It is easy to assume that modern house cats bear little obvious resemblance to their wild ancestors, but the truth is that much of their behaviour is in fact guided by pre-programmed impulses that can be traced back to the days before cats became domesticated. The way cats behave is much easier to understand once we appreciate just how much they are still driven by their ancient instincts towards self preservation and survival.
A cat's goals in life are not complicated - they desire nutrition, procreation and safety above all else. In order to achieve these, cats must command their territory, secure sufficient food, and maximise their opportunity for mating. Cats are naturally anxious animals, and if your cat is showing signs of anxiety the cause is almost always going to be one of these three things.
How to Spot Stress and Anxiety in Cats
There are many signs of anxiety in cats that owners should look out for. These include aggressive behaviour, avoidance of the litter box, and withdrawn behaviour. Some cats deal with anxiety by grooming themselves excessively, to the point where they are pulling all their hair out.
Noticing these symptoms early and dealing with them straight away is crucial to preventing the anxiety getting out of control. If you suspect your cat is suffering from anxiety, there are a number of treatment options available to you, and your vet will be able to advise you on the best ones use.
Increasingly popular are the range of herbal treatments, which come in many forms and can help to treat the anxiety without any of the side effects that can sometimes occur with conventional medicines. Valerian in particular is considered ideal for relieving stress in dogs and cats, and can be given safely for as long as is considered necessary to overcome the condition and return them to confidence.
Another behaviour which is closely linked to anxiety is territorial spraying. Marking of territory with urine is a long-standing method used by cats to communicate with each other. Because of their solitary lifestyles, cats rarely encounter each other face to face, so they must exert their claim to territory with a series of visual and scent markers that other cats will understand, i.e. their urine.
Where spraying can become a problem is when it is done indoors in the home. When this happens, it can be instructive to look for an anxiety based reason for why your cat has felt the need to mark its territory indoors. For example, it can commonly occur after you move into a new home, or you introduce new and unfamiliar objects or pets into the house, causing your cat to feel threatened and insecure.
Again, this can be treated with both conventional and herbal medicines, as well as some tried and tested training techniques. There is also the factor of time, as often your cat may just take a little while to adjust to their surroundings being altered (e.g. with a new piece of furniture), but once they get used to it the anxiety problem will cease.
