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How long does it take for a cat to get better after moving to a new place?

When a cat arrives in a new environment, it is natural for it to hide in corners due to fear, timidity, and unfamiliarity. There is no need for the owner to worry. Just put the cat's food, water, and bed in the corner where it hides. Let the cat know that its environment is safe and that the owner will not harm it. Generally, after three to four days, the cat will begin to explore and play around.

How long does it take for a cat to adapt to a new environment?

Without familiar objects in the new environment, it takes about a week for a cat to adapt. If the new environment has familiar things and smells, such as its toys and cat bed, the adaptation time can be cut in half, and the cat can adapt in about three days. Bathing, as well as vaccination and deworming, should be done after the cat adapts to the new environment.

Symptoms of cat stress response

Alert phase: The body mobilizes resources and prepares for emergencies through a series of neurophysiological changes. This phase can be divided into the shock phase and anti-shock phase. In the shock phase, symptoms such as lowered blood pressure, increased vascular permeability, decreased blood concentration, and lowering of body temperature may occur. The manifestations of the anti-shock phase are opposite to those of the shock phase.

Resistance phase: Continuous neurophysiological changes occur, making full use of internal resources to deal with various emergencies. Exhaustion phase: The cat's hormones and essential trace elements are depleted, causing damage to some cells and tissues, and post-traumatic stress disorder occurs. This stage occurs only when the stress factor is severe or persistent. At this point, defensive measures are no longer effective, and if it continues to develop, it will lead to death.

How to alleviate a cat's stress response

  1. Provide the cat with a separate, quiet room, the smaller the better. A large room can cause stress.
  2. Talk to the cat even though it doesn't understand the content of your words. Your tone, pitch, and gentle emotions can weaken its tension and help it relax.
  3. If the cat acts nervously, spend more time with it or stroke it. Use catnip to help the cat's emotions calm down quickly.
  4. Use the cat's usual toy to play with it to alleviate its tension. Do not overstimulate it to avoid exacerbating the stress response due to fatigue.