently asked questions.

 

What can I give my cat for stress?

There are a number of different options for helping a cat with stress. You can try giving your cat calming supplements or calming drops, which will help them to feel more comfortable and relaxed. There are some soothing-specific herbs available, or you could try them on a diffuser or plug-in. A calming collar containing pheromones may also help.

 

How do you calm a stressed cat naturally?

Supplements are a great natural treatment for cats. A calming supplement for cats will contain essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Often when a cat is stressed, it is because they are struggling to deal with a major change, feel unsafe, or feel unwell. Making sure that they have everything their body needs should help.

 

How do you treat a cat with anxiety?

The best way to treat a cat with anxiety is to show them that there is nothing to be worried about. Try to avoid making major changes to their area if they feel anxious. Give them plenty of space and privacy. You can also manage their anxiety by giving them calming supplements or using a pheromone diffuser.

 

Can anxiety and stress in cats be cured?

Anxiety and stress in cats are not always easy to fix but remember that there are a lot of things that you can do. Talk to your vet about how supplements can help and what you can do at home to make their environment less stressful. Remember that punishing your cat doesn’t work. Reward them for progress and show them that they are loved.

 

Summary

Anxiety is sadly a very common condition in cats, but there are a lot of excellent treatment options out there. At Vet Pharmacy Online, you can find a wide range of calming supplements, diffusers and plug-ins to help your cat feel calmer.