Rapid frequent grooming that usually lasts around five seconds, starting and stopping quite suddenly.Staring at the floor with a fixed, glazed expression.Wide open eyes with very dilated pupils which makes their eyes look black.Ears rotate backwards frequently or flatten downwards.Often crouching and looking tense indoors.You may notice your cat sits differently, their facial expression changes or they exhibit strange behaviours. Repeated pacing when in the home, often accompanied by loud meowing.Reluctance to play – having previously been very playful.under a sofa or bed, on top of a wardrobe) Frequent hiding when in the home (e.g.Constant vigilance and jumps at every sudden sound or movement.Unresponsiveness to things going on around them (they don't jump or get startled by loud noises or quick movements).Withdrawal from you and the family, no longer interested in interacting with you.An increased dependency on you or your family, constantly wanting to interact.Aggressive behaviour directed towards other pets in the home.Aggressive behaviour directed towards you, your family or visitors.Scratching excessively on the furniture.Spraying urine on furniture and other items around the home.behind the sofa, under the bed, on the bed etc.) Toileting outside of the litter tray (e.g.Any noticeable change in your cat’s usual patterns of behaviour and routines.Frequent squatting, painful urination with blood in it (e.g.Not going to the toilet as often as usual (faeces and/or urine).Looking lethargic and sleeping more than usual.Poor appetite or eating less than normal.Eating non-food items such as plastic or wool (this is called ‘pica’).Symptoms get worse in cats with chronic health conditions or recovery from illness is slow (stress can affect a cat’s immune system and ability to fight disease).Large bald patches or sores on the coat caused by over grooming.There are some common signs of a stressed cat, both physical and behavioural. This means you need to keep a close eye on your cat’s physical health as well as their behaviour so that anything ‘odd’ or ‘out of character’ that could be a sign of stress is quickly identified. The sooner you realise that your cat could be experiencing stress, the sooner you can resolve the problem. Cats may lose their appetite or be sick occasionally or behave in a way that owners have never seen before, such as spraying urine against the wall indoors or behaving aggressively. Often owners may only notice something is ‘not quite right’ with their cats when they have already been stressed for some time. It is important that you manage and reduce stress in your cat as much as you can because if your cat is stressed, they can become both emotionally and physically unwell and may develop physical illnesses as well as display problem behaviour. Evolving from a largely independent and solitary species (called the African or Near Eastern wildcat), the domestic cat can be very good at hiding signs that they are stressed or in pain, because in the wild this would make them an easier target for predators.
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