Over 40 percent of American households have cats. And one of the main reasons people get cats is that they are independent animals that don’t require too much attention, unlike a dog that does. But, of course, while cats need less attention than most pets, they sometimes have anxiety problems.
Is your cat anxious? If so, today, we will help you deal with a scared and anxious cat by giving you some useful tips. But, before, let’s answer the question: Why is my cat anxious?
Cat Anxiety
When an animal feels anxiety, they are afraid of an unknown threat that may harm them. While most of the time, a cat may feel anxious for no apparent reason, sometimes there is an underlying reason that causes them stress. For example, pain, illness, and even exposure to something toxic that affects their nervous system can cause anxiety.
Additionally, if your cat is old, it may begin to display signs of anxiety due to its aging brain. But, the most common anxiety trigger is separation, which is when you leave them alone. So, how can you notice anxious cat behavior?
Signs Your Cat Is Anxious
Now that you understand what may trigger cat anxiety let’s take a look at some signs that your cat may show when feeling scared or anxious.
- Constant trembling
- Destructive or aggressive reactions
- Diarrhea
- Withdrawal and hiding
- Trying to runaway
If you notice any of these signs, you can safely assume that you have a scared and anxious cat.
So, what can you do? Let’s look at the most common remedies and exercises you can do to ease your cat’s anxiety.
Cat Relaxation Remedies and Exercises
First of all, you’ll need to take your cat to the vet so that the veterinarian can determine the severity of its anxiety. Additionally, the vet will be able to check if the anxiety is caused by an illness so that they can begin treatment as soon as possible. If your cat has severe anxiety, you can expect the vet to prescribe anti-anxiety medication, but this is not always the case.
One exercise you can do to help your cat is to comfort or soothe it while feeling scared or anxious. You can do this by calmly petting it and speaking in a soft voice, so it feels reassured that it’s in a safe environment. If your cat has a comfort toy, then be sure to place the toy near it while it feels anxious.
Another step you can take is giving it natural remedies. For example, pheromone sprays can greatly reduce cat anxiety. And if you want to take it a step further, you can give it special cat CBD oil which has proven to have a soothing effect.
Of course, there are plenty of other anxiety in cats remedies, so be sure to do your research to find the one that works for your cat.
Is Your Cat Anxious?
Hopefully, with this post, we’ve answered the question: why is my cat scared? Additionally, you can now take the needed measures to ease your cat’s anxiety problems.
Is your cat anxious? If so, what has helped you ease its problem? Let us know in the comment section below. And feel free to check out our other pet-related posts!