Stress and anxiety in cats: signs and solutions

Cats are naturally adept at hiding weakness; it's a defence mechanism used to protect them in the wild. While some signs of stress and anxiety in cats are obvious, such as scratching furniture, urine spraying and excessive meowing, others are harder to spot. It’s important for cat owners to recognise when their cat is stressed, as it can occasionally lead to clinical illness. Knowing what to look for will help you identify and solve the problem quickly for a happy, calm cat.

Signs of a stressed or anxious cat include, scratching furniture and carpets, urine spraying, excessive meowing, hiding or withdrawing, becoming more aggressive or defensive, changes in eating, grooming and activity levels.

Stress-related behaviour is a common sign of stress in cats. One reason cats vertically scratch objects is to keep their claws sharp. Another is to visually mark their territory and leave their unique scent, which is released through glands in their paws. If your cat is scratching your furniture they could be stressed and doing so to reclaim territory or leave a warning message to other cats.

Another way cats claim territory and mark boundaries is urine spraying. Cats spray urine when they feel threatened or anxious, so this is another big indicator your cat could be feeling stressed.

Cats very rarely meow at each other but do meow at us. You may notice your cat meows to ask for food or to greet you when you come home. If your cat is meowing excessively or crying, it’s likely they are trying to tell you that something is worrying them.

Like people, cats sometimes hide away from frightening or stressful situations. If you find your cat is hiding or becoming withdrawn, there could be something in the home that is making them feel uneasy.

Stress in cats can trigger a change in behaviour. If your usually friendly cat is being aggressive, or is puffing up and arching their back, there could be something making them feel frightened and stressed. Equally, your cat may become submissive and try to make themselves look smaller.

Stress in cats can trigger a change in behaviour. If your usually friendly cat is being aggressive, or is puffing up and arching their back, there could be something making them feel frightened and stressed. Equally, your cat may become submissive and try to make themselves look smaller.

Identifying the signs of stress in cats is only half the battle. Now, you have to identify the cause of the stress and provide a solution.

Some stressful situations, such as a new home or vet visit, can’t be removed or avoided. But, there are calming products available to help cats experiencing nervousness or anxiety.

Beaphar offers a range of calming solutions available in a variety of formats. Beaphar CatComfort® is a simple and effective solution to reducing stress-related behaviour, such as furniture scratching and urine spraying, and general anxiety in cats. The products in the Beaphar CatComfort® Calming Range contain either the Feline Facial Pheromone (FFP) or the cat Maternal Appeasing Pheromone (MAP), both of which promote feelings of reassurance in cats, triggering an instinctive calming response.

Beaphar StressLess is calming rooted in nature. Containing herbal ingredients that are well-known for their calming properties and often used in human healthcare to manage stress and anxiety, they are a popular choice amongst pet owners.

Whether you choose pheromone technology or a herbal approach, Beaphar Calming Products are ideal for helping reduce stress-related behaviour and general anxiety, and supporting cats during stressful situations.