Understanding the reason behind your cat’s behaviors can seem virtually impossible, especially when stress could be the cause. A multitude of health issues, or fear, anxiety, or stress can trigger common behavior and habit changes. Left untreated, stress can cause serious health consequences, so determining the root cause of your feline’s behavior and activity changes is important for their health and happiness. Read on to learn about common conditions that stress or medical problems can cause your pet.

Clinical sign: Your cat is urinating outside the litter box

Possible cause: One of the most common—and frustrating—cat behaviors is inappropriate urination. In fact, this behavior is among the top reasons why cats are surrendered to animal shelters, so identifying and managing the cause is critical. 

A cat can develop stress and anxiety if their litter box is dirty, placed in a busy or noisy spot, makes them feel trapped, or the wrong litter type is used. 

If you notice blood in your cat’s urine, frequent urination attempts, straining or vocalization while urinating, or decreased urine production, your cat has a urinary problem. Common urinary issues in cats include feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and kidney disease. Stress is considered an FIC trigger, so a correct diagnosis is important for treating inappropriate urination.

Clinical sign: Your cat is behaving aggressively

Possible cause: When cats feel threatened or uneasy, they often resort to aggression as a defense mechanism. Cats who feel unwell because of illness or injury will lash out at people trying to help, or other pets who venture too close. Common medical reasons for feline aggression include:

  • Dental disease
  • Arthritis
  • Urinary issues
  • Skin allergies and infections

Stress can also be the reason for a cat’s irritability or aggressiveness, especially if the stress is triggered by another household pet or person. For example, if one cat is guarding resources, like the litter box or food bowl, another cat can aggressively attempt to reach those resources. Or, if you have a houseful of visiting family members, the sudden change in their home life can stress your cat, and they will react aggressively when handled.

Clinical sign: Your cat is pulling out their fur

Possible cause: Like the phrase “pulling my hair out” that people use, stress can trigger feline overgrooming. Licking and grooming are soothing behaviors for cats, so anxious, nervous cats often groom excessively to calm themselves.

Excessive grooming to the point of fur loss can also be caused by:

  • Allergies — Allergies to pollens, molds, and dust mites can make your cat incredibly itchy, causing them to lick, chew, and scratch. The extreme skin irritation and inflammation can lead to hair loss, hot spots, and skin infections.
  • External parasites — Fleas and mange mites generate a great deal of itching and irritation, especially if your cat is flea-allergic or they develop sarcoptic mange. As your cat tries to rid themselves of the parasites, they can pull out chunks of fur.
  • Arthritis — Arthritis can develop in any joint in your cat’s body, but the elbows, wrists, hips, and knees are commonly affected. Your cat may lick and chew at the painful joints trying to ease the discomfort, which can lead to fur loss.
  • Cystitis — Bladder inflammation is another painful condition that may cause your cat to lick so much that they pull hair out from their abdomen.

Clinical sign: Your cat’s appetite has changed

Possible cause: Appetite changes, whether an increase or decrease, can signify serious health issues in cats. Inappetence and “binge eating” can also be signs of boredom and stress. If your cat’s appetite increases, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or inflammatory bowel disease can be to blame. Inappetence can be caused by kidney disease, upper respiratory infections, dental disease, or a gastrointestinal (GI) issue.

Clinical sign: Your cat is meowing excessively

Possible cause: Cats typically meow to communicate only with humans, rather than members of their own species. Your cat may meow to garner your attention or food or to indicate boredom or stress. Cats may also vocalize excessively because of pain, illness, cognitive dysfunction, or anxiety, trying to communicate their distress.

Is stress or an underlying health issue causing your cat’s altered behavior and activity? This can be difficult to determine, so schedule an appointment with our All Breed Pet Care team. We can help find the reason and provide the appropriate treatment to alleviate their discomfort.