You can use sprays on bedding, scratching posts, and other common areas, and you can plug the pheromone diffusers into wall outlets around your home and near the litter box.įeliway is a popular brand that we recommend at Small Door. Pheromone sprays and diffusers work by mimicking the positive, or ‘happy cat’ pheromones, and can help to calm stressed or anxious cats by reassuring them that all is well in the nearby environment. Happy or relaxed cats will release positive pheromones, whereas an anxious or territorial cat may release correspondingly negative pheromones to warn other cats in the vicinity. Other cats can smell these pheromones and understand them as messages. They are natural chemicals released by cats (as well as other animals and humans) in response to certain emotions or stimuli. Pheromones can be a great way to combat cat anxiety. Using natural pheromone sprays for feline anxiety You can find more great advice on how to enrich your cat’s life on the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s website. A cat with excess energy will often channel it into nervous energy, so it’s important to make sure they have enough toys, enrichment items and playtime each day to keep them in a calm and happy state of mind. It’s also important to remember to keep your cat well stimulated and exercised. Ideally, each cat in the house should have their own feeding area where they cannot see other household pets during meal times. Feed pets separatelyĬats may feel threatened when they are fed in direct sight of other household pets. A good rule of thumb is to have one more litter box than the number of cats you have, and if you have a multi-level home, to have a litter box on each level. You should also have several litter boxes in multi-cat households. They should not be placed in a ‘dead-end’ or corner where your cat could feel trapped there should be multiple access and entry points for them to feel comfortable. Remove litter boxes from confined areasĮnsure your cat’s litter boxes are placed appropriately. If you live in a smaller apartment and are worried your cat does not have enough individual space, there are a number of ways you can increase their territory vertically, using cat trees, cat shelves and window perches (provided they are safe and there’s no chance the cat could fall out). Provide plenty of individual attention, playtime and cuddles to your cat, to ensure they don’t get jealous of other pets. Make sure your cat can live in this space comfortably for a few days, and provide all the essentials in this one room: food, water, bedding, a litter box, a scratching post, and other toys. A quiet, darkened place, made from cardboard boxes or sheets draped over chairs can work well. Create a ‘safe space’ for your cat (and separate spaces for additional pets), where they can relax away from any stressors. If other pets, a baby, sounds, or things they can see outside are creating stress for your cat, a quiet, dark area away from these stimuli can help. In this instance, you can take steps to ensure they have their own territory where they can feel safe. If your cat’s anxiety is being triggered by something in their immediate environment (or a recent change in their environment), one of the first things you should do is try to remove or lessen the effects of the stressor.įor example, cats are naturally quite territorial creatures and territorial anxiety may develop if they feel an intruder (such as a new pet or member of the household) has invaded their space and is threatening or competing with them for resources. If your cat frequently suffers from recurrent medical issues, you and your veterinarian should consider the possibility that they are being caused by underlying anxiety. Physical signs of anxiety, such as holding their tail tight against their body, holding their ears back and hair standing upĪnxiety can also trigger a number of medical conditions, particularly Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) and Upper Respiratory Infections (URIs), so you may also notice related symptoms, such as difficulty urinating and increased frequency of urination for FLUTD, and sneezing, congestion and discharge for URIs. Hiding/trying to escape or conversely, staying completely still In general, you should watch out for any changes in behavior, particularly following any changes in your cat’s environment.Įxcessive grooming, which can lead to hair loss There are a number of different ways that anxiety can manifest, and symptoms may not always be obvious. What are the symptoms of anxiety in cats?
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