Beneath its proud appearance as a great loner, the cat is in reality a species with great sensitivity. A new arrival in the family, the loss of a loved one, a move or just a piece of furniture that has moved can disturb your cat. Indeed, the cat is a territorial animal which is very attached to its little habits. A disruption of these can quickly stress the cat and have consequences on its health such as skin or weight problems, cystitis, a reduction in immune defenses… Hence the importance of recognizing the signs showing that your furball is stressed!
If you have recently noticed that your cat is exhibiting one or more of the symptoms described in this article, it is essential toidentify the cause of your stress and remedy it. In the event of a change of environment, make sure to get him back to his old habits and entertain him with toys or other accessories (scratching post, hiding places, cat trees, etc.). You can also make an appointment with your veterinarian who can ensure that your cat is not sick and offer you soothing hormone sprays or diffusers.
1. He scratches the furniture
When your cat scratches your furniture up and down (vertically), he deposits pheromones there. His goal? Mark your territory. This behavior is indeed a sign of stress! To prevent Félix from letting off steam on your furniture, install a scratching post near areas where he has gotten into the habit of scratching. You can also provide him with spaces where he will feel safe, at height for example. Also make sure that he has a healthy lifestyle (clean litter box, quality self-service food, etc.) in order to reduce his stress.
2. He pees everywhere
Urine marking has the same meaning as scratching furniture. If your cat has always been clean and suddenly starts urinating and/or defecating outside of its litter box, you may ask yourself some questions… He may be trying to mark his territory following an upsetting change in the home (moving, adoption of a new animal, arrival of a baby, etc.). This abnormal behavior can also be linked to urinary disorders. If your cat is fragile, don’t hesitate to take out cat insurance like figopet. Another explanation, it may simply be a lack of cleanliness of the litter box.
3. He is aggressive
Your little ball of fur, although so kind and affectionate, has suddenly changed behavior and began to become aggressive towards you and other members of your family? If she is not experiencing any physical pain, she is likely experiencing intense stress caused by a change in her environment.
4. He no longer eats or only eats
Anorexia and bulimia in cats both express a certain discomfort. Whether your ball of fur is in the habit of enjoying what you serve it and it suddenly begins to sulk at its bowl, or on the contrary to completely transform into a voracious ogre, it is certainly confronted with something which does not suit it. not suitable.
5. He only meows
Does your cat meow excessively and make endless complaints for no apparent reason? If this is not part of his usual behavior, know that something is definitely wrong and he is asking you for help.
