By: Arianna Bevier

Credit: Photo by Mikhail Vasilyev on Unsplash

Like with humans, anxiety in cats can happen for a variety of reasons. Also like humans, cats may display physical symptoms of anxiety, such as an increase in heart rate, shaking, or avoidance behaviors. In cats, avoidance can look like hiding, a decrease in play, avoiding eye contact or physical contact, and decreased affection. 

What Causes Feline Anxiety?

There are many causes of anxiety among cats, including: 

• Changes to routine: Owner schedule changes or feeding times change.
• Changes to the environment: Moving, renovations or remodeling, etc.
• New additions: A new baby, a house guest, a new roommate, or a new pet.
• Separation anxiety: Being left alone for long periods of time. 
• Physical pain or illness: Conditions that cause pain or discomfort could mimic or trigger anxiety. 
• Trauma: A frightening experience can trigger long-term anxiety or fear. 
• Improper socialization: Being removed from their mother too young, or not receiving enough positive socialization in the early weeks of life. 
• Conflict with other cats and pets: For some cats, even cats or other pets who have lived together for a long period of time, conflict can cause stress and anxiety. 

For some cats, anxiety begins at a young age and continues into adulthood. For others, anxiety may appear during a period of change or extended separation. Addressing feline anxiety promptly and making changes to improve it can increase your cat’s quality of life, as well as your own. 

What Are the Signs?

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There are many different signs of anxiety among cats and all cats are different, so they will all display anxiety a little differently. 

Some signs include: 

• Excessive grooming (can lead to fur loss or raw skin)
• Hiding
• Decreased appetite
• Lethargy
• Increased vocalization
• Refusal to use litter box or going outside of the box
• Increased furniture scratching.

Your cat may display some but not all of the listed signs. 

NOTE: It is important to take your cat to the vet when you notice signs of anxiety, as some of these signs (particularly lethargy, decreased appetite, and litter box issues) could be a sign of physical health issues that need to be addressed. 

What Can I Do? – Managing and Treating Anxiety

While managing your cat’s anxiety can seem overwhelming and intimidating at first, there are several steps that can be taken to address your cat’s anxiety. These steps include creating a stable routine, trying pheromone diffusers, creating a safe environment, behavior modification, and medication. 

Maintain a Routine

Create a consistent routine with your cat to ensure that things feel safe and predictable for them. While it may seem silly to create a routine for a pet, cats are creatures of habit. Knowing what to expect keeps them calm and secure, and can prevent anxiety. 

Food: Make sure to feed your cat at the same time every day, so they know when to expect their food. 

Play: Ensure that you make time to play with your cat each day to release nervous energy and play at the same times each day. Play time is very important for cats as it helps maintain not only physical health, but also mental-wellbeing. As well as burning energy and reducing anxiety, playing regularly builds a bond with your cat, which can also make them feel more secure.

Aim for about 30-40 minutes of playtime each day, and split this into shorter 15-20 minute play sessions. Cats naturally release energy in short bursts, so splitting playtime into shorter sessions helps mimic their natural habits and prevent boredom. 

Litter box: Scoop waste from the litter box daily, and replace litter regularly (every 1-4 weeks depending on the type of litter and the number of cats in the home). If you have more than one cat in the home, make sure to have enough litter boxes. A general rule of thumb is to have one box per cat, plus one extra. 

Make sure that you keep the litter in the box topped up. As you scoop waste away, the levels of litter in the box will get lower, making it more difficult for your cat to bury their waste. Ensuring that there is always 2-3 inches of litter in the box will give your cat enough room and prevent urine from sticking to the bottom of the box, making cleanup easier for you! 

Cats are fastidious when it comes to burying their waste, so having a litter box that is full of waste or low on litter can cause increased anxiety and undesirable bathroom habits. If their box is full, a cat may seek out another area of the house to relieve themselves, causing more mess for you to clean up. 

Pheromone Diffusers

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Another option to try is a cat pheromone diffuser. Pheromone diffusers are designed to release a synthetic version of natural cat pheromones, which can help promote calm in some cats. 

Diffusers are plugged into the wall like an air freshener, and release pheromones over a period of about 30 days before they need to be replaced. Diffusers are intended to reduce signs of anxiety like scratching, hiding, conflict between cats, and urination outside of the box/urine spraying. 

It’s important to remember that all cats are different, and some cats may not respond to pheromone diffusers. 

Creating a Safe Environment 

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As previously mentioned, environmental changes such as a new home, remodeling, or a new member of the household can cause anxiety in cats. To combat these issues, ensure that your cat has a safe, quiet space that they can retreat to when they feel overwhelmed. Even if there haven’t been recent environmental changes, having a safe space can help decrease anxiety in general. 

Here are some tips for creating a safe space: 

• Pick a quiet area: Pick a low-traffic area or room of the home.
• Restrict access: Keep other pets or young children out of the area by closing the door or using a baby gate.
• Provide cozy hideouts: Cats like to have enclosed areas to rest, so provide them with areas such as cat caves, cardboard boxes, or baskets with a soft blanket laid over them. 
• Provide vertical perches: Provide your cat with a cat tree or elevated shelves to rest on. Cats instinctively enjoy high spaces because it makes them feel safe and secure. 

Behavior Modification

The goal of behavioral modification is to change your cat’s response to anxiety triggers, replacing avoidance with more effective coping skills. Behavior modification should only be attempted under the care of a veterinarian or veterinary behavioral specialist. 

Veterinarians often recommend one the following methods: 

• Desensitization: Gradually exposes your cat to a trigger using repeat, controlled exposures. 
• Counterconditioning: Pairing a trigger with a positive stimulus like a treat, which can change fear response over time. 

Environmental changes and routines are also a part of behavior modification, preventing triggers and providing a more secure, lower stress environment. Speak to your veterinarian to gain a better understanding of what might work for your cat and how to implement it without increasing stress and anxiety.

Medication

While environmental changes, improvements in routine, and behavioral modification can decrease anxiety in many cats, some cats may need medication support. If your cat is struggling with anxiety, it is always best to visit your vet to determine the cause of the anxiety and rule out medical conditions. Your vet may determine that combining environmental changes with medication could provide the best benefit in your cat’s case. 

If your cat has anxiety that centers around short-term events like fireworks or a visit to the vet, your vet may prescribe a short-term medication to be taken only on days when anxiety is likely. If the anxiety is more of a day-to-day struggle, your vet may prescribe a long-term medication to be taken each day. 

The Final Word

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Dealing with your cat’s anxiety can be stressful, but it is important to approach the situation with empathy and compassion for your furry companion. Avoid punishment at all costs, yelling or spraying your cat with water will only increase fear and anxiety and could even lead to aggression. Reaching out to your vet is a good first step to take when addressing feline anxiety. Ruling out any underlying medical conditions is crucial to provide the proper treatment and help your pet. 

Understanding the cause of your cat’s anxiety will allow you to create an environment that promotes calm and allows you to provide care for your pet. Emotional wellbeing is important to overall health in cats, just as it is with humans. Finding answers and treatments will not only improve your cat’s health, but allow you to maintain peace and calm in your home for yourself, your family, and your pets. 

About the Author: Hello! My name is Arianna Bevier and I am a cat owner and aspiring writer. My cat Cruella has dealt with anxiety for many years, which has sparked my interest in cat health and anxiety management. Throughout my time with her, I have learned a lot about the causes of feline anxiety, as well as symptoms and treatment methods.