Stress Response Symptoms in Cats

Cats' stress responses mainly manifest in emotional, behavioral, and physical aspects. If the stress is mild, the cat may hide in a corner, shake or wander around nervously, appearing very tense and anxious. However, if the stress is severe, abnormal hormone secretion and blood viscosity in the cat's body will occur, resulting in decreased resistance, long-term loss of appetite, difficulty urinating, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. At this point, the owner needs to take it to the hospital in time for relevant disease screening, as cats are prone to diseases such as feline infectious peritonitis, urinary obstruction, and constipation after stress, which are dangerous if not treated promptly.

Cats are naturally sensitive and timid, easily frightened by external stimuli, such as sudden changes in living conditions and unexpected situations like new members joining the family. These events can trigger stress responses in cats, which usually exhibit the following symptoms:

1. Changes in Emotion and Behavior

After stress, cats often hide in dark, concealed corners, cautiously observing their surroundings. The owner can clearly feel the tension and anxiety in its emotions. Some cats may even shake violently or wander around the house uncontrollably. This is a relatively mild stress response, and the owner can transfer the cat to a quieter environment, avoid stimulating it, and let it adapt slowly. Generally, it will recover normally in a few days.

1. Physical Abnormalities

Stress response itself is not a particularly serious problem; it is just a psychological disorder in cats and has a high probability of occurring in daily life. However, the series of disease reactions triggered by stress are relatively dangerous for cats.

After stress, the secretion of hormones such as blood sugar and blood pressure in cats' bodies suddenly increases, and with the increase in blood viscosity, thrombus formation is prone to occur. Meanwhile, the cat's heart rate increases, and myocardial oxygen consumption increases, which may lead to dangerous situations of myocardial ischemia. When the cat's body shows abnormalities, its resistance also decreases, making it prone to diseases such as feline infectious peritonitis, constipation, and urinary obstruction. Severe stress responses can even lead to catabolic reflux and liver function damage.

If the cat shows long-term loss of appetite, urinary obstruction, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever after stress, the owner should take it to the hospital for treatment promptly.

Note: In daily life, owners should try to avoid bringing cats to unfamiliar environments and forcing them to contact unfamiliar people or animals. If it is indeed impossible to avoid moving or long-distance transportation, preventive measures against stress should be taken, such as creating a dark and quiet environment in an airline carrier or feeding the cat with pet-specific stress relief tablets.

If a cat has already shown stress responses, the owner can provide gentle comfort. However, if the cat rejects it, it is better to let it be alone and use items such as cat toys and snacks to console it after it recovers.