Understanding Cat Stress Responses: Causes and Solution

While cats may have sharp eyesight that allows them to catch even the fastest movements, they actually suffer from nearsightedness and mild color blindness. Objects beyond 6 meters are a blur, and they can't distinguish many colors. The world through a cat's eyes is a grey blur, with distant objects merely shadows. However, cats have a sense of hearing four times more acute than humans, making even the faintest sounds seem like thunder; their sense of smell is five to ten times stronger than ours, enabling them to detect the faint scent of musk diluted to one part in eight million.

For cats, home is a sanctuary filled with familiar objects and scents, where they hold the reigns of their territory. The outside world, however, is a completely alien and twisted place. It's filled with unpleasant smells, loud noises, and the terrifying presence of twolegged monsters wandering around. They make strange sounds and sometimes even reach out to "attack" them, which is terrifying! A trip to the vet is even more daunting: the unfamiliar刺激性 smells, the intense light, and being placed on a cold, impersonal table, with no place to hide, as the twolegged monsters "torment" them.

Home is the entire world for a cat. Our brief excursions outside are just to breathe some fresh air, but for them, it's like embarking on an adventure into outer space. Such experiences can be overwhelming, and I would react similarly. Therefore, if a cat doesn't have the bravery of an astronaut, pet owners should avoid forcing them to go out!

One: The Dangers of Cat Stress

After discussing the causes of stress, let's talk about its dangers. Mild stress, such as dilated pupils and puffedup fur, are normal reactions when cats are scared and anxious. For example, puffedup fur can make a cat look larger and deter intruders. We also experience a surge of adrenaline, increased heart rate, and rapid breathing when riding a roller coaster. But for someone with a heart condition, riding one could be dangerous. If a pet owner deliberately scares a cat or forces them to go outside, causing severe stress, it could even lead to sudden death! Forcing a cat to go out when it doesn't want to is no different from pushing a heart patient onto a roller coaster. Even if the cat survives, it may develop health issues.

Cats experience a weakened immune system during stress, making them more susceptible to bacteria and viruses, and more prone to various diseases. Diseases proven to be related to stress include:

1. Feline Panleukopenia: Data shows that many cats experienced stress before developing the disease.

2. Upper respiratory diseases: such as feline rhinotracheitis.

3. Fatty liver: Cats that are scared and stop eating or drinking are prone to fatty liver.

4. Urinary tract diseases: such as cystitis, urinary retention, urinary tract stones, and hematuria.

5. Gastrointestinal diseases: such as vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody stools.

It can be said that most cat diseases may be related to stress!

Two: What to Do After Cat Stress

If a cat is just scared and shows symptoms like puffedup fur and hiding, the owner should focus on regaining its sense of security. When a cat hides out of fear, don't force it to come out. For example, if a cat hides when guests come over, don't pull it out; this will only make it more fearful of people. The correct approach is to gently comfort the cat, let it stay alone, and offer some treats to soothe it. If you notice that your cat, after going outside, shows symptoms like listlessness, loss of appetite, diarrhea, hematuria, and these symptoms persist for several days without improvement, it may be a sign of severe stress.

Attention! Don't rush to take the cat to the vet immediately, as another trip outside could worsen its stress. First, consult with a veterinarian to understand the best course of action, and then follow their guidance.

Three: How to Prevent Cat Stress

What behaviors can cause cat stress? Pet owners who enjoy playing tricks on their cats, please don't add to their fears for your own amusement! Avoid rubber band games, sticky tape games, cucumber games, and don't blindly follow trends on platforms like Douyin. If a cat doesn't want to go outside, don't force it to; it won't be suffocated, and it's quite comfortable at home. If you need to take the cat to the vet, avoid using transparent pet carriers; choose a nontransparent airlinestyle bag. Those cute cats sticking out their tongues in transparent bags may look adorable, but they are actually uncomfortable and scared.

When guests come over and the cat hides in fear, don't pull it out and let people pet it. Strangers are terrifying to cats; they only trust you. If you need to go out, try to keep the cat at home instead of sending it to a pet sitter or shipping it in a rough manner. Treat your cat like a socially anxious "fat otaku" and let it stay in a familiar environment, where it will feel secure.