How To Relax A Stressed Cat?

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We all know that domestic cats are routine animals, once a routine is established and they appreciate it, their level of anxiety decreases, and with it, stress. It is important to know that any change whatsoever, a move, new family members, or in the most extreme cases a change of decoration, can cause them enormous stress.

In this blog “How to relax a stressed cat” we want to help you relax your stressed cat by a change in its routine. We will, therefore, share with you some tips that will be very useful to you.

How to relax a stressed cat?

To relax a stressed cat:

Approach very slowly
Dedicate time to him daily
See with your veterinarian if it would be unwise to prescribe medication.
Reiki
Homeopathy
Bach flowers.

In the rest of this blog How to relax a stressed cat, we will explain in more detail the points that we have just addressed quickly.

How to approach a stressed cat?

Approaching a stressed or nervous cat is usually a very complicated task to accomplish. Once we have successfully approached we will be able to tame this crisis situation.

When it is a cat that we do not know, whether it is a stray cat or that of a person we know, we cannot know how it can react, so we will have to arm ourselves with all the patience of the world in order to succeed in our approach. Many cats are incredibly stressed by the presence of an unknown person, in fact, we will have to learn to decipher the signals communicated to us by their trembling little body.

Cats who have been mistreated in their life will tend to back off with their arched back but without having their hair spiky, this is a defensive behavior. In the same way, if he lies down on the ground while sticking his small body against the ground. You will have to gain his trust and to do this, so while speaking in a calm and soft voice we recommend that you extend the palm of your hand very gently so that he can feel you. You don’t have to touch it, it just has to feel like it’s safe and you’re not going to do anything that would harm it.

Sometimes our own cat reacts nervously for fear of something or sometimes unknown situation. We will have to try not to act impulsively and invasively. Let us remember that in this case too, we will have to gain his trust and that if he does not want us to take him in our arms, we will not be able to do it.

We will have to proceed little by little, at the speed that suits him, by showing him through gentle movements that he is in no danger with us. Do not hesitate to speak to him in a low and soft tone and be patient. We can also try to bribe him by giving him his favorite toy or a small piece of his favorite food to soothe him and help him get out of this state of intense stress.

It is more than important to go at your speed and respect it. If he tries to escape, he should never be chased and it would be better to leave him alone at least half an hour and then try to approach him gently.

Give time to him daily

Whether our cat or a stray cat, the ideal way to overcome the stress of the cat is to spend a little time with him every day. He has to get used to your presence little by little.

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You will have to approach your hand towards his muzzle so that he will smell you and he will gradually get used to your smell. You will not have to try to touch it directly because this gesture can be very invasive and generate a reversal of the small progress we have made. You should always keep in mind that progress with the cat will be made little by little and that you cannot expect instant positive reactions.

You can bring a small toy and play on your own to see if you can get her attention and if her curiosity could outweigh her stress.

The toy you bring will allow him to distract himself from his concerns for cats, which are 90% responsible for his stress.

We can never say it enough but the play is very important in your relationship with your cat. Especially if it is not your cat, we recommend using a “fishing rod” style toy to prevent it from scratching you without wanting to.

For cats with whom you have already established contact (not only visually), we can cuddle them and allow them to come on our knees if they wish. These little moments will strengthen the bond that exists between the two of you!

How to relax a stressed cat? - Dedicate time to him daily — Dedicate time to him daily

Your veterinarian can help

Although we are not really advocates of the use of tranquilizers, especially for this type of behavior where what is needed is patience and love, it is true that tranquilizers can help you. It is not necessary to bring your cat to the veterinarian because transport would generate even more stress for him, however, we recommend calling your veterinarian so that he gives you the best advice to help your cat.

Acepromazine is often the most commonly used tranquilizer or prescribed by veterinarians. It is an antidepressant of the central nervous system which generates a state of relaxation and indifference to what surrounds them. This tranquilizer also has a hypotensive action (decrease in blood pressure) which makes it absolutely contraindicated for cats suffering from heart disease. Like all medicines, they must be prescribed by a veterinarian.

The Reiki also works well to calm the stress conditions, aided, relaxing music to calm cats in cases where we can not approach it.

Cat stressed homeopathy

In homeopathy, there are also great allies to fight the stress of our best friends! However, what works for one will not necessarily work for another, for this reason, it is essential to always consult a specialist.

Bach flower remedies for stressed cats

However, there are other alternatives like Rescue Remedy (Bach flowers) which relieve both mental and physical stress. It can be administered orally, in the drink, or by rubbing a drop on the head of his feline.

Can cats die from stress?

Yes!
A stressed-out cat may stop eating and drinking. They can also have severe diarrhea and vomiting. If it continues, it could lead to more severe medical issues that can eventually lead to death. (Fernanda Jimenez)