Did you know that 35.7% of households in the United States own cats? If you are one of these households and have seen odd behaviors in your pet lately, they could have anxiety. Like humans, it’s possible that a cat has anxiety for a variety of reasons that you should get to the bottom of.
Read on to learn about what to do if your car has anxiety.
Symptoms of Anxiety in Cats
When your cat has anxiety, they may develop destructive behaviors that they didn’t once have. For example, if your cat randomly starts to claw at furniture when they never had before, it could be because they are anxious.
Compulsive behaviors are another sign of anxiety in cats. This is a behavior that gets repeated. A common example of this would be your cat grooming themselves to the point that they develop bald patches.
Compulsive behavior is one that causes your cat or things in the environment unintentional damage. Other signs of cat anxiety are:
- Mood changes
- Not using the litter box
- Hiding
- Aggression
- Excessive meowing
- Appetite or weight change
- Following you around
- Vomiting
There are various causes of an anxious cat or a scaredy-cat. The causes tend to be similar to the causes of anxiety in humans.
This could be a major routine or environmental changes. If your cat has anxiety it could also be from a past trauma that has been triggered. There are a few ideas on how to make a cat less anxious that you can try.
Maintain Consistency
One way to reassure your fur baby that everything is alright is by maintaining a consistent home life. Having a pet is a commitment and you should consider not moving around a lot when you own one. Beyond not moving, you can keep the furniture the same and give your pet an area of their own.
Visit the Vet
This may sound like a bad idea for a cat with anxiety as most pets hate visiting the vet. However, it is important to get a professional opinion because your cat may have another illness that is being masked by anxiety. In some cases, anxiety in your cat could mean they have an underlying condition.
A veterinarian can create a treatment plan that is tailored to the needs of your pet. They may be able to get to the bottom of a specific fear or phobia and prescribe medication that will help your cat.
Try Natural Remedies
Anxiety may not need medication at all and symptoms can be relieved through natural remedies. There are a lot of all-natural herbs out there that can benefit an anxious cat.
You could also try giving your cat CBD oil. CBD is known to help alleviate anxiety and help the overall wellness of pets and humans. They have specific CBD oil for pets to try.
What to Do If Your Cat Has Anxiety
If you are seeing odd behaviors in your cat, they may have anxiety problems. If you believe that your cat has anxiety, don’t ignore it. Try alleviating symptoms by maintaining balance in the home, visiting a professional, and trying natural remedies.
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