Will Cats Die from Being Scared During a Bath?

What is a Cat's Stress Response?

In simple terms, a stress response refers to the abnormal physiological or psychological reactions that cats exhibit in response to external stimuli.

This is also a type of stress reaction in cats, which has been confirmed to be the most common cat behavioral issue and a significant cause of various diseases in cats.

According to Dr. Patricia B. McConnell, a behavioral biologist, stress can compromise the immune system, triggering a multitude of diseases.

Causes of Stress Responses in Cats?

New Cat Arriving or Moving House.

Stranger environments can make cats extremely fearful and anxious, which is a primary cause of stress.

Visiting the Veterinarian or Grooming at a Pet Shop.

Traveling by car, or being in an unknown environment with strangers, can make cats feel afraid.

Home Renovations or Noisy Sounds.

Cats dislike loud noises, which can be alarming to them.

Family Changes.

This includes the addition or subtraction of pets or humans. The cat's stress can also be influenced by the owner's mood, as cats tend to become anxious when their family is under pressure.

Resource Competition.

This situation is most common in multicat households, where cats feel they must compete for food, water, clean litter boxes, and the owner's attention.

Manifestations of Stress Responses

Stress responses are generally categorized into acute and chronic types:

1. Acute Stress Response

Acute stress can be triggered by unexpected events or threats and is relatively easy to identify.

2. Chronic Stress Response (LongTerm Pressure)

Chronic stress is more difficult to identify because it accumulates over time and requires pet owners to observe their cats patiently.

Stopping eating, grooming, urinating, and defecating, or overeating (depending on the cat's personality type)

Not moving or "pretending" to sleep

Hiding away

Defensive aggression towards people or other cats

Being highly alert or having severe shock reactions

Overgrooming, pica

Overgrooming the skin and fur

How to Alleviate Stress Responses?

A. Identify the Source of Your Cat's Stress

If you don't know what's causing your cat's stress, it's difficult to alleviate its anxiety and pressure.

If the stress is triggered by a specific event, the simplest solution is to eliminate or minimize the impact of that event.

B. Provide a Relaxing Living Environment for Your Cat

Just like we need quiet when we're stressed, cats also require a peaceful environment.

Lower the volume of the television, ensure that all household noises are kept to a minimum (especially the shouting or screaming of children). Allow your cat to rest and relax as comfortably as possible.

Prepare a hidden space for your cat at home. Let it hide whenever it feels afraid.

Additionally, providing your cat with appropriate scratching posts is very important. Scratching is a great way for cats to relieve stress.

Ensure that your cat has its own food and water bowls, as well as a litter box, as cats usually don't like to share litter boxes.

If your cat exhibits inappropriate behavior due to stress, do not shout or hit it, as this will only exacerbate its stress level.

C. Play with Your Cat and Distract Its Attention

Set aside some time to spend alone with your cat. Sitting quietly with your cat can help it feel at ease, and gently petting it from head to tail can also help it relax.

Offering your cat encouragement and rewards can also help alleviate its stress.

Encourage your cat to play with various toys, and play with it using a laser pointer or other toys every few days. This exercise is a great stress reliever for cats.

D. Use Feline Pheromones to Calm Your Cat

You can use feline pheromones (feline pheromones) to reduce your cat's anxiety and stress.

The most commonly used cat calming product on the market is the feline facial pheromone.

This is a synthetic version of a natural pheromone that cats secrete, releasing signals that make cats feel relaxed. It provides a sense of security for cats in the surrounding environment.

These "happy signals" can help cats feel safe.

It has a very good calming effect on cats, and the most common signs of stress in cats are overgrooming, urinating outside the litter box, hiding, and fighting.

E. Take Your Cat to the Vet for a Health Check

Ensure that your cat is vaccinated and dewormed on time. Also, be alert to any potential physical discomfort in your cat.

For example: pain or other diseases that weaken the cat physically and mentally, need to be checked early, and the pet doctor can assess whether there are any underlying diseases that cause your cat anxiety.