Anxiety. Now there’s a word that gets tossed around a lot these days. It seems nearly everyone with whom we speak is either dealing with it or knows someone who is. In fact, it seems if you don’t have anxiety, then perhaps something is wrong with you! All kidding aside, humans are not the only ones who deal with issues of anxiety. Cats can fall victim to this condition, as well. As a pet owner, it is your job to keep this under control so you can establish and maintain a positive pet and human relationship.
I used to have a dog that suffered terribly from this affliction. When his anxiety hit maximum peak, he would hastily retreat to a far corner in the basement, hindquarters exposed and head buried in a corner. It was awful seeing him react in this manner. Usually the only things that coaxed him out of his safe space were some warm and loving gestures, coupled with a few of his favorite treats. His anxiety was triggered by loud noises and too much activity going on at once in the home. With three rowdy young boys running around, this was a constant battle for our dog. But what about cats? What might trigger their anxieties?
Causes of anxiety in cats
If your cat appears to suffer from anxiety, it can manifest in different forms: hiding, refusing to eat; and/or urinating and defecating outside the litter box. According to cat coach Marilyn Krieger, as referenced on petmd.com, a change in routine can be quite upsetting for a cat. New situations or an unfamiliar environment or even a raised voice can cause anxiety. It all depends on the cat.
Controlling anxiety in cats
If you have come to the conclusion that your cat is struggling with anxiety, there are some options available in terms of controlling that anxiety. However, each cat is different and it may take many different approaches before you land upon what works best. Just because something may work for one cat does not necessarily mean it will work for another cat.
There are a variety of cat calming products on the market today that you can purchase over-the counter. But if you are looking for a miracle, you may be disappointed. In other words, while the products may have some calming effect, they will most likely not provide the extreme results for which you were hoping. A couple of the products cat owners have used are the Thundershirt and calming collars. The pressure from a Thundershirt seems to relax and calm down an overly-anxious cat. However…you may struggle with a bit of anxiety yourself just trying to get one on your cat! Calming collars have pheromones in them similar to the ones a mother cat produces when trying to calm her kittens. Cat-calming infusers are also popular and don’t cone with the angst of trying to put them on the cat! These are plug-ins that can calm a multi-cat household and offer a sense of harmony.
When to call the veterinarian
If you have tried many products and measures to alleviate the anxiety in your cat but are still not seeing results, then it is probably time to call your veterinarian. If your cat is overly-grooming himself, chewing on his nails or even attempting to injure himself, then those are the red flags you need to get your cat seen by a professional. Veterinarians can prescribe anti-anxiety medications for your cat if needed. The goal is to reduce the anxiety and minimize the negative behaviors.
Written by Ann Butenas
An internationally-recognized author and writer, Ann began her professional writing career at age 12 and began speaking while in college. She has been published thousands of times over the past three decades in all media forms, was former editor and publisher of KC Metro Woman magazine, and has also hosted three talk radio shows in the Kansas City area.
