Cats may lose their appetite or be sick occasionally or behave in a way that owners have never seen before, such as spraying urine against the wall indoors or behaving aggressively. The sooner you realise that your cat could be experiencing stress, the sooner you can resolve the problem.
In a research made by Nottingham Trent University, the findings show that cats are able to determine when their humans are anxious or stressed. Apart from this, they can also mirror their human's emotions and well-being.
Chronic stress
Hiding. Increased dependency or social withdrawal (dependent on personality type) Defensive aggression towards people/cats. Extreme vigilance and heightened startle response (jumping at the slightest noise)
Spraying and urinating outside the litter box are traditional stress symptoms for cats, even after they've been neutered or spayed. A howling cat that meows excessively may be a sign of stress, as can eating less or sleeping more. Excessive grooming and scratching can be stress-induced.
Signs of Emotional Trauma in Cats and Dogs
Trauma can also manifest as “shaking, hiding, urination and/or defecation when the trigger attempts to interact, howling, pacing, excessive vocalization, and panting,” says Pia Silvani, director of behavioral rehabilitation at the ASPCA's Behavioral Rehabilitation Center.
Signs of a Depressed Cat
Changes in body language, including ears held back, tucked tail, and hairs standing on end. Meowing more or less than usual or making low-pitched, mournful meows. Lack of energy or a decrease in activity level. Retreating from humans or other family pets.
But don't worry; it will likely be a temporary bout of anxiety. They are experiencing hearing or sight impairments – Like humans, it can be very disorienting for cats to feel as though they can't sense everything around them. If your cat has decreased sight or hearing, something inconspicuous can seem like a threat.
You could see a complete change in general behaviour, with cats becoming nervous and jumpy, aggressive or, at the other extreme, withdrawn and unreactive. Cats may become clingy, or less playful, or they may spend a lot of time hiding, or appearing to sleep.
Physical signs of cat anxiety include:
Excessive vocalisation such as growling, hissing or yowling. Dilated pupils. Crouching down frequently. Ears flat against their head.
In fact, a recent study that used university students (who are notoriously stressed) as subjects found that petting cats and dogs for 10 minutes decreased the amount of cortisol (a stress hormone) in their saliva. These findings are consistent with the notion that interacting with cats and dogs decreases stress.
Cats Can Purr When Stressed
This is similar to how people can soothe themselves by laughing or crying. You can tell if your cat is stress purring by picking up on their other cues — are they otherwise content, or are they fidgety, agitated and on edge? If so, they might just need a little alone-time in a quiet room.
Either way, there's evidence that cats comfort humans when sad. "When pet parents are depressed, cats rub against them more often. It's likely your cat is responding to your emotional state by trying to comfort you or draw your attention," McGowan says.
Conclusion. Most cats don't understand that kisses from humans are a sign of affection. A cat will surely let you know if they enjoy being kissed or not. The best ways to show your cat that you love them are to give them toys, treats, and plenty of one-on-one time.
What does it mean? "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.
Create a safe space for your cat
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. Create a 'safe space' for your cat (and separate spaces for additional pets), where they can relax away from any stressors.
Visit the Vet.
There could be an underlying medical condition causing your cat's clinginess, such as thyroid problems or feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Treating any underlying medical conditions will help to reduce your cat's clinginess and improve their overall health and well-being.
Communication: Cats use eye contact to communicate with each other and with their owners. When a cat stares at you, it may be a sign that they are seeking your attention or trying to tell you something. Hunting Instinct: Cats are natural hunters and their gaze is part of their instinct to track their prey.
Stressed Cat
Your cat might be acting weird because he or she is feeling the stress, too. Since cats are sensitive creatures, it is not uncommon for a cat to feed off of his or her owner's stress. Even the slightest amount of change, in a cat's environment, can disrupt his or her mood.
A: Cats can get lonely, depressed and anxious on their own. Each cat is different and will respond according to their personality and habits. If you have to leave your cat alone regularly for longer periods of time, watch out for signs of depression and cat separation anxiety.
PTSD in cats is an anxiety disorder that can develop following exposure to a terrifying event or situation in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. This disorder can cause cats to change their behaviors drastically.