how to help a depressed cat

Cats are safer indoors—away from cars and dogs—but the soft life can be downright dull. A grieving cat may go off its food. Cat lovers know this behavior is a sign of a calm and happy cat but it’s also something cats use to find one another, navigate their environments, and communicate their needs. If you suspect that your cat is depressed you should consider taking them to the vet. Try one of these four ways to cheer up your depressed cat! Giving all pets their own space, feeding separately and keeping enough litter boxes in the house (one per cat, plus one more), can also help. Without the help of verbal communication, signs of depression in cats and dogs are quite difficult to detect. If your cat is stressed, they will likely announce their frustrations by becoming increasingly vocal. Some depressed cats will stop grooming altogether (or at least stop doing an effective job at it), which can result in an oily coat, dandruff, a messy booty, or knots in long hair. If you can’t manage ongoing care, “at the very least, get the cat neutered,” suggests Case. Try to keep their meal times the same as before. Cats like predictability, so where possible keep things on the schedule such as mealtimes, playtime, and bedtime. Thomas: The reason we spent so much time talking about my story is to tell you that yes, a friendly voice and petting can really help a sick cat. The Importance of Routine. Actively engaging in playtime with your cat can help relieve you of any anxious feelings or help avoid those … Veterinarians can prescribe cat anxiety medication (trazodone, gabapentin, and midazolam) to your cat once they’re evaluated. Changes in feeding times or even simply moving furniture around can cause further stress. How to Help a Depressed Cat. Okay I don't know if my cat is depressed or not but when he was younger he used to play all around the house and play with us and with his toys, now he doesn't even acknowledge us or toys in general, I'd swing his favorite toy by a string above his face and he'll look at it and ignore it, when he was younger he'd play with that stringed toy for an hour or so. If your cat usually enjoys spending time with you in the living room, but suddenly starts to make themselves scarce and unavailable, they may be suffering from depression. Spay/neuter surgeries may cost as little as $17 for shelters to perform, so a single $20 donation can dramatically change the life of a feral cat. Make sure you know the signs your cat is depressed. You wonder what he does all day, how much he misses you and if he’s sad and lonely. Here are 6 signs your cat is stressed–and how to help! Regardless of whether you claim a cat or a dog, taking them for a fun evening out in the park is a viable method for perking him up. We encourage you to visit Marvin if at all possible. Treating the Cat’s Stress Instead of Depression. Perhaps the cat has recently lost a close companion and she’s depressed. You can help your cat cope with symptoms of depression, but first you've got to know what they are. Watching a friend live with depression can be painful, but there are ways to help. How to Tell if a Cat Is Depressed. Cat depression can make your pet lose interest in his food, make him lethargic, and make him avoid the company of others. 1. Keep the cat 's routine the same. Keep reading to learn how you can help your grieving pets in the event that your family is faced with such a loss. He would sleep in a box of paper (like a trash box) in front of the building and probably was cold because it's freezing outside now. How can you help her? CatChannel.com, the Web site for cat lovers, has a checklist cat owners can go through to determine whether or not their cats display symptoms that are common indicators of feline depression. Hi Sooty, If you think a cat is depressed, then you need to look at their behavior and see if they exhibit the signs. It's impossible to anticipate when a cat will recover from such a major loss; it could take anywhere from several weeks to months and months, according to veterinarian Arnold Plotnick of … If your cat is sleeping more than 16 hours per day, this may be a sign of depression. However, pet owners can still prepare for the possibility by spotting the signs as early as possible, and learning how to help a depressed dog or cat. Enjoy your pet in open air exercises. If a stressor can be identified and eliminated, often the symptoms will improve or resolve. Cats get depressed when they or their owners are stressed or bereaved. Try one of these four ways to cheer up your depressed cat! Physical signs that a cat may be depressed will be manifested in sterotypies such as biting or scratching. Minimizing change gives the cat time to come to terms with the loss of a companion cat. If your cat continues to act depressed for weeks or stops eating for more than 3 days, consult your veterinarian. To travel from the pits to his/her blissful, glad self, basically give your pet your help, care, and love. so.. i adopted my cat a little over a month ago now, she took to me pretty quick and has slept on my bed every single night since the third day i had her, she’s been fairly cuddly and has been eating, drinking water, using the litter box, and playing (only the laser pointer though and only sometimes - nothing else really seems to interest her). One unique benefit cats offer to depressed owners is the power of their purring. Scent swapping is a technique that can be used to help your senior cat get to know the newcomer before they even meet. Activity. Doing your best to keep your cat’s routine the same will help them in the days and weeks following a loss. Learn what to do, what to avoid, and how to recognize the warning signs of suicidal thoughts. Other things you can do to help a depressed cat include: Stick to a routine. However, they can help get your cat in the right frame of mind to learn, by helping to normalize brain chemistry gone haywire. Signs of a depressed cat include overeating, lax grooming and sleeping at daybreak, when they should be up and hunting. You should walk with her every day. Cats are not idle characters (unless they’re sleeping), rather, they love to run around and play. Make sure they are eating, drinking and toileting properly. You can also place toys or bedding that the new cat has used throughout the house for your cat to check out. How can we help? Fortunately, there are lots of ways to help your cat get back on track. Updated March 6, 2019: If you’re anything like me, you feel guilty daily as you leave your pet home alone. 2. A depressed cat may begin hiding in a hard to find hiding place to avoid dealing with humans or other pets. The best thing you can do for your cat is to provide a routine, stress-free environment to help avoid the onset of depression. This can be done by providing multiple feeding and drinking stations, extra litter trays, lots of hiding places and plenty of toys If you have any concerns and need more advice, your veterinary practice staff or pet behaviourists are available to help. Want to help your feline get out of their funk? A cat may seem depressed and not like his usual self for quite a while after the passing of a sibling. Show you care with cash. At first, the pet won’t appear to be eager. Queendust/Shutterstock. It is best to be prepared so that when the upset comes, you can help the survivor adjust. If your cat is part of a multi-cat household, it may help to reduce competition between the cats.

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