Anxiety can be very bad for your cat’s health. It is therefore necessary – for his well-being – to help him calm down. Here are some tips and tricks to naturally calm an anxious cat!
The cat does not have the same daily constraints as its owner. Still, he can still be prone to stress. Anxiety in cats can be a real issue.
Anxiety, which can be manifested by soiling and peeing outside the litter box, scratches on furniture, mutilation, a change in eating habits (loss or gain of appetite), abnormal aggressiveness or on the contrary, almost permanent apathy .
The causes of this state are moreover multiple: moving, the arrival of a baby or a new animal at home, lack of activity, fear of being separated from its owner… , there are techniques that are easy to implement to prevent your feline’s nervousness:
1. A Stimulating Environment, the Key to Having a Calm Cat
If you can’t remove the source of stress, such as the bullying neighbor’s cat, there are steps you can take to make your cat better withstand stress.
Start by making a few simple changes to your home.
Cats love to perch high up to watch over their kingdom! This position gives them a sense of security and control.
Creating cozy nests high up in your home, on furniture, at the top of closets or on shelves, for example, can really help your cat relax.
Likewise, by helping your cat to scent the house, you can make her feel better. Cats leave scent marks using the glands in their cheeks; you can help your cat by gently rubbing its cheeks with a clean cloth and then rubbing the cloth all over the house.
You can also purchase pheromone diffusers which will similarly create a calming environment to reduce your cat’s anxiety.
2. Give your Time for More Serenity
An anxious cat is a cat who needs to feel surrounded. Pamper him with food adapted to his needs, groom him, play with him to allow him to drive away all his frustrations, hug him when he asks for it… You will see, your bond will only be stronger!
Live and let live, a perfect grandma’s secret to guarantee a healthy relationship for you and your pet feline.
3. The Importance of Respecting the Cat’s Needs
The cat has his habits and very specific needs. For its well-being, it is therefore necessary to scrupulously respect them.
For example, you should never disturb a cat that is resting or eating, much less force it to do what it does not want to do!
4. Give Him a Linen Impregnated with Baby or Newcomer Smells
The cat is a very intelligent animal that picks up changes very quickly. How did our grandmothers get theirs used to the newborn to come? They made him sniff a piece of clothing worn by the child, his various hygiene products… so that he could absorb his scent!
In the case of welcoming a new animal, it was a bit the same: they made him inhale a tissue with the scent of the new hairy. As he gradually got used to this new scent, he felt less of the effects of fear of the unknown and anxiety.
5. Make Him a Toy to Relax Him
Domesticated, the cat no longer needs to hunt for food. It is therefore much less active. But this comfort comes at a price: that of stress.
The less he spends himself, the more he gets bored and goes around in circles.
Well aware of this reality, our grandmothers did not hesitate to use their creativity to create perfect entertainment for their little companions.
A ball of paper, a pompom, a cane made up of a stick, a string and a cork stopper… and it was happiness. They reinforced their bond with their animals while allowing them to let off steam and be stimulated.
What if you did the same?
6. Bach Flowers, a Good Anti-Stress Solution
To allow a cat to decompress, you sometimes have to trust… the powers of flowers!
For many decades, people have trusted Bach flowers… and for good reason! This floral elixir works miracles with us and with felines: 4 drops in their water bowl can be enough to relax him!
Find more tips about cats on my blog: www.catlicking.com