Stress is a common issue among humans, but it is overlooked when we talk about animals, specifically cat. Cats especially are vulnerable creatures, and they are prone to anxiety and stress. It is relatively common among cats to be stressed, and it directly impacts their health and can even lead to severe ailments.
Do you think your pet cat isn’t feeling comfortable? Wondering how to create a peaceful environment for the feline friend? Keep reading to find out the tips to foster cats’ healthy and thriving environment.
How To Give Cats A Stress-Free Environment:
Stress could be induced by changes in the environment, new family members, other pets, veterinary visits, and even social interactions. If you ever notice a severe change in your cat’s behavior, you should directly contact your veterinary doctor, but if you wish to prevent it all in the first place, you need to adopt some changes.
Here are the seven best tips to maintain a stress-free environment for your cat that you can follow:
Proper Litter Boxes for Cat:
The litter box for your cat should be of the appropriate type and size. The cat should fit in the litter box comfortably without facing any struggle. There are many options to try, and you can select the best one for your cat by considering necessary factors like the type of litter, its texture, and measurements.
But why is a litter box essential for cats? Cats, in general, like to keep themselves clean and their surroundings in order. An untidy place might cause anxiety or stress to your cat. Therefore, the usage of cat litter as a stress buster for cats is a must in any home. Suitable cat litter would be sandy, soft, and scoopable.
It would be best to keep cleaning the box regularly and maintaining it for your cat. If you have several cats, consider getting different litter boxes for each that are placed separately to avoid any confusion.
Optimum Healthcare For Your Cat:
Your cat’s health has a significant role in its mood, and it can severely affect your pet’s behavior. To ensure your cat has optimum health, you should make regular veterinary visits, provide grooming, good nutrition, dental and nail care, and control parasites. Whenever you see a change in their behavior or eating and sleeping habits, immediately contact an expert to check for any disorders.
Good Quality Cat Food:
You should select food for your cat depending on its age and health. You can consult your veterinarian before choosing the cat food to ensure that it provides the proper nutrition and is of high quality. Maintain a clean feeding area, provide a large bowl convenient for your cat, and place water at a bit of distance.
In a multicat household, feeding stations should be separate so that each cat has a peaceful mealtime and there is no bullying. They should be fed only in small amounts but frequently enough. Make sure you avoid overfeeding your pet.
Water Consumption:
It is well established that cats do not like drinking water much. However, water is crucial for your cat as lack of hydration can also mess up their health. It has been found that in numerous cases, cats get dehydrated easily and develop diseases, ultimately showing patterns of stress and anxiety. You can avoid this easily by ensuring that your pet receives the required amount of water every day.
You can choose to feed your pet canned foods that contain liquids, and you can also encourage them to drink water by providing fountains or faucets as it is much more enjoyable for them. If you’re keeping more than one pet at home, make sure to provide separate water stations.
Stress-Free Social Interaction:
It would be best never to force a pet to interact socially or pet it and hold it when it feels uncomfortable. Undesirable interactions can be very stressful for your cat and make it anxious. It is essential to have cuddle time with cats as they enjoy it, but you should release them as soon as they struggle.
Veterinarian trips can also make a cat stressed out; hence, you should ensure that the carrier is comfortable and large enough for your pet. You can also give treats so that the environment is more inviting.
Happy Environment:
You should provide your cat with a warm, comfy yet enjoyable environment. The surroundings matter a lot as it directly influences the cat’s behavior. You can install perches as cats love to sit in high places, and you can even provide scratching areas as it is pretty relaxing for them. Another essential element is a hiding place.
To preserve peace and harmony in a multicat household, ensure that each cat has its own set of resources, hiding places, and feeding stations. You should also avoid making sudden or drastic changes in the environment around the pet.
Playtime:
Playtime is necessary for your cat. Apart from the exercises and fun involved, playtime stimulates the cat’s brain and releases good chemicals that are a positive experience.
Playing with your pet daily rather than only stressful times can help strengthen them emotionally and physically in the first place.
Conclusion
Your pet can quickly develop stress at any point, and you must adopt the necessary measures to resolve it. This article focuses on the seven best ways to reduce stress in your cat.
