Spotting Stress in Pets: Key Signs & How to Help

Just like humans, pets can go through a range of anxiety and stress due to the environment, medical conditions, and other factors. Identifying the cause of the stress will allow you to take positive action to reduce the issue so your pet feels better. Use this checklist to recognize the tell-tale signs of stress in your cat or dog.

Stress for Cats

If your cat is suddenly not acting like its normal self, it may be suffering from stress. One sign of stress is noticing urination outside of litter boxes. The cat may also have digestive issues, constipation or increased diarrhea. You should never ignore these signs by thinking it is because of a change in diet or a switch in cat litter. It is always best to take your pet to the vet immediately to look for medical issues.

Other stress signs in cats include excessive grooming, excessive scratching, excessive vocalization, increase in sleep, decrease in appetite, isolation and aggression toward other pets or people. Your vet or vet behaviorist can provide the best advice to help your cat relax.

Stress for Dogs

Dogs will show many of the similar stress signals as a stressed cat. Some of the most common signs are a decrease in appetite, an increase in sleep, digestive issues that include diarrhea and constipation, isolation, and aggression. Take your dog to the vet as soon as possible to get advice regarding what may be causing the issue.

You can help to relieve the anxiety your dog has with exercise and play. You can also create a safe spot for them to feel sheltered during events that can cause stress such as thunderstorms and fireworks.

Never ignore the issues that a pet has when they are stressed or anxious. Find the best ways to lower their stress levels to make them feel calmer.