Cat anxiety: signs, causes and how to calm an anxious cat

The checker lists the stress signs International Cat Care, Cornell and Merck describe, and counts each one you answer yes or sometimes, grouped into behaviour, eating and grooming, and toileting. A recent new pet, baby or move is counted separately, because it is a likely cause rather than a sign. (iCatCare, Merck, Cornell)

Two answers always bring up a “Rule out medical first” note: any change in where your cat wees, and any over-grooming. Vets exclude medical problems before treating house soiling as behaviour, and over-grooming counts as behavioural only once no medical cause is found. Straining or passing little urine always gives the severe result. (Merck, VCA, Cornell)

The line between mild and moderate for everything else, three or more signs answered yes, is a Zooming Paws tally rule, not a clinical cut-off: no source gives a number of signs. It is a sign tally, not a diagnosis. (iCatCare)

Stress in cats is either acute, a sudden fright, or chronic, continuing or recurring for a long time. Acute fear looks like freezing, a tense crouch, dilated pupils, flattened ears and trying to escape. Chronic stress is quieter, and it is what most owners notice as cat anxiety. To read the posture side, see our guide to cat body language. (iCatCare)

If your cat has started biting or swiping, our guide on why your cat bites you covers fear, play and petting-related aggression in more depth. (Merck)

Cats are territorial and bond strongly to their home, so most causes are changes to that home or competition within it. Stress also matters for health: Cornell calls it an important factor in feline idiopathic cystitis. (iCatCare, Cornell)

The American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society of Feline Medicine set out five pillars of a healthy feline environment. Meeting them can reduce stress and stress-related disease. (VCA)

1. Provide a safe place. A private, often raised, retreat; at least as many safe spaces as cats. (VCA)
2. Provide multiple and separated key environmental resources. Food, water, trays, scratching, play and resting areas apart from each other: one per cat plus one extra. (VCA, iCatCare)
3. Provide opportunity for play and predatory behavior. Daily hunting-style play and food puzzles. (VCA, VCA)
4. Provide positive, consistent and predictable human-cat social interaction. Let your cat choose contact; avoid unwanted picking up. (VCA, iCatCare)
5. Provide an environment that respects the importance of the cat’s sense of smell. Leave your cat’s scent marks in place and avoid strong fragrances. (VCA)

Never punish a frightened or soiling cat. Cornell warns that hitting, kicking or screaming increases anxiety, International Cat Care says punishment makes the problem worse, and AVSAB’s position, written for dogs, is that only reward-based methods should be used. (Cornell, iCatCare, AVSAB)

Synthetic feline pheromone diffusers are recommended for moves, new babies and introductions by International Cat Care. The trials are less clear. Here is what each abstract states. (iCatCare, iCatCare)

In short: a diffuser may help in some situations, especially spraying, but the evidence does not support it as a stand-alone treatment for anxiety. (Frank 2010, Mills 2011)

1. Write down what changed, when, and every sign you see. (iCatCare)
2. Use the checker at the top of this page.
3. Book a vet check if toileting, grooming or appetite has changed. (Cornell, VCA)
4. Count your trays, bowls and hiding places against one per cat plus one. (iCatCare)
5. Add a daily hunting-style play session and stop any punishment. (VCA, iCatCare)