Minimizing Stress and Anxiety in Your Cat
My own cats have been experiencing stress for some time now. Their stress comes as a result of multiple causes, from the constant turmoil of contractors, real estate agents, and potential buyers coming in and out of our former home; to the 74 mile move to a strange new home; the winter holidays right after the move; to the necessity of trips to the new veterinary clinic for all four cats. You see, cats do not deal well with environmental changes, and when their humans are stressed, as we were, the stress is telegraphed back to the cats, increasing their anxiety. Cats are very sensitive to our emotions.
Anything from your own new job which changes yours and their schedule, to visitors from out of town, to a new baby or new cat, and your cats' stress quotient is on the rise again. This article highlights the various causes of stress in cats, with suggestions for ways you can help. As always, our forum members can also often come up with examples of how they dealt with similar problems. Jaspurr, pictured here, often uses the scratching post as a means of working off his stress. Maintaining an alpha cat position is not always easy.
Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy
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