stress in cats

#causes (anchor only visible for authoring)

What causes stress in cats?

While digestive or urinary issues are noticeable, cats are likely also experiencing stress hiding in plain sight. There are multiple factors that can cause stress.

  • Changes in the home environment
  • Inconsistency in routine
  • Boredom
  • Underlying health condition or pain
  • Mishandling
  • Adversarial relationships with other pets
  • Noisy events

Be sure to monitor your cat's behaviour and note any changes to discuss with your vet if you suspect your cat is stressed.

grey cat walking on the bed with girl

#signs (anchor only visible for authoring)

Stress image cat hidden on a carpet

What are the hidden signs of stress?

Even when the signs are visible, it’s easy to overlook a pet’s hidden stress. Urinary signs are the most noticeable of hidden stress signs, so you might be wondering if your cat is stress peeing or if stress can cause urinary problems. If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to make an appointment with your veterinarian.

  • Urinary or digestive issues, vomiting
  • Toileting in the wrong place
  • Meowing or yowling
  • Scratching furniture or carpets
  • Hiding or nervousness
  • Biting or fighting

#managing (anchor only visible for authoring)

Managing your pet’s stress

If you suspect your cat is stressed, the first step should be a visit to your veterinarian. They can provide you with guidance and information about how to manage stress in cats. Along with information, they may recommend nutrition or medication to help manage your cat’s stress.

At home

Providing your cat with consistency can help alleviate some stress. Here are some tips to help keep your cat calm at home:

  • Always provide clean litter trays and plenty of fresh water. Don't forget to keep litter trays and food in separate areas
  • In multi-cat households, provide enough food, water and litter trays for each cat
  • Create a playground to keep them entertained and satisfy their urge to scratch
  • Pay attention to their body language before touching or handling them
  • Cats love to climb up high, help them reach new heights and find a window seat where they can watch the world outside
cat looking at the toy

Medication

In addition to behavioural and environmental accommodations, a vet may prescribe medication to help manage your cat’s stress. If you are looking for medications to give your cat, consult with your veterinarian first. Over-the-counter medications should only be used as recommended by your vet.

orange cat with vet

Nutrition

With the right ingredient blend, your cat’s food can help manage signs of emotional balance. Ask your vet for a nutritional recommendation that can help manage signs of stress to improve the quality of life for cats.

cat eating out of a bowl with Hill's food

#nutrition (anchor only visible for authoring)

orange cat help emotional balance

Finding the right nutrition to help manage emotional balance

A veterinarian may recommend clinical nutrition as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to help manage a cat’s stress. The right blend of ingredients can make a visible difference in pets experiencing stress.

Ingredients shown to control stress

  • L-tryptophan acts as a mood-balancing ingredient to enhance a stressed cat’s mood1,2
  • Milk protein hydrolysate decreases fearfulness & increases contact with people3
  • Omega-3s & antioxidants help support the body’s response to stress

1Pereira GG, Fragoso S, Pires E. Effect of dietary intake of L-Tryptophan supplementation on multi housed cats presenting stress related behaviours, in Proceedings, BSAVA 2010 DMS10000044045.
2Meyer HP, Becvarova I. Effects of a urinary food supplemented with milk protein hydrolysate and L-tryptophan on feline idiopathic cystitis - results of a case series in 10 cats. Intern J Appl Res Vet Med 2016;14:59-65.
3Beata et al. J Vet Behavior 2007;2:40-46.

Talk to your vet about the right food for your cat

Find the Right Nutrition

Ask your vet for a recommendation

Hill's Prescription Diet foods offer clinical nutrition for a range of health conditions. They’re clinically tested and developed by a team of PhD nutritionists and veterinarians, so you can rest assured your pet is receiving premium nutrition backed by science.

Schedule an appointment with your vet and ask how Hill's Pet Nutrition can help.

Find a Vet

Hill’s Pet Care Center

Visit the Hill’s Pet Care Center for more info and articles about how you can help your dog or cat stay healthy.