Can cats suffer from stress and anxiety? Yes! When a friendly, extroverted cat suddenly becomes nervous and reactive, it is usually obvious to the owners that the cat is stressed. Stress may not be as easily detected in the shy cat that may be showing stress by sitting in a fixed posture, immobile for long periods of time. Cats handle stress in different ways depending on their personalities. Some common manifestations of stress in cats include: Litter box problems; territorial marking behaviours; spraying; excessive grooming and hiding; redirected aggression (toward people or pets); excessive vocalization; loss of appetite and restlessness. All of these behaviours can also be symptoms of illness, so it is important to take your pet to the vet as soon as possible, to rule out health problems. It could be that your cat is stressed by another cat in the house. Perhaps he is ambushed on his way to the litter box or he is afraid to pass through the other cat's territory to get to his litter box. (See notes on our website ‘Introducing a new cat'). When the cat urinates in front of the owner or on beds or clothing, the message is either that the cat has a health problem, or that he is stressed by something in the environment. If he selects a particular person's clothing or bedding for his toilet area, it generally means that this person is the source of his anxiety. It can be a positive or negative message! Most likely, the cat is exhibiting separation anxiety. Having this person, (whether it is you or another family member), give the cat food treats as well as extra attention may solve the problem. It is also necessary to keep clothes and other previous targets away from the cat for a while.

Why does my friendly cat occasionally bite and scratch me? Cat owners sometimes have difficulty understanding why their cats, who seem to be friendly and content one minute, may suddenly bite and scratch the next. Aggressive behaviors are part of the normal behaviour patterns of almost any animal species. Cat bites are seldom reported, but may occur more frequently than do bites from dogs. There are different types of ‘aggression' in cats. Play-motivated aggressive behaviours are commonly observed in young, active cats less than two years of age and who live in one-cat households. Play provides young cats with opportunities to practice skills they would normally need for survival. Kittens like to explore new areas and investigate anything that moves. They may bat at, pounce on, and bite objects which resemble prey. Playful aggression often results in scratches and bites which do not break the skin. Playful attacks often occur when an unsuspecting owner comes down the stairs, steps out of the bathtub, rounds a corner, or even moves under the bedcovers while sleeping. Owners may contribute to this problem if they encourage kittens to chase or bite at their hands and feet during play. These are all normal cat behaviours, whether they are seen during play or are part of an actual predatory sequence.

‘Don't Pet Me Anymore' Aggression: It is not uncommon for cats to suddenly bite while being petted. This behaviour is not well understood, even by experienced animal behaviorists. For whatever reason, petting which the cat was previously enjoying becomes unpleasant. The bite is the cat's signal that she has had enough petting. Cats vary in how much they will tolerate being petted or held. Although owners often describe cats as biting "out of the blue" or without warning, cats generally give several signals before biting. Owners must become more aware of their cats' body postures, and cease petting or stop any other kind of interaction before the bite occurs. Signs you should look for include: restlessness: the tail beginning to twitch: ears turning back or flicking back and forth: the cat turning or moving her head toward your hand. When you observe any of these signals, it is time to stop petting the cat immediately and allow him just to sit quietly on your lap or go his own way, whichever he prefers. Any kind of physical punishment almost always makes the problem worse, as it makes the cat more likely to bite either because he is fearful and/or because petting becomes even more unpleasant if it is associated with punishment.

IMPORTANT: In all cases where your cat's behaviour is abnormal begin with a visit to the vet. After that, we recommend the stress relieving products available online at www.drsfostersmith.com