Buzz
Regardless of whether you love cats or not, facing an angry or sad cat is something you'd rather avoid. When stressed, cats can develop behavioral issues, such as refusing to use the litter box. Cats can be triggered by many factors: moving, visiting the vet, thunder, unfamiliar people in the house, strange cats outside, or other causes. If a cat becomes so agitated that it growls, yowls, or frantically runs around the room searching for a hiding spot, they need help to regain composure. Start by controlling their environment and providing them with a private space. If this doesn't work, consult a vet for possible medical treatments for your cat.
Steps
Approaching an Anxious or Scared Cat
Ensure safety for both you and the cat first. Only approach the cat if absolutely necessary, such as during a vet visit. Most cats in distress should be left alone rather than being petted or picked up. If you must approach the cat, the first priority is to protect yourself, followed by the cat who is feeling anxious. A cat in panic or agitation will likely scratch or bite its owner. This forced aggression signifies that the cat is so stressed that it may lash out at anyone nearby if it can't access something causing its anxiety.
- Approach the anxious cat carefully.
- Be cautious when getting close to the cat, wear long clothing for protection.
- Have a towel ready in case you need to handle the cat.
Speak gently and move slowly. Talk calmly to the cat. For example, you can say, "Calm down, Lu, calm down. Shh!" Sit quietly and wait for the cat to settle down, reassuring it that there is nothing harmful or threatening around.
- Speak softly and use a low tone.
- Singing can calm a cat just as whispering does. A happy song or slow melody works well. Avoid singing loudly, noisily, or changing the tone abruptly.
- Turn on a relaxing TV program.
Attract the cat to come closer to you. Offer food if the cat is still difficult. Wet food tends to be more enticing to cats than dry food, and fish has a stronger scent than meat.
- Allow the cat to climb to a high place where it feels safe and can observe its surroundings.
- If possible, gently stroke the cat’s face from the nose downward with your thumb.
Isolate the cat if it remains anxious. Place the cat in a closed room to be alone and calm down. Close all doors of the room with the cat inside, and lower the curtains so it cannot see outside. Remove children and other pets from the room to create a peaceful and secure environment for the cat to reduce stress.
- To move the cat into the room alone, wrap it in a towel, leaving its head exposed. Then, take it to a quiet room, such as the bedroom, along with a litter box, until it calms down.
Find long-term solutions for an anxious or stressed cat
Identify the cause of the cat’s agitation. Once the situation has passed, take a moment to evaluate what caused it. What triggered the cat? If this was a one-time event, like having construction workers in the house, you can prepare for the next time by placing the cat in a quiet room until they leave. If a stray cat appears outside, you can deter it using measures such as spraying water or using cat repellent to keep it away from the yard.
- If the situation recurs frequently (e.g., car trips, the appearance of another animal, thunderstorms), you may need to teach the cat how to handle these situations.
Use pheromones to calm your cat. Pheromones are substances secreted by glands on a cat's body, including its face, paws, back, and tail, which serve to communicate with other cats. Some pheromones, like those released when a cat rubs its face on objects or people, have a calming effect on a stressed cat.
- Scientists have synthesized these pheromones in the form of collars, sprays, wipes, and electric diffusers.
Explore non-medication calming techniques. There are several non-medication methods to help ease a cat's anxiety or stress. Essential oils or herbal mixtures can mimic pheromones and act as synthetic calming agents. Supplements have also been shown to reduce stress in cats. These products work by supporting the natural balance of substances in the cat's body that promote relaxation. They are available in liquid, chewable, and pill forms.
- Body wraps (relaxation jackets) are another non-medication option. This is a fabric with adhesive strips that wraps around the cat's body, applying gentle pressure to acupressure points to help it feel calm. The principle is similar to swaddling a baby or wrapping a cat in a towel.
- Not all cats respond well to wraps, pheromones, or blends. You’ll need to experiment and observe how your cat reacts to these products.
Consider using temporary medication. Some cats have a chemical imbalance that requires medication to address stressful or anxious situations. You can give your cat temporary medication for travel or when meeting new people. Various medications are available to calm cats during short-term stressful situations. These should be prescribed by a veterinarian to ensure the cat is healthy enough for medication.
- Not all cats react the same way to medications, so veterinarians often recommend testing the sedative at home to observe how your cat responds.
- Remember that some sedatives need to be given at least an hour before a stressful event to take effect if your cat experiences extreme anxiety.
Consult a veterinarian about sedative options for your cat. There are various sedatives available for cats, but they all come with side effects and must be used cautiously, especially for cats with kidney, heart, or diabetes issues. Only a veterinarian can advise on the best sedative for your cat. Sedatives for cats include:
- Benzodiazepines. These include alprazolam, midazolam, and lorazepam. These drugs are commonly used for cats and work quickly to alleviate fear and anxiety by affecting the brain similarly to alcohol in humans. Note: NEVER give your cat alcohol.
- SARI. Trazodone is a medication in this class, known for quickly reducing anxiety.
- Clonidine and gabapentin. These medications have sedative and anti-anxiety effects in animals, including cats.
- Chlorpheniramine and Benadryl, antihistamines, are also used as sedatives in cats.
- Phenobarbital is another sedative used for cats.
Look into long-term treatment options. There are several long-term solutions for cats that consistently experience anxiety. For cats with extreme stress, long-term medication (daily for several months to years) is often the best solution to improve their quality of life and ease the owner’s stress as well. Fortunately, there are now safe medications that address chemical imbalances affecting a cat’s well-being.
- These medications include: Amitriptyline (an antidepressant for stressed animals), Buspirone Hydrochloride (used for phobias, such as fear of people in uniforms or thunderstorms), Clomipramine (Clomicalm), and Fluoxetine (Reconcile, Prozac).
- For these medications to be effective, they need time to build up in the cat's system, so it takes about six weeks to determine their impact on the pet.
- Additionally, never abruptly stop the medication, as this can have serious consequences. The best approach is to gradually reduce the dosage to allow the cat’s body to adjust.
Advice
- Be patient and stay calm! Cats can really test your patience.
- If your cat runs and hides, give it space to recover on its own.
- Sit at a 45-90 degree angle from your cat. This posture is less threatening and aggressive, helping the cat understand that it has the option to run away if needed.
- Place food a bit farther from the cat and step back to allow it to move freely!
- Don't pet a stressed cat. Instead, give it some alone time to calm down, and once it’s relaxed, you can show affection and love.
- Cats may become agitated and angry if they are constantly provoked and touched. Treat your cat with care and love, as it’s a living creature. Avoid being too rough with it.
- If your cat tends to be fearful, try playing soft classical music at a low volume in the house to soothe it.
- Avoid making a hissing sound at your cat, as it resembles a hiss that may make the cat feel more stressed and uncomfortable.
Warning
- Do not bring other pets into the room, as this may cause additional stress for the cat.
- If you approach your cat and it hisses and/or arches its back, back off slowly and try a different approach.
