Have you recently seen some unusual activity from your cat, leading you to think they might be unhappy? In this article, Lion Sourced share 5 signs to look for, to identify whether or not your feline friend might be feeling a bit down.
1. Loss Of Appetite
Like us humans, cats love to eat. Most cats will become incredibly vocal near food time, perhaps trailing you until they manage to tuck into their meal. If you’ve noticed that they are no-longer excited to be fed or eat much less than usual, this could be a sign that they are experiencing depression.
2. Oversleeping
How many times have you woken up and felt awful, so proceeded to place your head back on the pillow and get a few more hours of rest? While most felines will spend a good portion of their time napping anyway, they can virtually sleep all day long when feeling down. Monitor your cats sleep pattern and outline any discrepancies to gain a deeper understanding of their current mood.
3. Showing Aggression
Attacking your hand, scratching furniture and excessive hissing are just a few ways that felines show aggression. Regardless of whether they are in a bad mood, or simply want to be left alone for a while, regular aggressive behaviour should be taken seriously.
4. Spending Time Alone
Is your fluffy friend no-longer interesting in playing or jumping up on your lap for a smooth? Cats like to spend time alone when they are feeling unhappy and will make every effort to ensure this happens. Hiding under tables, behind sofas and even sitting solitarily outside could be a warning sign to keep an eye on.
5. Crying Out
Obviously, cats can’t speak, but that doesn’t prevent them from communicating their emotions to us however possible. If you notice your cat crying out for no apparent reason, on a regular basis, it might be a sign of depression. Whenever your cat is vocal, quickly scan the surrounding area for a possible trigger and if you can’t find one, observe their behaviour further.
What Should I Do If My Cat Is Depressed?
Fear not, if you have noticed signs of depression in your cat, there are a handful of ways to add extra happiness to their life:
1. Stimulate Their Mind
There are many ways you can add a touch of excitement to your feline’s day. You could look at purchasing a puzzle-related treat dispenser for them, buy them a scratching tower or even make your own innovate cat toys at home.
2. Make Time For Them
Even if it’s just 20 minutes a day, your feline needs some company, a play and a few belly rubs. We understand that sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in a day, especially if you work full time, but setting aside some time for your feline could make the world of difference.
3. Stay Consistent
Cats can pick up on even the smallest changes to their daily routine. Try to keep things as consistent as possible, this includes:
- Feeding them at the same time each day.
- Having a dedicated 20-40 minutes for play.
- Regularly clean out their litter box.
- An hour or so to relax and unwind with people present.
If you’ve tried all of the above and your cat is still feeling unhappy, get in touch with your local vets and they will put you on the right path. Your friend might need a quick check up, just to make sure everything is okay internally. The vet should also provide you with a detailed plan for keeping them on the up and up!
