How to relieve a cat's stress after a scare

From this we come to another important conclusion: Don't forbid it, offer an alternative. Let it be different scratching posts in different corners of the apartment. Take a closer look at why your pet sharpen its claws on the corner of the sofa, and not on the horizontal scratching pad, for which "you paid a lot of money, but he, impudent boy, does not want to … Perhaps it's because the animal likes the vertical positioning of the scratching post, its optimal height and the texture of the covering. Sharpening claws is a relaxation, a relaxation (i.e. a real relief of stress) and a physiological necessity. Try to cover the corner with carpets, buy cardboard scratching post, planks, posts upholstered with harnesses, get interested in the smell of catnip.

How to reduce a cat's anxiety and stress

Stress can do strange things to a cat. Unfortunately, cats are susceptible to stress, especially when we introduce another furry friend into the family. The symptoms of stress are many and varied; and range from the obvious, such as spraying, to the subtle, such as over grooming. But one thing is for sure: as a responsible cat guardian, the last thing you need is a problem cat, so let's look at how to reduce your cat's stress.

If you can identify the cause, that would be helpful. For example, imagine that a neighbor's cat comes into the house regularly and eats your cat's food. This is a huge stressor for a regular cat, but it can easily be solved by installing a microchip-activated cat valve. A little out-of-the-box thinking is often enough to make a happier family.

Signs of stress in a cat

Your cat may be suffering from anxiety and stress if she is experiencing one or more of the following signs:

1. General bad behavior.
2. Not using the litter box or defecating elsewhere in the house.
3. Urine spraying (especially spayed or neutered)
4. Showing aggression toward other cats in the house
5. Excessive and/or prolonged meowing
6. Excessive self-cleaning resulting in bald spots or painful skin cracks.
7. Changes in eating habits.
8. Hiding in a safe haven.
9. Desire to be left alone and not socialized.
10. Biting and scratching doors and furniture.

How can I help my cat overcome his fear and anxiety?

Hello, I really need your advice on how to help the cat overcome his fear and anxiety. I apologize right away for the long text, I am writing as much as possible to quickly determine the correct course of action. In Ukraine there are no zoopsychologists who specialize in cats, unlike cynologists, which leaves me only to refer to the Internet. I should also note that I am a total blind cat owner, so I describe the situation based on what I can physically assess myself without sight and what my relatives who live nearby tell me. So.
Our family has a sweet Scottish lop-eared wonder almost 11 months old, a boy named Richard. The kitty is the only animal, a family of four: three adults and a teenager of 14. The pet came to us at the age of 7.5 weeks, adapted perfectly, immediately began to explore his new home. No sitting under the bed, no food refusals or lethargy, no unsociable behavior, which is often the case when moving. There was no trouble with the litter box or anything else. As he grows and now I observe that the boy is strong, mentally balanced: not afraid of household noises, can easily be near a working loud hair dryer, blender, electric meat grinder; calmly and friendly to people who come to visit; has no problem with visits to the veterinarian clinic, both the road, and all the actions of the doctors. He is not aggressive, and by temperament I would say phlegmatic, with periodic bursts of energizer mode. At 7.5 months, neutered, perhaps it is important.
Sorry for the long introduction, I'll get to the point. Despite all of the above, at about 4 months of age the kitten had one fear. Once he was scared of some big things on the balcony, presumably fishing tackle, fishing rods. Ever since then he has been wary and tense when we go out on the balcony. It is double, goes along two rooms, so both through the doors and through the window in the other room, the cat sees and hears what's going on there. The scare happened in the fall, then winter came, and we went out on the balcony less often. Now it is warmer and the baby is stressed almost every day. As soon as he hears or sees movement towards the balcony, he immediately moves on half-bent paws, hides, looks out or runs away to his hideout – the linen drawer of my couch, his favorite place for daytime sleep. If the balcony is open and no one is there, he may go out for a while to walk on the first half of it, where there are less things, which means, I understand that he is afraid not of the balcony itself, but of the big things that can be taken out of it or put into it. Lately I have been noticing that he might be afraid of any big thing in his hands anywhere in the apartment, but still more often in connection with the balcony.
3 Weeks ago the kitten had a seizure – he could not pee properly. The results of medical examinations revealed that the animal has no veterinary problems, it's all about stress, which is the cause of the idiopathic cystitis. This same stress needs to be somehow removed, but how – I do not know. I tried to give some dainties on the balcony – he cautiously comes and takes them but the attitude does not change, namely, the association, the installation needs to be somehow changed as I think. The doctor didn't prescribe anything specific for stress, but he said we can give him Cot Bajun or Stop-Stress (the latter is confused by phenibutom in its composition, plus it is contraindicated in the history of MPS diseases). I'm afraid to plant the animal on drugs for two reasons: habituation and the effect on internal organs (kidneys, liver, etc.) On the cot babun herbal already thinking about, but I have not decided, knowing that he can only slightly reduce the effects, but not eliminate the cause. The doctor said "wait, it will outgrow it", but I'm not 100% sure that this can be outgrown, and the price is too high, I can't just wait, it's cruel.
Also in recent weeks, I noticed that the kitten has become jealous of his litter box: as soon as I go and change the filler, he immediately runs to check if everything is okay there. The tray is in the toilet, through the hood heard the chirping of birds, like sparrows, it also bothers the animal, sits there, trying to get higher, meow. There were no problems with the litter box, he goes everywhere. The priority for me is to solve the situation with the balcony and the big things, but the toilet issue is also a bit disturbing.
Yesterday I forgot to write, I'll add: now the kitty may even be frightened of a pillow or blanket when I make the bed. And in his early childhood, he watched this process with pleasure, if he lay down, he continued to lie down and after the blanket was on the couch, we then lay together with him. Now a sheet is fine, but a pillow and/or blanket deflates him instantly
Can you please tell me if there is anything that can be done about our situation and relieve the fear and anxiety in the animal? I feel very sorry for him, even the doctor has noticed that the kitty has become tense, fearful. I really want to help him, but due to my ignorance I cannot do it yet.
Thank you for your patience reading this, thank you in advance for your answers and help, I will be very much looking forward to hearing from you!

Symptoms of stress

The general symptoms of stress are blurred, so it can be difficult to recognize it in a cat. It is important to closely monitor the pet to detect the first signs of this condition. Experts distinguish three stages of stress.

First stage

Negative factors provoke the production of stress hormones. Changes in hormonal background provoke physiological reactions:

• rapid heartbeat;
• a decrease in body temperature;
• Increased production of saliva;
• frequent and involuntary urination or bowel movements;
• trembling in the limbs or head;
• constant hissing, growling, or wombly meowing;
• Apathetic behavior; prolonged sleep;
• Lack of urine, vomiting or diarrhoea;
• Loss of hair, scratching of skin
• abrupt change of movements, restless behavior;
• dilated pupils, tail twitching
• Fluffy hair or arching back
• Aggression when trying to pick up;
• Constant hiding.

Very often this stage goes unnoticed by pet owners, but with special attention to the pet they can be easily detected.

Important: Certain symptoms may not indicate stress, but rather serious diseases. If they occur See your veterinarian..

Second stage

It is called the resistance or resistance stage. During this stage, the animal tries to restore physiological and psycho-emotional equilibrium. Here it is important to remove the irritant immediately, otherwise his condition will worsen.

If this is not done, the pet will try to adapt to the new conditions: it will feel constantly tired and sleep a lot, as the body expends a lot of strength and energy to fight. Hormonal and endocrine changes begin to occur. From the outside it may even seem as if he has come to terms with it, but in fact he has not.

How is stress dangerous for a cat?

It has been proven that many disorders in the animal's body occur against a background of fear or nervous disorders. For example, due to a strong mental shock, even pulmonary edema can occur. It also provokes the following diseases:

Anorexia

Because the body is not getting enough nutrients in full, there are failures in almost all internal organs. When all the resources are used up, the breakdown of proteins begins. The animal will lose weight to the limit.

Cystitis

The urinary system in cats is related to neurohumoral regulation. Inhibition processes in the nervous system negatively affect the former, so the cat may not go to the toilet regularly, and there is pain when urinating. Because of this, cystitis develops. This disease in cats is directly related to stress. In such cases, both problems will have to be treated.

Constipation

Very often it appears as a result of stress in cats. Constipation provokes inflammation, bowel obstruction, etc.

In some cases, on the contrary, the animals have diarrhea, although there has not been a change of food.

Other effects

Stress severely affects the immune system of cats, which in turn opens the way to various infections. This is very dangerous especially for babies, because they have not yet strengthened immunity, and they are able to catch any disease.

Stress also develops problems with the cardiovascular system, because the pets are constantly racing heartbeat, increasing blood pressure. All this affects the overall blood supply of the body.

Fatal outcome

Many owners do not attach much importance to stress in cats, believing that it is a temporary phenomenon and that it will soon pass on its own. In the first and second stages, it already hits the body hard, and in the third stage, there is a real threat to life.

Chronic stress

Constant or intermittent stressors put the cat into a state of chronic stress. The animal's behavior changes, and there are signs of physiological disorders. The pet tries to hide in a secluded place where no one can disturb it. Solitude is accompanied by increased sleepiness, weakness, reluctance to play and show any activity. The cat may react inappropriately and even aggressively to loud unexpected sounds.

Gluttony attacks or, on the contrary, ignoring food, also indicate a chronic process. Cats will often start to tag the house, to leave puddles in various rooms or even near their bowls. By doing this, the cat tries to show its displeasure or fear.

Biochemical changes occurring in the body contribute to hair loss. This is accompanied by an excessive desire for hygiene, which forces the cat to lick itself constantly. As a result of prolonged neurosis, the body becomes spit-up, and the coat becomes dull and thinning.

How is stress dangerous for cats?

It is scientifically proven that many serious disorders in the animal's body begin against a background of fear and nervous disorders. Practice confirms, for example, that such a rare phenomenon as pulmonary edema occurs precisely against a background of severe mental shock. A veterinarian – an anesthesiologist – talks in more detail about all the dangers of stress in cats:

Anorexia

Refusal of food provokes a lack of nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of the body. The digestive system is the first to be impaired. Malnutrition provokes malfunctions in the stomach, intestines, and liver. The risk of gastritis, ulcers and skin diseases increases. Prolonged stress threatens complete exhaustion. Lack of nutrients initiates cellular catabolism. Once the fat reserves are completely consumed, the body's proteins begin to break down. The animal becomes painfully thin.

Cystitis

The urogenital system in cats as well as other living organisms are subject to neurohumoral regulation. Processes of inhibition in the nervous system contribute to the violation of urination. As a result of the nervous disorder, the pet may miss timely urination. In the presence of concomitant factors, urinary retention in the bladder contributes to the development of bacterial flora. This often causes cystitis. In such a situation, not only the cat's nervous system has to be treated, but also the inflammation of the bladder.

Constipation

Often, moving, a new tenant in the house, overstaying cause physiological constipation in the cat. Disrupted intestinal peristalsis is one of the frequent consequences of stress in a cat. Chronic constipation in turn is dangerous with colic, obstruction of the intestinal tube, and inflammation.

Other consequences

Neuroses hit the immune system, which provides protection against viruses, pathogenic bacteria, fungi. This is especially dangerous for young kittens, who are less resistant to various infections due to their age and not fully immunized.

What is a gastrointestinal disorder? And why is it scary?

Gastrointestinal disorders affect your pet's entire body, leading to pain and other problems. Any disorder in the digestion and absorption of food is a GI disorder.

Healthy digestion is important for a pet because it allows them to use nutrients from food to build and repair tissues and obtain energy.

Gastrointestinal disorders lead to dehydration, acid-base and electrolyte imbalances and malnutrition, so do not ignore such problems and, at the onset of the first symptoms, show your pet to the veterinarian.

Common causes of gastrointestinal problems

1. Infectious diseases. They are provoked by the appearance of helminths, viruses, bacteria, fungal agents, protozoa. Most often they are found in puppies and kittens. Babies have weak immunity, so at the first signs of infectious diseases, it is better to consult a veterinarian.

2. Poisonings. Sometimes pets eat things they shouldn't: household chemicals, poisonous plants, poisons outside, forbidden foods left in an easily accessible place (chocolate, grapes, onions). A pet can also be poisoned by foods spoiled by improper storage.

4. Inflammatory diseases of the stomach and intestines. This group includes gastritis, ulcers, and colitis. Without a veterinarian, examination and additional tests it is impossible to establish the true cause of their development.

5. Gastrointestinal microbiota disorders are not uncommon. The causes of such disorders are many: stress, taking medications, poisoning, infections. These disorders often occur in conjunction with other gastrointestinal problems.

6. Pancreatitis – is an inflammation of the pancreas, an organ near the stomach and intestines. A common cause of pancreatitis is eating too much fatty food, especially table scraps.

Important! A pet with pancreatitis may need to be hospitalized because without treatment it will die.

And these are not all causes of gastrointestinal problems. They have similar symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, abdominal pain. For quality treatment, it is important to establish the true cause of the disorder, so at the first symptoms, show your pet to a veterinarian. He will prescribe him treatment and a special diet.

Ask your veterinarian about Hill's. These are the foods recommended for gastrointestinal problems. They contain the new ActiveBiome+ technology. ActivBiome+ is a unique combination of prebiotic fiber that helps to restore the gut microbiome in a short time.

Methods for correcting stress and anxiety in cats, owner-pet understanding

Is it true that pets are also stressed? The answer is unequivocally yes. This article will deal specifically with cats, since many methods require an individual approach, and dealing with behavioral problems in cats, dogs, birds and other species is fundamentally different due to the particular physiology and psychology of this or that animal.

First of all, we would like to list stress factors that provoke anxiety in cats. The article itself will be devoted to the analysis of typical mistakes. We will also review with you the correct actions to help relieve stress in a cat that is experiencing anxiety for a variety of reasons.

Illness, illness or rehabilitation period, moving, change of environment, lack of privacy and comfort, change of owner, nervous home environment, strange noises and smells, new family members or animals, aggressive behavior of the owner, etc.

Causes of problems most commonly reported by owners to a pet psychologist A pet psychologist, in general, can be divided into two large and not mutually exclusive (this is important) categories – physiological component (health status and hormonal background) and directly behavioral deviationMost often it is caused by incorrect keeping conditions and unfavorable psychological environment.

It is erroneous to believe that medical intervention is a cure-all, despite the fact that many requests addressed to a specialist begin with the words: "maybe there are some drops. " Of course, there are sedatives (they will be discussed later). But in most cases, by themselves, they do not solve the problem. In the long run we have, unfortunately, only a worsening of the situation. The solution is a complex work on mistakes, the ultimate goal of which is to re-establish the lost contact between the owner and the animal.

A review of cat sedatives

Ceva

Application: remove the cap from the bottle, fasten the diffuser and screw tight. Do not choose outlets located behind furniture, decorations, doors.

Composition: Feliway Friends pheromone, which has a calming effect only on cats, as it is naturally secreted by the mother cat in the mammary gland area.

Use: Open bottle and insert into diffuser. Do not use replacement units of other brands!

Relaxivet

Important: Relaxivet is safe for pets and is not addictive.

Use: attach the collar so that it does not squeeze the neck and does not cause discomfort.

Ingredients: essential oils (catnip and rosemary), herbal extracts – motherwort and Baikal skullcap.

Directions: oral with a syringe with dispenser. If the stress is of short duration, the preparation is given again an hour after the factor which provoked it.

No Stress

Form: Diffuser with refillable bloc. Replacement units are sold separately.

The principle of action: a beneficial effect on the nervous system, soothes it.

Cat Comfort

Packing: Diffuser with Replacement Units. Replacement blocks are sold separately.

How it works: The pheromone in the product helps to correct the cat's problem behavior:

Application: place the replacement unit in the diffuser. Plug into a socket (220 volt).

FITEX

Ingredients: valerian root, motherwort extract, common hop, Baikal skullcap.

The dangers of stress

The life of a domestic cat is closely related to the actions of its owner. However, this does not mean that the animal likes everything. Sometimes people have to expose their pets to some kind of stressors.

It is impossible to explain to a cat that it just needs a bath, a haircut or a trip to the vet, that people move or die, and sometimes they just betray their friends. Pets become attached to both people and places of residence, they experience emotions, and their spectrum is almost as wide as that of humans.

The nervous system reacts instantly to circumstances that are negative from the animal's point of view. Acute stress is characterized by the following physiological manifestations:

Such symptoms, as in humans, are associated with an abrupt release of stress hormones. The nervous system is able to cope with the acute condition, but with prolonged exposure to negative factors, the pet may fall into a chronic depressed state. The work of the animal's cardiovascular system changes, digestive processes are disturbed, and immune protection is reduced. That is, emotional problems affect the functioning of the body.

If a cat experiences prolonged exposure to a stressor, it significantly changes the nature of all processes in its body. As a result, the functionality of vital organs can be impaired, and the animal becomes physiologically ill.

The most common stressors

The task of the owner is to keep the animal from stress. Every owner knows the character of his pet and understands which events or activities will cause him psychological discomfort and which he will be able to bear calmly. For example, some breeds are quite tolerant of water and even like bathing, while for others the washing procedure is a real stress and shock.

They are forced to adapt to the lifestyle of the owner, and they prefer to follow the rules learned from childhood. Orderliness is the basis of a cat's life, and they do not like surprises and changes. Anything that disrupts the normal course of life, psychologically, is quite difficult for these animals.

The strength of the nervous system in all breeds is different. They also differ in temperament. Cats can also be divided into sanguine (fairly easy to handle stressful situations), choleric (can quickly cope with stress), phlegmatic (prefer not to show emotion) and melancholic (the hardest to handle stress).

A variety of reasons can lead to a stressful state. They can be divided into external and internal (physiological and psychological).

External influences

External influences are the most common group of causes of stress in cats. Any change in the routine of life causes these animals discomfort.

The level of stress can vary, but any external influences that are "out of the picture" make the cat anxious.

A trip to the vet

Leaving a territory she has settled and recognized as safe is already stressful. She is put in a carrier and forcibly removed from her comfort zone. Not everyone tolerates transport rides well, so for many it's another reason to be anxious. Then the cat gets into an unfamiliar room filled with strange, sometimes highly irritating smells, it begins to be touched by strangers.

How to tell if a cat is frightened

Cats are known for their secretiveness and unwillingness to demonstrate their mood too openly. You can determine their condition by indirect signs. For example, most often they run away, hide or freeze, trying to understand the nature of the danger. Sometimes they lose control of their bladder or bowels, causing them to recover without moving.

It is difficult to find a difference between the symptoms of fear and aggression, but on closer inspection the visual boundaries are delineated by the following signs.

1. The pupils do not dilate, but only freeze at one point.
2. The hair on the back and tail remains in normal condition.
3. The head is kept straight, not ducking.
4. The hissing, prolonged meowing or sharp snorting is never prolonged.

Fear can be caused both by human error and by a new environment that the animal does not understand. In the first case, the behavior of a drunken visitor is an example, and the second occurs when going to the veterinarian's office. In both of these scenarios the rare cat will remain in a state of inner equilibrium and will not show any emotions.

Frightened cat: ways to relieve the animal's fear

Although all cats are not alike and each one's reaction to fear will be different, there are few working algorithms for returning to a normal state.

1. Leave the cat alone and let her figure it out on her own. Most likely she will hide and assess the situation indoors from her safe haven. If it's outdoors, be vigilant. A frightened cat prefers to run away and find shelter in such an unexpected place that it will only be possible to find it there by accident.
2. Keep busy with current activities; show that nothing out of the ordinary is going on.
3. If the first fright develops into a prolonged state of anxiety, give your cat Valerian or catnip. Some cats don't respond to one of these herbal pheromones, but it's rare for a cat to be indifferent to two. So experiment with which of the suggested preparations works for your pet.
4. Stress is best eaten up. A rule from human life is quite appropriate for animals as well. At the moment of acute fear, the four-legged pansy won't eat anything. But as soon as he calms down a little, feed him something tasty.
5. Talk to the cat, trying to cheer it up with your voice. This works even for those animals that do not show love to their owners. The proverb that a kind word to the cat feels good is fully illustrated here.
6. In some cases, the state of fright can be predicted. Going to the vet for the first time – the cat is bound to be wary. Or a trip to the show… So prepare for the problem in advance and make a plan for how you'll bring your four-legged pet back to normal.
7. Clothing plays an important role. It has been noticed that cats can react kindly to the owner's closet items and come to him in his arms when he puts on, for example, a baize robe. Use such techniques so that a frightened cat can get over the stress more quickly.