Is My Cat Unhappy How to Tell if My Cat is Stressed

Stress is cats’ biggest enemy. It may be hard for you to imagine since cats are often found lounging comfortably on the couch, playing with their favorite toys or enjoying food you specially selected for them. However, cats are subject to various potential stress factors. They form their own habits and create their own territory. When their territory is violated or their habits have been interrupted, they face the risk of increasing their stress.

Being a creature of habit, cats get confused when the environment is changed or a new member has entered into the same habitat. Below are the most common stressors that can potentially put a cat under tremendous stress: 

New member in the family such as a cat, adult or baby 

Loss of a loved one such as a cat owner or another cat 

Change in owner’s schedule 

A unfamiliar outdoor cat 

Quick change in diet 

Abrupt change in litter 

Unsanitary litter box 

Relocating or renovating the home 

Lack of space, overcrowding 

Illness 

Boarding or hospitalization 

Confinement 

Abuse 

Lack of human socialization or loneliness 

Punishment 

Boredom 

Tension or anger between human family members 

Staying with someone who is not fond of cats 

Natural disaster, severe weather, fire or other emergencies 

Though cats are masters of hiding pain and discomfort, there are signs that show a cat that may be under stress: 

Spraying or inappropriate elimination such as urinating outside the litter box 

Isolation, hiding from everyone 

or becoming more demanding for attention 

Excessive scratching behavior 

Excessive vocalization 

Decrease in appetite 

Aggression towards a person or another cat in the same household 

Aviodance of certain locations of the house 

Insufficient grooming or excessive grooming 

Restlessness 

Diarrhea, constipation or other digestive tract problem 

The rule of thumb is that if you see change of behavior in your cat, it is likely that your cat is going through some sort of stress issue and needs your help to relieve their frustration that they have couped up inside. However, many medical illnesses also display similar symptoms so you should consult a veterinarian to rule out any medical cause.

Your keen observation will help detect behavioral problems in your cats and provide the right solution they need to resolve the underlining issues.