THE domestic cat’s adaptability as a species is constantly being tested by the demands of the modern pet owner. Humans expect cats to live in territories heavily populated by other cats or within a confined environment with minimal stimulation and unfortunately this can have a negative impact on their psychological wellbeing.
Cats are territorial creatures and as such their behaviour can be difficult to read in stressful situations. They tend to develop strategies to cope with stress that can vary widely depending on their personalities; for example, some cats may spend less time eating as they need to maintain heightened vigilance at times of stress whereas others will eat more as a form of displacement activity.
With this inherent ambiguity in signalling their emotions, it is often difficult for owners to interpret their cats’ behaviour. In order to establish that a cat is suffering from chronic, irresolvable stress, it is necessary to study the individual in some detail. Changes in patterns of behaviour and demeanour or the development of a “behavioural problem” are all potential indicators.
Signs of stress include:
- inhibition of feeding, grooming, urination and defaecation or overeating (dependent on personality type);
- increased resting and feigned sleep;
- hiding;
- increased dependency or social withdrawal (dependent on personality type);
- defensive aggression towards people, e.g. hissing;
- defensive aggression towards other cats in the household;
- extreme vigilance and heightened startle response;
- lack of play activity;
- changes in patterns of behaviour, e.g. spending significantly more time indoors, irrespective of normal seasonal changes;
- inappropriate urination or defaecation;
- urine spraying.
Chronic stress can also have a negative impact on the cat’s physical well-being, as it alters immune function resulting in immune suppression or exacerbation of auto-immune disease and allergies. Stress is a significant factor in cases of overgrooming, fur plucking and selfmutilation and also Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. It is also considered to be a contributory factor in cases of pica, including wool eating and chewing.
Potential stressors for cats can be found in their interaction with both people and their environment; however a, significant proportion of the stress experienced by cats relates to their own species. Examples include:
- sharing resources with socially incompatible cats;
- living in neighbourhoods that are overpopulated with cats;
- the introduction of a new cat into the territory;
- return of a cat into the household after a period of absence.
Unfortunately, owners can inadvertently play a role in increasing their cats’ stress levels. Some owners can introduce undesirable elements into the relationship with their pet cat, such as:
- excessive and intrusive physical contact and interaction;
- over-protection;
- inconsistent behaviour;
- unrealistic expectations.
The environment is often the last thing that owners consider when they assess the welfare of their cats, as they perceive safety and love as being the most important provisions. However, there are many potential stressors in a typical domestic home, including:
- confinement indoors, restricting ability to perform natural behaviour, e.g. hunting;
- restricted or limited access to resources, e.g. litter trays, hiding places, high perches;
- limited or unpredictable access outdoors;
- floor length windows giving excessive visual access into the home from outdoors;
- inappropriate positioning of important resources, e.g. food next to litter tray;
- boredom, lack of stimulation;
- introduction of a dog with a corresponding lack of escape opportunities;
- overpowering odours, e.g. “plug-in” air fresheners;
- cigarette smoke.
The role of early socialisation
Genetics and early experiences influence a cat’s behaviour and its response to the environment. The most significant impact is made by breeders in the choice of appropriate lines to produce confident, social individuals. Rescue catteries, breeders and households breeding non-pedigree kittens will also influence their kittens’ future behaviour by the quality of early socialisation and habituation to domestic life.
The sensitive period takes place between two and seven weeks of age when particular events are especially likely to have long-term effects on the individual cat’s development. Socialisation at this time allows kittens to form positive associations with other species, including humans.
At this time the kitten should also be exposed to all the sensory “input” that would normally be experienced in the average modern home: for example, vacuum cleaners, music, wet and dry food, furniture, carpets, wood floors and litter materials.
Failure to provide the appropriate early experiences could potentially lead to stress when the cat is exposed to humans and domestic environments in later life.
How to reduce stress
Providing care that respects the needs of the cat as a species can prevent or reduce stress, for example:
- provide resources (e.g. litter trays, feeding stations, beds) within the home in sufficient quantity to satisfy the resident cats’ needs (one per cat plus one extra, positioned in different locations);
- keep an appropriate number of cats for the size of property and resources within it;
- keep cats that are part of the same family;
- allow the cat to take control of social interaction with its owner;
- avoid multi-cat households in areas with a dense cat population;
- allow cats to have access outside; even an outdoor enclosure will provide important stimulation;
- maintain daily routines whenever possible;
- provide daily opportunities for play;
- stimulate house cats and provide an environment that enables them to perform natural behaviour.
It is unrealistic to expect that all potential stress triggers can be removed from the lives of domestic cats. If an owner or veterinary surgeon suspects that a cat is suffering from stress there is no substitute for accurately establishing the specific source of stress and addressing it accordingly.
If environmental and interactive changes are then made, based on that assessment, it can have a dramatic and positive impact on the cat’s emotional and physical well-being. The key to resolving these issues undoubtedly lies in a better understanding of the species and accurate interpretation of the behaviour that gives an insight into the emotional state of the individual.
