Ask the Expert: Dealing With Post-Holiday Cat Stress

My daughter came home for the holidays and our family cat was excited to see her. Now that my daughter has left again, my cat seems depressed. Is she missing my daughter? How can I make her feel better?

ANSWER:

According to Professor Nicholas Dodman, director of the small animal behavior clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton, Mass., cats that enjoy human interaction and affection can become psychologically unglued, especially if their best human friend comes back and then suddenly “disappears” again.

“Cats don't display their feelings as outwardly as dogs do,” adds Dodman. “So, often their anxiety and depression flies under the radar and their people don’t really notice." 

The fix is lots of extra (and ongoing) attention. Dodman says that cats will benefit from between 30–40 minutes of exercise a day prompted by chasing laser beams, interaction with wand-type toys and a variety of battery-operated activities that hone their hunting skills and give both mental and physical enrichment. Exercise sessions can be broken up into ten-minute stints.

Another idea is to place food in food puzzles so that your cat has to work to extract it. Dodman also suggests giving your feline some entertainment, such as a birdfeeder outside a window that will attract both birds and squirrels.  

My cat has become used to getting constant attention, because of all the holiday guests. Now that things have calmed down, he won't give me a moment of peace. I enjoy my cat's affection, but sometimes I need to focus on work and sleep. How can I occupy my cat now that all the extra guests are gone?

ANSWER:

Moving the cat tree or kitty condo near a window or glass door will give him an “outside” interest. And the view doesn’t have to be that of animal or bird activity; cats enjoy watching people and cars, too. There are also lots of battery-operated toys that can be pre-programmed to engage your cat at regular intervals throughout the day. Some cats even learn how to switch on these games themselves!

If your cat is home alone, there are also special cat videos that can be set to play on a loop throughout the day. Also, create a treasure hunt for him by hiding treats around the home in his favorite places so that he can “hunt” them out. 

My cat is not much of a people person, so she spent most of her time hiding from the holiday activity. Everything has died down, but she is still acting skittish. Is there anyway I can make my cat more comfortable about coming out, now that things are calmer?

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ANSWER:

Entice her to come and play with a laser toy and treat her every time she “catches” the beam. Also if she needs coaxing, placing a calming collar on her made from natural calmatives, such as lavender, will make her feel more composed. You can also place a plug-in pheromone diffuser in the room or rooms she spends most of her time.

When cats are happy and comfortable in their surroundings, they often rub their faces on furniture, another cat or even their favorite people. This is a marking behavior, and the effect of these scents is thought to be positive and soothing. Pheromone sprays mimic their natural scents and make cats feel more comfortable.

However, if you cat is really very stressed and reticent, you may try putting her in a special garment called a Thundershirt. In many countries around the world, it's common for mothers to swaddle their babies, keeping them wrapped and close to their bodies, whether it’s on their mom's back or in a more modern-styled baby sling. The Thundershirt works on the same swaddling principle to relieve stress and anxiety. It is believed that pressure has a calming effect on the nervous system of pets, too, releasing calming hormones like endorphins or oxytocins.

Christmastime is always fun for my cat, because she loves the Christmas tree. She doesn't climb it, but instead just sits under it and enjoys lightly batting at the ornaments. With the tree gone, I can tell she is missing it. What are some good cat products and toys that I can get to replace the excitement of having a tree?

ANSWER:

There are some fabulous new cat trees that will be the purrfect year-round substitute. These trees offer a combination of real, specially treated tree branches, combined with sisal scratching zones and lots of foliage made from silk so that they don’t need maintenance. You can turn it into a favorite play zone by adding dangling toys to various places on the tree.

Cats love high places so that they can look down on their world — the taller the cat tree, the better. They are excellent a long-term investment and will definitely be appreciated by both single- and multiple-feline households. Change out the toys regularly to keep the games fresh and new. Rubbing catnip in various places will definitely ramp up the fun. You can even place a catnip mouse on one of the levels or hide it in the foliage from time to time.

Now that my family and I are back to a normal work schedule, I can tell my cat is getting bored. He has become increasingly more destructive while we are away at work and he is home alone.  What can I do to keep him active, happy and less destructive while we are out of the house?

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