Cats are very sensitive creatures and their behaviour can change for a multitude of reasons. Common triggers are stress, pain or underlying health issues. Trying to pinpoint why your cat’s behaviour has changed can be tricky and, if you are concerned, you should contact your vet. They may also put you in touch with a qualified animal behaviourist.
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Stress
Cats may seem chilled out and relaxed in your home but they are excellent at hiding stress. Changes in your cat’s environment, such as a new cat, putting Christmas decorations up or even just changing the type of cat litter, can cause stress. This can be a trigger for behaviours such as urinating or defecating outside of the litter tray, aggression and overgrooming.
When your cat urinates on your favourite rug instead of using their litter tray it can be difficult to sympathise with them. Stress or underlying illnesses are often the cause. If your cat is showing cystitis-like signs, seems in pain when toileting or is straining to urinate then call your vet as soon as possible. Male cats can develop blocked bladders where they cannot pass urine. This can be life-threatening so call your vet immediately.
If you notice your cat overgrooming a particular area and losing hair they may be experiencing stress or pain in the area they are licking. This is commonly their belly if they are feeling abdominal or cystitis-like pain or over a joint if arthritis-like pain. It may also be that your cat has fleas or another parasite as itchiness can cause similar signs.
Simple measures like having multiple litter trays (enough for one per cat plus one extra!), plenty of high-up spaces for your cat to hide and the use of calming products, like Feliway, can reduce stress.
Pain
Arthritis is underdiagnosed in cats but they can start to show subtle signs even as young as seven years old. Many owners attribute these changes, such as being less active and sleeping more, to ‘old age’. If you and your vet think this may be the case you can adapt your house to make life more comfortable for your cat. If your cat is finding it painful to use their litter tray, change to one with lower edges; ensure there is a litter tray; food and water on each level of the house; and add steps for your cat to get to their favourite resting and look out spots.
If your cat is sore they will often stop wanting to be groomed or petted and can be perceived as ‘grumpy’ because of this. Equally, if you have another pet that your cat usually plays with they may become aggressive to avoid painful interactions.
Your cat may experience pain for other reasons like dental disease, gastrointestinal issues or infections, such as cat bite abscesses. It is advised to get your cat assessed by your vet to determine the cause.
Underlying illness
Is your cat annoying you for food all the time? This can be a sign of underlying health problems, especially if it is accompanied by weight loss, drinking more water, urinating more often and having a greasy or unkempt coat.
Common conditions that can lead to these signs include diabetes and hyperthyroidism. Diabetic cats are often ravenously hungry despite weight loss. In addition, hyperthyroid cats may become hyperactive and clingier to owners. They often meow more and can become irritable and aggressive to other cats and their owners. Kidney disease can cause similar signs but often with a decreased appetite. In the later stages of these diseases there may be more obvious and severe signs such as vomiting, lethargy and diarrhoea.
If you notice any sudden or gradual changes to your cat’s behaviour contact your vet for advice. It may be that some straightforward stress-relieving measures may help or that your cat is hiding a more complex problem.
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