The most common signs of an unhappy cat are cowering, hissing, and fleeing. But sometimes your cat may not show obvious signs of stress. This is why as a pet owner you should have knowledge of how cats behave when they're depressed.
They may become depressed and listless. They may have a decreased appetite and decline to play. They may sleep more than usual and move more slowly, sulking around. They may hide under the bed, choosing to be alone even more than usual for cats.
Alone Time Can Strengthen Together Time
Though household cats do get lonely because they developed a need for companionship, remember their ancestors were solitary animals. Therefore, it's in cats' roots to also enjoy some time to themselves!
Cats are naturally solitary animals and are often happy without the company of their own species. They are territorial animals who don't like conflict with other cats.
A cat that is lonely, depressed or anxious may well develop unwanted traits such as scent marking in the house, toileting anywhere it feels but its litter box , over grooming, scratching furniture, doors, carpets and even perhaps going off its food or developing stress induced cystitis.
Cats can become sad or depressed due to various reasons. Some common causes of cat discontentment include illness, boredom, grieving of a lost family member or pet that they were bonded with, or injury.
Because cats enjoy roaming and exploring, keeping them inside can lead to boredom. Some indoor cats also experience depression and separation anxiety. To prevent these issues, you must take steps to meet your cat's needs.
Overall, cat cognition research suggests cats do form emotional bonds with their humans. Cats seem to experience separation anxiety, are more responsive to their owners' voices than to strangers' and look for reassurance from their owners in scary situations.
"Your cat is most likely staring at you while crying because they're trying to make sense of what they see and hear," McGowan says. Your cat might not understand human crying, but she'll gather as many clues as she can and use them to adjust her behavior.
They are lonely
This is the case for a large number of kitties left alone, whether the separation is just a few hours or even several days. Incredibly social creatures, cats do not like being away from their family – they feel protective over their humans much in the way dogs do.
One of the things many people find very appealing about cats is that they can be left alone for longer periods than dogs. Even with the convenience of a litter box and an endless supply of food, cats left alone for long stretches of time, day after day, can suffer from loneliness, boredom and even separation anxiety.
Cats can be social, compassionate and incredibly loving. And what this means is that without regular interaction or stimulation, they can easily become lonely; in some cases even a little sad.
Although cats don't need as much constant attention as most dogs, they do connect and bond with their humans, and they feel unhappy when separated for too long.
Short answer: yes. When their needs for companionship are not met, cats can become depressed. They can also get separation anxiety. Unfortunately, feline separation anxiety often goes unnoticed until it becomes severe.
Do cats actually miss their owners? Yes, they do. The cats miss the owners whenever they are away or have been detached from the owner. They notice the absence of all the showered love their owners have left for them.
And unlike dogs, cats actually prefer smaller spaces and tend to find hideaways and corners to retreat when they need their space. Although cats may need a little less, a cat can happily live in one room only if they have everything they need.
Stressful Situation 1: Changes to Your Home
Here are some changes that often cause cats to stress: Rearranging or purchasing new furniture. Renovations and remodelling. Clutter and mess.
Sleep, sleep, sleep
It was no surprise to find my cats spend a lot of time sleeping. It's estimated that cats spend 12 – 16 hours a day sleeping, and as indoor cats, my two love lounging around. They have several different preferred snoozing spots depending on the time of day.
In a multi-human household, it seems that cats will choose one family member they want to spend more of their time with. According to a study done by the nutrition company, Canadae, they discovered that the person who makes the most effort is the favorite.
Cats are family-oriented and usually live with their relatives. Cats will sleep together, share common feeding areas, and groom one another within family groups. For this reason, cats often do well adopted in pairs.