All we need to do if we want our cats to be okay

All we need to do if we want our cats to be okay

For a year now, it has been observed that some cats experience a condition of greater stress linked to the cat's character, its sociability, its age but also to the habits and organization of home life.





Before the pandemic, cats often had a very poor life with long periods of solitude, in which to rest and play favorite games at home. Now there is often or always someone in the house, privacy has been reduced and there is rarely the peace that is needed for rest.

"For some cats it is always nice to have someone around to ask to play or cuddle, but for others it is a source of stress" says Dr. Sabrina Giussani, veterinarian expert in behavior and Senior President of SISCA

Also read: Too much cuddling stresses cats

With the pandemic, some important points of reference have disappeared from home life, in terms of habits, but which cats need to feel safe. For example, they need to know how the day will unfold, with some fixed points because, failing that, they can become restless. The cats, then, they perceive the emotions of the humans of the house: sadness and tension are felt and can cause a "Emotional contagion".

The signs of stress in cats

All this can generate a state of anxiety or discomfort in the cat. Stress signals can be inappetence or alterations in the relationship with food, sleep disturbances, do the needs out of the box, excessive licking and manifestations of aggression.

"If the situation persists we must try to be more relaxed and create greater predictability of the day with a more rigorous routine" advises Dr. Giussani. "Create more spaces for rest, taking more game breaks, respecting his times - letting him sleep, not forcing him into activities, cuddling him if he seeks pampering - and using pheromones are the actions to help him recover serenity ".



To offer the cat a quiet shelter it is possible, for example, put a cardboard box under the bed or a bunk above the fridge: this allows him to isolate himself in peace by taking advantage of the third dimension, the height, which cats love.

“When we then change the way we go to the office it is preferable to tell him, explaining and showing the clothes to go to the office to make him understand that we will have to go out, maybe we prepare the office bag the night before so that he can see and understand. This helps predictability ”adds Dr. Giussani.

Smart working con i gatti

During the hours of work on the PC we can put the cat's bed close to us and “involve” him in our work. If he jumps on the computer, we can interpret it as “look at me, not the computer!”: In this case, we can put him back in the bunk next to us and give him a cuddle. If it were possible, why not, he could also participate in a call, then he will relax.

“In general, the more we try to exclude it, the more attention it seeks” remembers Dr. Giussani. If we involve him, he will no longer feel excluded but a participant and not a “rival” of the PC.

It is important to carve out moments of break from work for our cat, with moments of play or a stroll on the balcony.


“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have observed greater attention to behavior because we spend more time with our pet: people are in control of what happens during the day like never before. From here begins a path of awareness that in many cases has led to a closer relationship ".


Read also:

Find out if your cat is stressed out and use these tricks to help him

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