It’s possible that your cat is unhappy or depressed if it unexpectedly changes its behavior. If your cat isn’t feeling well, there are several indicators to look for.
Cats, like dogs, use their body language, voice, and behavior to express their joy.
While some cats never change their behavior, others are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment, such as a new house or a new family member.
Here are some tell-tale indicators that your four-legged friend is in need of some attention.
1. Your cat is hiding
When you get home, your cat usually looks forward to seeing you, but has it suddenly stopped doing so? Something is wrong if its making small nests or hiding in strange areas.
Attempt to locate the cat without causing it to flee its hiding place. Take a close look as how it reacts to you if it crawls out. Is it hissing, looking run-down, or hiding instantly? If medical causes or rising age cannot be ruled out, treat your pet with care and gentleness.
2. Your cat sounds different or makes different sounds
Cat’s language can also reveal a lot about whether or not they are at ease. Cats can create a variety of sounds depending on the situation, such as chattering when hunting or plain mewing when begging for food.
It’s possible that the link between you and your cat has been shattered if the cat’s tone of voice changes and it starts to scream or hiss when staring at you. In any case, your cat is unhappy with the existing situation.
3. Your cat is aggressive
It’s natural for cats to get a bit crazy now and then — after all, they sleep up to 17 hours a day, so indoor cats, in particular, need to burn off some steam.
When your cat stops racing about and starts attacking humans, it’s a different issue.
This can show up in a variety of ways: if your cat bites more frequently and with greater vigor, scratches people on purpose, or arches its back with a bushy tail, it’s evident that it’s upset.
4. Your cat is over-grooming or stops grooming altogether
Over-grooming could be a sign that the cat is bored, and it may even begin to tear its fur out.
If your pet develops bald patches, it’s time to take action. To begin, rule out the possibility of a parasite. Once you’ve determined that this isn’t the cause of the problem, you’ll need to make some changes to the environment so that the cat can feel at ease again.
When your pet stops grooming itself, it will get shaggy and may even smell, all of which suggests a general lack of happiness.
5. Your cat stops eating
It’s critical that your cat eats enough all of the time. Because cats’ digestive systems are not meant to store food for lengthy periods of time like dogs’, they should always have food in their stomach.
A sudden unwillingness to eat could be the first sign of illness, so get your cat to the vet right away to rule out anything dangerous.
If the reasons for your cat’s shift in feeding habits are psychological rather than physical, try to figure out what’s bothering him. Felines, on the whole, give fewer signs than dogs. Has anything changed recently? Have you recently moved, or has your home life changed? Is there a new baby or a new companion in the picture? Perhaps something in the cat’s life altered, such as the death of a pet partner.
Always check if the cat’s basic needs are met: a clean litter box, clean drinking water, and fresh food.
