Treating Cat Stress Response: Mortality Rate & Solution

While cats may appear fearless at home, their true nature is quite sensitive and timid. Today, we delve into some questions about feline stress responses.

Firstly, it's important to understand what a stress response is. A stress response refers to the process by which an organism adapts to various internal and external stimuli. It is a systemic adaptive response.

In simpler terms, stress can be understood as pressure or stimulation. When cats are exposed to changes in their environment, they immediately produce corresponding reactions. If they cannot adapt to these stimuli, they may experience abnormalities in their physiology or psychology. Just as humans may experience a racing heartbeat, chills, or trembling hands and feet when they are nervous, cats can exhibit similar physical reactions.

What Problems Can Excessive Stress Responses Cause?

Overly intense stress responses and prolonged exposure to stress can lead to psychological or physiological abnormalities in cats. Sudden stimuli may trigger vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or other issues.

When cats are continuously exposed to environmental stimuli, their bodies may secrete excessive adrenaline. This can cause the blood vessels in their internal organs to constrict dramatically, leading to symptoms such as ischemia. This can result in organ ischemia, increased blood pressure, and even the formation of blood clots. Severe stress can also lead to heart disease, selfharming psychiatric disorders, and even be lifethreatening, potentially causing sudden death in cats.

What Causes Cats' Stress?

Cats can experience stress in many situations. Here are some common types:

1. Changes within the family: This includes adding or removing pets and humans, such as when friends visit or a new pet is introduced. New members and interactions can make cats feel as though their territory is being invaded.

2. Changes in living environment: Cats may experience stress when they leave familiar environments, encounter strangers, or meet unfamiliar animals. This can include moving, being given away, abandoned, visiting a vet, staying at a grooming facility, or traveling by car. Changes in activity spaces, such as being confined to a small room or cage, can also cause stress.

3. Disruption of routine: Regular routines provide cats with a sense of security. Changes in living conditions and lifestyles can make cats feel anxious or anxious. For example, moving the litter box can cause cats to hold their urine, and if they can't hold it, they may urinate outside. Criticism from owners can also affect a cat's mood and potentially trigger a stress response.

4. Environmental noise: Sudden loud noises, such as thunder, fireworks, construction, or noisy family gatherings, can cause stress.

5. Unexpected changes in the relationship with the owner: Long periods of absence, such as when the owner goes on a business trip or vacation, can cause stress.

6. Unconventional external stimuli: When owners suddenly perform actions that cats cannot understand or adapt to, it can cause stress. For example, sticking tape or glue to a cat's paws; quietly placing a toy next to a cat while it's not looking, startling it; or putting a "tightrope" on a cat, making it feel confined.

7. Bathing: Many cats are afraid of baths. If a cat needs to be cleaned, it's best for the owner to do it. Start by letting the cat stand on all fours, facing away from you, and then gradually introduce it to water while comforting it. If the cat reacts strongly to water, stop immediately and dry it off. In the future, avoid using water for cleaning and opt for dry powderbased cleaning products.

It's important to note that since cats stay indoors most of the time, their fur doesn't get very dirty, so there's no need to bathe them frequently to maintain cleanliness.

How to Identify Stress Responses?

Here are some acute stress response symptoms that are easy to recognize:

1. Seeking a hiding spot or hiding in the dark.

2. Stiffness, tremors, alertness, rapid breathing, puffedup fur, arched back, and a defensive posture.

3. Legs curled up, tail tucked against the body, wide eyes, and dilated pupils.

4. "Piloting ears," with wide eyes and fully dilated pupils.

5. Whining, silence, hissing, drooling, or uncontrolled defecation or urination.

6. Diarrhea.

What to Do If a Cat Is Stressed?

If the source of stress can be identified, appropriate measures can be taken to alleviate and eventually eliminate the cat's stress.

1. Stress due to environmental changes: If the stress is caused by moving, pack the cat's belongings and keep some familiar items, like a blanket, to comfort the cat. Upon arrival at the new home, place the cat's familiar items in a prominent location. Alternatively, place the cat in a quiet environment and release it after the move is complete.

2. Stress due to being startled: If the cat is afraid of strangers or loud noises, don't force it out. Let it hide quietly and wait for it to come out on its own. Comfort it softly when it does.

3. Stress due to going out: If the cat is extremely stressed when going out and struggles strongly, take it home immediately and closely monitor its condition. If you must go out, prepare a calming item like a blanket or toy for the cat and use antistress medication before leaving.

In summary, when cats experience severe stress responses, it's crucial to stop the current stimuli immediately and seek medical attention to prevent the situation from worsening.