How do I know if my cat is stressed? What are the common symptoms?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
How does a cat TYPICALLY show it that it is stressed?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 28th, 2017
They can show they are stressed by urinating outside the litter box, GI issues such as diarrhea, hiding, excessive grooming, decrease in appetite, excessive vocalization, increased sleeping, and aggression towards people and other animals in the home.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on April 2nd, 2019
Congrats on the move! Signs of stress include urinating/pooping outside the litter box, overgrooming, loss of appetite, hiding, and lethargy. If you see any of those signs, I would take Sofia into a vet for a health check. Best of luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
How do I prove my cat has anxiety without going to the doctor
Symptoms of anxiety can include hiding, aggression, extreme vocalization, lethargy, changes in appetite, not using the litter box, and excessive grooming. Keep in mind, however, that these symptoms can also be due to a medical illness. For example, a change in appetite could be due to a systemic illness, which lethargy could be due to injury, and not using the litter box could be due to feline idiopathic cystitis. Because of that, the only way to prove your cat has anxiety is to take her into the vet. Medical causes for certain behaviors need to be ruled out first before diagnosing a cat with anxiety, and only a vet can do that. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat was born in Brazil and we lived there for five years. We recently moved to Portugal. She seems to be okay, she doesn’t seem to be stressed, belongs she’s with me she’s always fine. But I worry I might just not know exactly how to recognize sig
Congrats on the move! Signs of stress include urinating/pooping outside the litter box, overgrooming, loss of appetite, hiding, and lethargy. If you see any of those signs, I would take Sofia into a vet for a health check. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
How do you know if your cat has separation anxiety
True separation anxiety is not horribly common in cats. But the signs would that your cat shows distress when left alone or separated from you (or other people she's attached to). You might be self-inflicted trauma, excessive vocalization, urinated or defecating inappropriate places, lack of appetite, withdraw, over grooming or (less commonly) destructive behaviors. She might be hyper focused on you when you are around or vocalize/follow you when you prepare to go. It's important to check for a medical reason for any of the symptoms you're seeing (for example, if there are litter box issues, it could be separation anxiety, or could be related to illness or cystitis or many other causes). Generally, videotaping what she does when you're not home is helpful in diagnosis, and then a full blood panel (CBC, blood chemistry, urinalysis, fecal test) and exam to check for medical issues. I hope that gives you some idea about if your kitty is effected and how to proceed! Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
How do I know if Autumn has separation anxiety? What are the more commonly observed and documented traits that cats with separation anxiety display?
Cats with separation anxiety can exhibit many signs. Hiding / reclusive behavior, meowing / vocalizing more, scratching at walls or doors, shaking, inappetance, drooling, etc. can all be signs that your cat is experiencing separation anxiety. I would recommend using products such as Feliway and NaturVet Quiet Moments Calm Chews with Melatonin which you can find online or at your local Petco. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have an outdoor orange male tabi cat, 5yo. We moved to a new house in July. He has 5 scratches on his body right now (ears head back), his appetite has gone down quite a bit and is CONSTANTLY meowing to get out. Is only quiet when we pet him or is
This Behavior most certainly could be related to stress. I have known many cats to become stressed or exhibit this meowing Behavior when other outdoor cats are nearby. If you haven't already tried pheromone therapy, I would recommend trying the Feliway products to try and reduce stress that way. If this does not help after 3 weeks then I would consider anti anxiety medication and your vet will need to prescribe this.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Why would a normally social cat start hiding in closets?
Stress can cause cats to hide or act abnormally. For example if you had house guests or got a new pet this could stress your cat out. However medical issues can also cause cats to hide. Cats may hide if they are feeling bad. I would keep a very close eye on your cats appetite, water intake, BMs, and urine if your cat is hiding. If you notice anything that is not normal I would take your cat in for a thorough exam and some basic bloodwork. Older cats can be prone to things like diabetes, renal disease, and hyperthyriodism. These can be fairly well managed with meds once daignosed. If your cat is a male, keep a very close eye on the litter box and be sure he is urinating ok. Male cats can get thier urethra blocked and become unable to urinate. This is an emergency and can be fatal very quickly if left untreated. If it turns out to be just stress I reccomend trying a product called Feliway. Feliway mimcks the phermone produced by mother cats and has a calming effect on cats. Feliway shoul
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello! I was out of town for a few days. My mom said my cat was very stressed and hasn’t been eating well. I’m pretty sure she released her anal glands. Now that I’m back, she doesn’t seem like herself. What should I do?
Just let her relax and don't bother her too much. If she still doesn't seem well tomorrow you should get her to a vet for an exam. If she stresses out easily you may want to consider using some Feliway diffusers in your house at all times. https://www.feliway.com/us/Why-Use-Feliway/Cats-not-eating-5-things-to-do
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Please help, we had to evacuate for the hurricane and are in a hotel. Tonight my cat is constantly meowing and scratching at her litter box. She's on special food and had been acting normally before we left. I am terrified something is wrong and I wo
This is a very stressful situation for her, and stress can provoke a bladder inflammation in cats. try to keep her calm as much as you can and if these symptoms get worse take her to the vet after the storm have calmed down to get the bladder inflammation treated.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
How do you know if your cat wants you to shut up?
This is a great question with no great answer. Perhaps if they move away and escape noise that is an indicator. There are some anti anxiety medications you can ask for from your local veterinarian if you think this could help.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a cat that as a kitten was very ill. We got him from 7 months old. We knew he’d had cat flu prior to him coming here. He is now nearly 5 yrs old. He picks huge fights with our other cat. He keeps urinating and scratching at doors and win
I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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