How To Tell If Your Cat is Depressed

How to tell if your cat is depressed. Depression would sound like a human condition rather than something that an animal such as a cat could suffer from. Cats always seem cool and controlled but this doesn’t mean that they can’t get depression and as their owners, we need to watch out for potential signs.

How To Tell If Your Cat is Depressed here are some signs

Changes in behavior can be an indicator of a host of problems and cat depression is one of these. If a normally outgoing and friendly cat becomes withdrawn then this can mean they are suffering from depression. Cats that once craved human contact but now hides away or won’t come near could be suffering from more than just a bad mood. This behavior alone can be difficult to use to diagnose the condition but should be observed alongside others.

Cats that once craved human contact but now hides away or won’t come near could be suffering from more than just a bad mood. This behavior alone can be difficult to use to diagnose the condition but should be observed alongside others.

Sleeping is normal for cats and they seem to spend most of their time asleep. However, you will notice a change in your cat’s sleep pattern if they are suffering from depression. They are often asleep more than normal and less active when they are awake because cats that are unhappy in this way often suffer from low energy levels – they don’t want to play with their toys or with you and don’t spend much time moving around the house.

Similarly, changes in the appetite could be an indicator of a problem. A cat that is usually enthusiastic about their food and eats it quickly but now picks or hardly eats could have a problem, though there is also a range of medical conditions that can lead to this reaction. If it is related to depression, they are likely to not enjoy their food or on the turn side, eat excessively and put on weight.

Specific issues

Over-grooming is another sign of an illness of which depression is on the list. Cats need to groom and keep themselves in good condition but an excessive amount can lead to bald patches, sore skin, and hairballs due to too much fur in their intestines. This is another way to tell if your cat is depressed.

Excessive vocalization is another potential problem sign with a cat that normally is quiet having more to say or calling out at strange times such as during the night when they are normally quiet. A cat that is depressed can get lonely and call for you when you aren’t around and this is particularly noticeable if there has been a death in the family of either human or another animal – in a way the cat is grieving.

Problems with using the litter box are also on the list – when a normally fastidious cat takes to depositing their waste in odd places then this means something is wrong. The problem may lie with the actual litter box itself but if there have been no changes in that department, a bigger problem could be at the heart.

Response

If you think your cat may be depressed or have any other condition you should get in touch with your vet as soon as possible. Tell them the symptoms you have witnessed and this will help them investigate the matter and uncover the heart of the problem. If your cat is depressed your vet may recommend medication to help.

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