Cats are very sensitive animals, and they can even detect subtle changes in the environment. When a cat can't cope with environmental changes well, it will lead to stress. Foreign veterinary scholars have made a statistic on the causes of stress in cats. The main reasons are as follows:

New family members (people or animals): New family members always bring a lot of uncertainty, which will greatly increase the stress of cats and lead to stress.

Moving: Moving will cause great changes in the environment, and when cats can't accept such changes, they will have stress.

Change of daily routine: change or cancellation of daily play time, change of daily feeding time, change of position of drinking and eating cat litter basin, long-term departure of owner, etc. It will cause anxiety and stress to cats.

Noise interference: upstairs and downstairs decoration sound, hair dryer sound, thunder, door closing sound, noisy human voice ... these annoying noises are even more painful in the ears of cats whose hearing is dozens of times that of human beings.

2. Stress reaction is harmful to the health of cats.

Stress will have many effects on the health and behavior of cats. The latest research proves that the cat's stress response is related to the suppression of the cat's normal immune function, which will lead to many common health problems:

Virus problem: Herpes virus, calicivirus and other viruses that have existed in cats for a long time will be reactivated through stress, leading to repeated infections. Sick cats have upper respiratory symptoms, including sneezing and discharging inflammatory secretions from their eyes and nose. Infectious peritonitis in cats: usually caused by variation of feline coronavirus, which is usually caused by long-term stress.

Cat Spontaneous Cystitis (FIC): This is a aseptic bladder disease in which bladder permeability is changed due to stress-induced neuroinflammation. 80% of the lower urinary tract diseases of kittens under 5 years old are caused by this thing. Symptoms are frequent urination, hematuria, and urinary incontinence in severe cases. To put it bluntly, this is a "psycho".

Dermatosis: under stress, cats may have nervous itching, alopecia areata caused by excessive licking, sudden hair loss or neurotic allergic symptoms. For cats with skin problems, it will delay the recovery of the disease and may aggravate gastrointestinal problems: stress can also lead to various gastrointestinal problems, such as loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.

3. Stress can also lead to various behavior changes of cats.

These behavioral changes have become the main reason why many "irrational" people abandon cats or euthanize them. Behavioral abnormalities caused by stress mainly include:

Stop eating, licking your hair excessively or licking your hair.

Reduce the sudden alienation from the host and companions, scream frequently, and avoid using urine markers in corners (including indoor spraying and urinating outside the cat litter box).

Aggressive pica (eating plastic, rubber bands, cloth, etc. ).

According to different situations, the stress response of cats can be divided into mild, moderate and severe.

Mild: Mild stress reactions of cats include diarrhea, loss of appetite, hunger strike, repeated vomiting, persistent panting and exhalation.

Moderate: The moderate stress response of cats is manifested as decreased resistance, illness, cat nasal branches, cat plague and skin diseases, all of which may be caused by stress response.

Severity: Severe stress reactions of cats include abdominal transmission, renal failure, sudden heart attack and sudden death.

4. The general reaction of cat stress response.

(1) immediately determine the source of stress response and take immediate measures.

The source of stress reaction needs to be identified and eliminated immediately. These measures can reduce the cat's anxiety and help the cat to alleviate the stress reaction to the greatest extent. This may be to replace the new trash can, control the sound of closing the door, stop holding large parties at home and avoid unnecessary bathing. ...

(2) Feed food or nutritional additives containing anti-stress and sedative ingredients every day.

Including hydrolyzed casein, chrysanthemum ... These ingredients are characterized by helping cats to relieve mental stress and emotional anxiety and reduce the occurrence of stress. Choose according to the specific situation of your cat, and it is best to consult a professional pet doctor before using it.

(3) appease the cat.

When a cat has a stress reaction, its mood will become very unstable and its resistance will become fragile accordingly. If the situation is mild, the cat will hide in fear when it comes home. At this time, the owner can talk to them softly to appease them, and then leave them alone, leave them alone and let them recover themselves.

(4) immediate treatment.

However, if the situation is serious, diarrhea, vomiting and even incontinence occur, the owner needs to intervene. You must see a doctor in time. Don't take it lightly just because the cat looks fine. Usually, diseases that are invisible on the surface are more serious for cats. After all, stress will lead to a decline in the cat's resistance, and after the resistance drops, various viruses will take advantage of it.