How to Treat a Distressed Cat

Distressed cats often act up and appear unsettled. While it is tempting to simply punish a distressed cat that is acting in this manner, loving pet owners will try to discover the root cause of the problem and treat it so that their cat will soon be back to its old self again.

Signs of Distress

Before you can treat a distressed cat, you will need to identify the signs. Some common signs of distress include persistent howling, meowing, restlessness, loss of appetite and aggression toward other pets in the home. Some distressed cats spend hours hidden under the bed or in a cupboard and will refuse to come out, however hard you try to comfort them. Once you have identified signs of distress in your cat, you will be in a better position to act in the cat's best interests.

Do Not Punish a Distressed Cat

The last thing you should do is punish your cat when it is exhibiting signs of distress and anxiety. Cats cannot understand why they are being punished when all they are doing is trying to communicate what is wrong in their lives. Refrain from punishing your cat when it starts howling or exhibiting other worrying behaviours.

Ignoring the Cat Won't Help

If you think that ignoring the cat will help, think again. Cats will usually continue to display signs of distress, even if you are trying to curb their meowing or acts of aggression toward other pets by ignoring them. However patient you may be feeling to begin with, you will soon be feeling differently when the cat continues to show visible signs of distress.

Comfort the Cat

A distressed cat will need you now more than ever. Spend some time observing the cat so that you can work out its mood. Many cats will accept the efforts of their owners to comfort and soothe them during their time of distress, while others prefer to hide under the bed or in a cupboard. If the cat is acting in a particularly worrying manner, now may not be the time for physical contact. But when you get to know your cat you will soon learn when you can and cannot offer comfort.

Try to Discover the Cause of the Cat's Distress

While the reasons for a cat's distress are not always apparent, it is sometimes possible to work out why the cat is behaving differently from its usual lovey-dovey self. Has your family recently suffered the loss of a pet or a close family member? Or have you just moved house? These reasons can cause great distress to a cat, as he adjusts to the changes in his life. Do not underestimate a cat's ability to grieve and notice the loss of another family pet or a close family member.

A distressed cat should not be punished or ignored. There is always a reason for a cat's unusual or uncharacteristic behaviour. Start of by identifying signs of distress in your cat and take action right away by comforting the cat and trying to find the root cause of its distress. Treating the cat with compassion and patience will yield better results than punishing or ignoring the animal.