How to tell if your cat is stressed

19th December 2022

Let’s face it: cats are sensitive creatures and react with stress to a wide range of things. Unfortunately, they can’t tell us when something has disturbed their zen mode.

zen | /zen/ | adjective | peaceful and calm

If your cat is stressed, they may respond with a range of body language signals and behaviours.

A stressed or scared cat may flatten their ears whilst crouching. You may even notice their eyes looking darker than normal as their pupils will be dilated. They may also seek a safe space either underneath things or up above and hide. If the stressing factor lasts, the cat might even start withdrawing themselves. If you own a SureFlap™ Microchip Cat Flap Connect[SK1]  or SureFlap™ Microchip Pet Door Connect, you can keep an eye on your cat’s outdoor pattern and duration to spot if their time away or the frequency of their comings and goings changes.

Although scratching is a normal behaviour that cats use to maintain their claws and leave scent marks, a sudden increase in scratching could be an indication of stress. If this is due to a threat perceived by the appearance of another cat, then installing a selective cat flap like a model from Sure Petcare’s SureFlap range could help reducing the stress by keeping other cats out. Your home is your cat’s sanctuary, and the presence of other cats won’t necessarily be understood by them as a friendly visit. After all, you wouldn’t be happy to find a stranger in your home would you?

If your cat has been using a litter tray and suddenly decides to do their business elsewhere inside your home, then this could be for multiple reasons. Cats are sensitive to changes in their environment and sometimes even redecorating can cause them to feel out of balance. It is good practice to check with your vet if your cat’s uncleanliness has any physical reasons before trying to pinpoint the stress-inducing change. Increased urination can be a sign of kidney problems. As these are quite common in middle-aged and senior cats and can be detected by a change in drinking too, perhaps consider using Felaqua™ Connect to keep an eye on your cat’s drinking patterns.

Like with us humans, stress can affect a cat’s appetite. If you feel that your cat is suddenly eating less, consult your vet first to ensure it’s not a sign of an illness. In multi-cat households, changes in a cat’s feeding habits can be easily missed as the cats are likely to eat each other’s food or even share the same bowl. A SureFeed™ Microchip Pet Feeder Connect can help you tracking your cat’s feeding routine and prevent cross-feeding, which also takes the stress out of mealtimes.

Top tips to avoid stress: 

• Introduce routine changes gradually
• Introduce new people gradually
• Ensure enrichment through play or outdoor access
• Provide a calm environment or a personal space to retire to
• Use a selective feeder to prevent stress during mealtimes 
• Use a selective cat flap to prevent intruder animals from entering the home 
• Set up a scratching post

The Sure Petcare range of connected pet products helps you to monitor your cat’s behaviour, so you’ll find it easier to spot unusual changes in their routine and wellbeing.

Fancy further information? You can read more about the feline body language here.

If you’d like to share your own pet care tips with us, why not send us a message on social media, get involved in the conversation using the hashtag #DoYouSpeakCat or give @SurePetcare a mention.

Always make sure to consult your vet, should you have concerns about your cat's wellbeing.