Cat Depression
Many cat owners have wondered if their kitten has fallen into a state of depression based upon the change in mood of the cat. Well it is true that your cat can fall into depression just like many other animals. But what you do to take your cat out of its feline stress is not much different as how you would help a human who has fallen into depression. Lets take a deeper look at depression in cats and see what you as the cat owner can do to help your feline pal.
Cat Depression Symptoms
Depression in cat will come with some or all of the following symptoms:
1. Quietness
Your kitty will normally be quite vocal around you, meowing and curdling around your feet to try and pull your attention when it needs you to do something for it. If you notice your cat stop meowing around you and simply lays and stares at you it could be depressed.
2. Loss of Appetite
If you also notice your cat having a lack of appetite, it could be a sign of kitty depression. Give your cat its favorite can of cat food and watch it periodically. If the animal refuses to eat, change the food and watch it again, If your cat still refuses to eat, it may be depression or some other underlining issue.
3. Excessive Vocalizing
Yes, some depressed cats will become less vocalized while some will simply call out for help a lot. Not all cat's meow means they want to be snuggled and cuddled. The cat may just be simply telling you that something is wrong and it needs attention.
4. Prefers Loneliness
Depressed cats will sometime prefer to curdle up in their cat beds and just do their little periodic meow rather than curdle up in your lap or the laptop keypad.
5. Scratches Everything Including Itself
Cats act out differently when depressed. It is a mind thing and the mind tell the cat how it should react. A depressed kitty may just start scratching at everything in the home including the scratch post right in front of its eyes.
6. Bad Hygiene Practice
Cats are very clean creatures and groom them self quite often by licking and scratching. They keep themselves well kept as they just love admiring themselves in the mirror. If you see your cat not grooming itself periodically it could be a sign of cat depression.
1. Quietness
Your kitty will normally be quite vocal around you, meowing and curdling around your feet to try and pull your attention when it needs you to do something for it. If you notice your cat stop meowing around you and simply lays and stares at you it could be depressed.
2. Loss of Appetite
If you also notice your cat having a lack of appetite, it could be a sign of kitty depression. Give your cat its favorite can of cat food and watch it periodically. If the animal refuses to eat, change the food and watch it again, If your cat still refuses to eat, it may be depression or some other underlining issue.
3. Excessive Vocalizing
Yes, some depressed cats will become less vocalized while some will simply call out for help a lot. Not all cat's meow means they want to be snuggled and cuddled. The cat may just be simply telling you that something is wrong and it needs attention.
4. Prefers Loneliness
Depressed cats will sometime prefer to curdle up in their cat beds and just do their little periodic meow rather than curdle up in your lap or the laptop keypad.
5. Scratches Everything Including Itself
Cats act out differently when depressed. It is a mind thing and the mind tell the cat how it should react. A depressed kitty may just start scratching at everything in the home including the scratch post right in front of its eyes.
6. Bad Hygiene Practice
Cats are very clean creatures and groom them self quite often by licking and scratching. They keep themselves well kept as they just love admiring themselves in the mirror. If you see your cat not grooming itself periodically it could be a sign of cat depression.
Reasons For Depression in Cats
Cat Depression Cure
Cats are just as mysterious as the underworld. They will get depressed for reasons which could just be simply unknown no matter how we diagnose. But pain especially long lasting annoying pain can make your cat depressed. Your pet vet should be able to give the animal a through test to rule out pain with a physical examination. So what are some other reasons why cats get depressed. take a look below:
1. Injury/Surgery
If your cat has been injured and have to live with some kind of injury, surgery or dysfunction of some body part, it may fall into depression as it realizes that it is no longer capable of either doing what it used to do, or is unable to do it easily or gracefully. If your cat has recently undergone surgery or is recovering, ensure that the animal does not over exert itself by trying to jump and climb to tall in house cat trees. As hard as it may be, the feline will need the desired rest to heal any injury properly to get it back to its old 'moewy' self again.
2. Sickness
Even I get depressed sometimes when I get ill. Your cat will also feel depressed if it falls into any illness which last more than a couple of days. Depends on what the ailment is, the cat will have different unwanted feelings which will not make it feel like itself. Sickness can put the cat in pain, especially joint pains. It may have loss of appetite and begin to lack mobility.
3. Cat Getting Old
Nothing is more depressing that knowing that you are growing old and are gradually loosing some natural functions that you once enjoyed. Not all people or animal have a high tolerance for old age and your cat may have fallen into that bracket. The cat may have that feeling of getting old and simply gets depressed over it.
4. Lacks Attention
If your cat is an indoor cat and is left all alone during the days, it will want some cat and owner bonding when you arrive home. Some cats will follow their owner up and down the home until the cat is lifted up and petted. If you have a cat that craves your attention and you refuse to give it, this can cause your cat to get stressed out.
5. Jealous of Another Pet
Your cat can become jealous and falls into depression if you suddenly introduce another cat to the family or even a dog for that matter. The thing is that many times when we introduce new pets to our pets we tend to show the new pet a little more attention. We all know that the reason for this is to get the new pet feel comfortable and at home, but remember that your other pet will see this differently in their eyes and simply believe that your prefer your new pal. This is a recipe for stress and depression.
6. Death
Cats can smell death. It is believed that cats know when their owner, themselves or a other feline companion will cross the other side. Once the cat senses this, it will get depressed knowing that either way, love will be lost soon.
1. Injury/Surgery
If your cat has been injured and have to live with some kind of injury, surgery or dysfunction of some body part, it may fall into depression as it realizes that it is no longer capable of either doing what it used to do, or is unable to do it easily or gracefully. If your cat has recently undergone surgery or is recovering, ensure that the animal does not over exert itself by trying to jump and climb to tall in house cat trees. As hard as it may be, the feline will need the desired rest to heal any injury properly to get it back to its old 'moewy' self again.
2. Sickness
Even I get depressed sometimes when I get ill. Your cat will also feel depressed if it falls into any illness which last more than a couple of days. Depends on what the ailment is, the cat will have different unwanted feelings which will not make it feel like itself. Sickness can put the cat in pain, especially joint pains. It may have loss of appetite and begin to lack mobility.
3. Cat Getting Old
Nothing is more depressing that knowing that you are growing old and are gradually loosing some natural functions that you once enjoyed. Not all people or animal have a high tolerance for old age and your cat may have fallen into that bracket. The cat may have that feeling of getting old and simply gets depressed over it.
4. Lacks Attention
If your cat is an indoor cat and is left all alone during the days, it will want some cat and owner bonding when you arrive home. Some cats will follow their owner up and down the home until the cat is lifted up and petted. If you have a cat that craves your attention and you refuse to give it, this can cause your cat to get stressed out.
5. Jealous of Another Pet
Your cat can become jealous and falls into depression if you suddenly introduce another cat to the family or even a dog for that matter. The thing is that many times when we introduce new pets to our pets we tend to show the new pet a little more attention. We all know that the reason for this is to get the new pet feel comfortable and at home, but remember that your other pet will see this differently in their eyes and simply believe that your prefer your new pal. This is a recipe for stress and depression.
6. Death
Cats can smell death. It is believed that cats know when their owner, themselves or a other feline companion will cross the other side. Once the cat senses this, it will get depressed knowing that either way, love will be lost soon.
Cat Depression Treatment
- Cat depression treatments will vary depending on what the concluded underline cause for the condition is. If your cat is depressed because of pain, injury or sickness. Ensure that you visit your vet periodically to assess the cat's situation and have the vet prescribe any kind of medication which will help with the pain associated with surgery recovery or any other kind of physical ailment.
- Try and spend more time with your cat to see if that will help. Notice any kind of changes in the cat once you begin to spend more time by cuddling and walking with your cat.
- Give the cat natural supplements to help with mind and body development. Natural supplements are a great way of keeping your cat steady and focus even when the cat grows old. This is probably the more humane way of keeping your cat steady and focus and reducing the chances of your cat falling into depression. Holistic health is easy, natural and will not harm your cat as chemical medications prescribed for your cat suffering from depression.
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