Life is often stressful, even for your precious pooch or kitty. Discover how to spot signs of stress in your cat or dog, so you can help them to relax.
Both cats and dogs that are left home alone for prolonged periods often experience separation anxiety and stress. Since April is Stress Awareness month, it’s a good time to focus on the many everyday factors and home situations that may trigger pet stress.
Aa pet’s personality plays an important role in the way it reacts to different situations, according to animal behaviorist Prof. Nicholas Dodman, head of the small animal behavior clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
“Some dogs get very destructive and start chewing things around the house,” says Dodman. “Others make themselves physically ill and vomit, or even pull their hair out. It’s really important to be in tune with your pets so that you can pick up on the situation and rectify things as soon as possible.”
Tips on how to Recognize and Reduce Pet Stress
Typical signs of canine stress
Destructive behavior, which include chewing furniture along with other items in the home
Excessive barking both inside and outside the home
Peeing and pooping around the house
Sudden displays of growling, snarling and perhaps biting family members that your dog is usually affectionate toward
Physical symptoms of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, skin allergies, excessive licking and pulling out clumps of fur
Typical signs of feline stress
Hiding for long periods
Excessive grooming
Chasing her own tail
Loss of appetite
Vomiting and diarrhea
It can be more challenging to pick up on signs and symptoms of feline stress because some cats are good at hiding their feelings. Also many felines often hide or sleep out of sight as a normal occurrence. Sometimes the escalating level of feline stress is gradual. It’s vital to keep an eye on your feline, and also to check with your veterinarian for behavior that seems abnormal.
Key stress triggers for dogs
Being left home alone for long periods could cause anxiety to build until you return
A family member leaving the home or passing away
The arrival of an infant
Builders and renovators working inside the home
Landscape gardeners and any exterior construction or maintenance work
A visit to the vet
Key stress triggers for cats
Loud music played constantly – especially heavy metal
New furniture
Repairs and maintenance being performed around the house
A barking dog or new pets
New family members and even visitors
A change of food or litter type
A dirty kitty litter box (cats are extremely clean animals naturally)
A visit to the vet
Because cats are such stoic creatures, it’s really important to ascertain the real cause of any stress and anxiety. Some cats simply don’t get along with other cats in a multi-cat household, and want to have their own space within the household to relax and feel at home.
Illness and abuse may also be major causes of feline stress, so make sure your cat is being treated properly by all members of the household – and in addition not being terrorized by other pets.
It’s equally important to make note of very often neither cats nor dogs are party animals, and the noise and activity of a party or festive occasion is stressful. It’s a good idea to cloister pets in another area of the home, which will help prevent them from attempting to bolt and even get lost.
How to relieve pet stress
Animal behaviorists feel that garments just like the ThunderShirt can help reduce anxiety levels in cats and dogs. The garment is meant to swaddle the animal, providing it with the kind of security and comfort that is known to comfort babies and small children.
Calming collars, that are infused with natural calmatives for instance lavender, are also stress relievers. So are pheromone sprays, which mimic the pheromones that both dogs and cats give off naturally to help ease anxiety in their young.
Tips for reducing stress in dogs
When it comes to dogs, daily exercise helps a lot as a stress reliever – similar to it does in people. Make an effort to establish a daily exercise routine for your dog. If you should relocate to a new home, it’s important to establish that routine as soon as possible to ease your dog into its new living situation.
Dogs in addition have a denning instinct. Crate-training your pooch will offer it a safe place to hang out. Ensure your pet has a nice cuddly blanket and her favorite toys inside to help make the space as comfortable as you possibly can.
Tips for reducing stress in cats
Try to prepare your feline for just about any major changes in a household, such as a newborn or additional pet. It’s necessary that cats have their own space and privacy within a home to escape normal household activities, particularly if there are actually small children.
A good idea is to enhance the vertical space in your home by using a nice tall cat tree or kitty condo. Both vertical and horizontal scratchers made from corrugated cardboard can also be an excellent feline stress reliever.
Engage your cat in regular playtime, and give her puzzle feeders and distraction toys to play with to keep her busy, particularly when she’s home alone. Dogs love distraction toys and puzzles, too, as they are a great way to offer mental and physical enrichment.