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How to Calm an Anxious Cat
Taking care of our pets is part of our daily responsibility as pet owners. If you own cats, you know the struggles coming together with it because we all know how complicated and unique cats are. Aside from feeding and taking care of them physically, we should be also aware that there are times when our cats are not emotionally healthy. Just like human beings, cats can also get stressed and anxious, which is not what you want if you care about the total well being of your feline friend.
Cats are truly sophisticated and pretty laid back animals. Once they get acquainted with a brand new home, they follow a certain routine and a daily rhythm. A change in their routine due to a natural or manmade circumstance could stress them out and could also lead to anxiety in the long run. If you have experienced this for the first time, it is understandable if you do not know what to do or how to calm your anxious or stressed cat. Thankfully, there are easy ways in doing this. Read more below to know more!
Why Do Cats Get Anxious?
In order for a pet owner to remediate an anxious and stressed cat, it is best to know what causes this. Cats become anxious in several ways. There might be a change in their routine, just like what we mentioned earlier, or they might be experiencing what we call, a separation anxiety, which is pretty normal for cats. Try giving them a cat toy to keep them busy.
Just like anxiety in humans, anxiety in cats is the anticipation of any incoming danger from imagined or unknown reasons or origin. Typically, this anxiety in cats is manifested in different body reactions such as elimination, urination, excessive vocalization such as meowing extremely, and destruction. If this had happen to you and your cat once or twice, there is a chance that your cat might have anxiety. However, you should always consult with your veterinarian to have a proper diagnosis. A false assumption that your cat has anxiety will do more bad than good.
Here are some common signs to know and identify if your cat has anxiety or not;
- Excessive Grooming. Cats are clean freaks, but if they do this in extreme measure than the average, your cat might be stressed and is only doing to alleviate himself.
- Hides All The Time. Although cats vary when it comes to social skills, if your cat hides almost all the time – up to the point where you feel like you do not own the cat, then it is not healthy.
- Becomes Extra Talkative. Excessive meowing in cats is a common thing done if they are anxious and stressed. This becomes clearer if your cat starts to meow without no clear reason.
- Trembles and Shakes. Normally, cats do not like to be startled. But if you notice that your cat trembles and shakes if he or she get frightened, consider your cat’s emotional health.
These are just some signs to help you. Check with a veterinarian to know more.
Calming an Anxious Cat
Thankfully, there are ways to calm and help your cat overcome his or her anxiety. Although veterinary care is recommended to properly help your cat, the following ways can be done immediately if you need a quick and easy remedy to alleviate your cat’s anxiety and stress. We recommend a great scratching post for cats to help give them a more friendly atmosphere.
Provide A Safe Space For Your Cat
Cats can get anxious sometimes because of some certain threats. A dog, vacuum, and extreme human traffic are some examples of ‘threats’ that a cat might consider. Providing a safe space for cats to stay in times where he or she wants to stay in order to be relaxed helps in reducing their anxiety.
Sometimes, cats find a safe space on their own, like on top of a refrigerator or under a table or sofa. But, this could be dangerous and might harm them if they are not careful. If possible, a cat tree is a great safe space for cats. You can place it in a corner or in a place wherein there is less traffic.
Play With Your Cat
A typical tender, loving care always helps your cat in getting out of their anxiety. When cats are anxious, most of the time they just need attention and someone to play with. If you start to notice that your cat is showing signs of anxiety, start showering him or her with attention and take care of them more. Cats may be natural solitary animals but they also need human interaction and attention from time to time. If you purposely ignore your cat for no right reason, it could fuel their anxiety even more.
However, remember that love and care is not a substitute for actual medicine. This can be done as an immediate or gradual solution, but in the long run, proper medication is still and will always be recommended. Perhaps the cat needs a more comfy resting place, then we suggest looking at our selection of cat beds.
Bach Flower Remedies
Edward Bach in the early twentieth century developed a natural remedy for treating anxiety in cats. Bach Flower Remedies are vibrational medicines in the form of flower essence tinctures that you can easily drop or spray under your tongues.
Specifically, there is a form of remedy developed by Edward Bach for dealing with stress and anxiety for cats. You can easily mix this with their cat food or squirt it into their mouths. If this becomes difficult for you and your cat, you can also squirt it into your hand and gently caress your cat’s ears and body.
Veterinarians recommend specific herbs and scents for cats with anxiety issues, and for cats that have been abused and neglected. Consult with your veterinarian about this.
These are just some of the ways in which you can alleviate your cat’s stress and anxiety. Remember that cats just are still animals and no matter how solitary they get, they still rely on their owner for help. Got something to share about pet anxiety? Tell us in the comments below!
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