If these don’t work, cats are like any human; they just keep doing them more and more.
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It can be hard to tell if cats are grooming, scratching, or running around too much, when these are things they like to do, anyway. Some warning signs:
The right response depends on the cat and their circumstances. When RJ starts going nuts, I just talk to him. He hasn’t yet mastered coming to us every time he wants something, so a little attention from us derails his anxiety, and we will then encourage him to let us know what is going on.
This can be a good first step. If we see the cat stressing, we can see if our voice and interest will shut off the response and let it be redirected into some play or petting. If this works, we know that the cat doesn’t know how to ask for attention, and we can come up with ways for them to let us know when they need care or cuddling.
If the cat’s routine has changed, it might not be working. Some things can’t be avoided; an illness in the family or extra work outside the home might not be negotiable. But if we’ve been ignoring the cat because we are busy, we now have another problem. We can take care of the cat’s stress, and our own, by making sure we have fun and friendly times. It’s good for both of us.
It might be that the cat is fixating on one of their coping strategies, to the neglect of the others. If they are grooming too much, see if we can interest them in one of their scratching posts. If they are scratching too much, see if we can help them burn it up in some rowdy play sessions. If they are pushing past exhaustion with frantic activity, try to defuse them with a quieting grooming session.
If these tips aren’t helping, we should get them a medical checkup; often, cat illnesses will manifest in just this way.
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My girl Kill Kill has licked her tummy down to peach fuzz. She’s been doing this for years. The vet said “Some cats are OCD with grooming,” and was unconcerned. She doesn’t seem stressed. Her favorite thing is a belly rub, so I’ve assumed that she’s just giving herself one.
Great blog, with some good suggestions to try to relieve stress in the cats. I try to keep things quiet for them cause they do react to a loud voice or noise. And especially to anything different happening. And I have found out that cats really need a lot of attention.
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