Comfort a cat that’s frightened by loud noises outside the house, particularly fireworks or thunderstorms. Take her into an interior room or close the curtains, put the TV or radio on low, and make sure the cat has a “bolt hole” where she can hide until the ordeal is over. [2] X Research source Cat Behaviour Explained. Peter Neville. Publisher: Parragon.
As a rule of thumb, if the cat backs away from you, growls, hisses, or swishes her tail, leave her alone. In fact, look for a way to make her bolt hole more secure, such as putting a towel over the box she is hiding in so that the front is screened and she can’t be seen. [3] X Research source Cat Behaviour Explained. Peter Neville. Publisher: Parragon.
If you’re going through transitions at home, be sure to tune in to your cat and take all the measures you can to make it as smooth as possible for her. Always provide a safe place where she can hide. [5] X Research source Cat Behaviour Explained. Peter Neville. Publisher: Parragon.
Instead, use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior in your cat. Every time she does something “good,” such as using the scratching post, give her a few treats and praise her verbally. The trick to doing this is that the reward must be immediate: cats have short attention spans, so if the reward comes even a few seconds too late, your cat may not understand what it’s for. [6] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source
Hide treats or dry food around the house and let her hunt for them. Have at least three 10-minutes sessions of one-on-one play with your cat. Dangle something enticing for it to chase or toss toys across the room. Cats love to chase and pounce. If you own more than one cat, make sure you play with each cat alone every day in addition to group playtime. Leave toys out your cat. Acquire a wide variety of toys, but only put a couple within reach of the cat at one time. Every few days pick up the toys you’ve made available to the cat and put down a couple of new ones.
There should be one litter box per cat, plus one spare, to decrease competition for toilet facilities. [9] X Research source Cat Behaviour Explained. Peter Neville. Publisher: Parragon. Be sure to keep the litter boxes clean, removing solid waste daily and regularly cleaning the box out with mild dish soap or a solution of bleach in water (1:30 ratio). Place multiple food bowls around the house, so that no one cat can monopolize the food at all times. [10] X Research source Cat Behaviour Explained. Peter Neville. Publisher: Parragon.
Discourage visits from a stray by removing any food that might be attracting him. If your cat goes outside, consider installing a microchip-activated cat flap so the stray cannot come indoors. If the stressed cat can see the stray in the garden, it may help to block the lower part of the window to obscure that view (the cat equivalent of hiding your head in the sand, but it works). [11] X Research source Cat Behaviour Explained. Peter Neville. Publisher: Parragon.
To eliminate fleas on your cat, consult your veterinarian for recommendations on a flea-control program that’s right for her. At home, you’ll need to take measures that include: rigorous vacuuming of all your cat’s favorite places, rugs, and upholstery; washing your cat’s bedding weekly; and possibly using a spray, fogger, or powder that is safe (follow product directions carefully and make sure the cat is not in the area if that is specified in the instructions). [15] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
These signs should never be ignored; always get the cat checked by a vet. [17] X Research source Feline Behaviour: A Guide for Veterinarians. Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders. 2nd edition. This is because bladder inflammation can lead to a blockage, which is a serious, and potentially life-threatening, problem if untreated.
Again, get your cat checked by the vet before concluding this is stress-related (allergies and parasites can also cause over-grooming). [18] X Research source Feline Behaviour: A Guide for Veterinarians. Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders. 2nd edition.
However, other problems such as arthritis, bladder infections, or stomach upsets can mimic this, so always get your cat’s health checked by the vet. [21] X Research source Feline Behaviour: A Guide for Veterinarians. Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders. 2nd edition.
Use the spray Feliway by spritzing bedding, or entrance and exit points so as to amplify ownership by the resident cat. Alternatively, buy a Feliway diffuser. The diffuser plugs into an electrical socket and gives off a low level of the pheromone into the air (it is not detectable by humans!). Ideally, plug the diffuser into an electrical socket in the room your stressed cat spends the most time. The effect builds up gradually, so don’t expect immediate results, but after a couple of weeks the cat should feel safer and more reassured. (Each diffuser lasts for approximately four weeks and refills are available. )[27] X Research source Feline Behaviour: A Guide for Veterinarians. Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders. 2nd edition.
Zylkene is available without prescription and comes in 75 mg capsules. The dose for a cat is a 75 mg capsule once a day, given with or after food. It can take a couple of days to take effect, but if there is no noticeable difference after seven days, it is unlikely to help your cat. [28] X Research source Feline Behaviour: A Guide for Veterinarians. Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders. 2nd edition.
None of these drugs are licensed for use in the cat because the manufacturer has not paid to put them through efficacy trials. However, there are considerable banks of data about their safe use in cats, which your veterinarian will discuss with you if she considers this the best course of treatment. [29] X Research source Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook. Donald Plumb. PharmaVet [30] X Research source Feline Behaviour: A Guide for Veterinarians. Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders. 2nd edition.
