Alternatively Speaking: Happy Cats are

Dr. Anne Carroll DVM, CVA

In veterinary school, we were repeatedly reminded that cats are not little dogs, but you don’t need a medical degree to know that cats tend to have more introverted personalities compared to the dog’s effusive enthusiasm. Instead, they are masters of subtle emotional expression. A squint of the eyes, a flick of the tail, the angle of their ears – with one look they convey their feelings clearly, leaving no doubt if you are in their good graces or disfavor. While this may be mistaken for a lack of feelings, cats are in fact quite sensitive, and when upset they will internalize stress just as they do other emotions. Chronic stress contributes to health issues, so cat caretakers have to watch for clues to know if their felines are unhappy or feeling unwell if the goal is to minimize illness. In this article, we will practice “thinking like cats” to better enrich their lives for maximal happiness and health.

When we talk about enrichment and animals, the best example is how zoos use interesting activities to mimic physical and mental wild behaviors. Cats are arguably our most ‘wild’ companion, natural hunters and stalkers even if it is from behind the couch and many are not shy about using their claws to teach us how to behave properly around them. Cats have the energy and instinct to practice their skills and need opportunities to do so to stay entertained and active. This is especially true for indoor cats that don’t have the stimulus of the outdoor world to engage with. They are at the most risk for obesity and emotional stress, both of which impact their health.

Simple ways to engage your cat’s inner lion include climbing structures, shelves, or window ledges that give them the elevated perches they love, games that mimic hunting prey and end with a pounce on a hidden special treat or even dividing meals into hidden snacks that your cat has to search to find. Large bags of crumpled newspaper with a treat hidden inside or cardboard boxes they can hide in or use as dens are a big hit. Another engaging activity is to teach your cat tricks, some of which can be very useful like going into their carrier for treats, or letting you put a treat into their mouth like a pill. You can find many training tips at drsophiayin.com, or her videos on YouTube. Of course, simply spending some quality time with your cat is a fantastic way to enrich their lives. Watch their body language to tell what they like, and for how long, so the interaction is something both of you enjoy. Have a cat that doesn’t like a lot of hands-on contact? Respect their feelings and share quality time by playing hands-off games with catnip toys or treats they like. Forcing physical interaction will just stress them and may cause them to act out aggressively.

Even if your cat’s life is full of entertainment, love, and comfort, other environmental factors are often overlooked that from a cat’s perspective really impact how they feel. The most common of these easy-to-miss stressors is the litter box. As one veterinary behaviorist put it, imagine your bathroom is a beautiful spa. You would feel so wonderful using that space, right? Now imagine it is a dirty outhouse that smells from being uncleaned or heavily perfumed, and you kick up enough dust going in it makes you choke. What if it is also near a loud noise, or you have to go somewhere frightening to get to it? Most cats accept that their bathroom is not their dream spa. But over time that tolerance can wear thin, and any added stress can cause a revolt and suddenly they are soiling your house. Remember that their sense of smell is far more acute than ours, so if you can smell their cat litter it is likely overpowering to them. If dust plumes up into the air when you top off their box, consider one of many natural litters that are perfume and dust-free, and control odors as well as traditional brands. Other considerations are location, ideally somewhere quiet where the dog can’t go, and size, big enough to fit into and for older arthritic cats, low enough for ease of entry. Lastly, to avoid competition and the distaste of treading in a freshly soiled litter, try to have at least one box per cat that you scoop out daily.

Another important environmental stress for cats is who they live with. Other pets can be wonderful companions, but roommates can be difficult. Our dog Pumpkin loves our cat, and Klinger will happily give her a facial grooming when Pumpkin is calm. But Pumpkin is large and sometimes unpredictable, so Klinger has to avoid being too near the dog’s treats or getting trampled in play. Being watchful all the time is a stress, so Klinger has his own spots like our daughter’s room where he can often be found taking up more than his share of her bed. A halfdoor in the kitchen and a cat door into the bathroom also keep his food and litterbox dog-free. Separating cats from each other to provide private areas is not as easy. Having multiple high perches, window seats, cardboard boxes, or beds can offer alone time and avoid competition for resources. Also, consider the humans in the house. A cat whose ideal life is sitting on a retired person’s lap may live in constant stress in a busy household where young children Summer 2021

are too loud and just like Pumpkin, may not respect a cat’s personal space. Houseguests, new babies, dinner parties – any of these may be upsetting. Imagine if you got out of bed and your house was full of strangers, wanting to touch you! If your cat is timid, arrange food and litterbox in a quiet area apart from guests so they don’t have to venture outside their comfort zone. Talk to your vet about aromatherapy, supplements, homeopathy, or even prescription medications to ease stress. A little pre-planning can avoid flare-ups of upper respiratory disease, chin acne, bladder infections, or any of your cat’s pre-existing health issues.

This brings up the important point that not all stresses are external, some come from within. Eating a diet that doesn’t quite agree can cause digestive discomfort and a ‘finicky’ cat that eats grass or needs constant diet variety. Arthritis, dental disease, declining kidneys, or hyperactive thyroids are all predictable aging issues that bother your cat long before they have visible symptoms, especially since they won’t advertise discomforts until they are too ill to hide them. Just as stress can trigger illness, the illness will create stress, often setting a cat up for self-perpetuating problems. Caretakers should be watchful for any changes in their cat’s routines, appetite, thirst, weight, or litterbox activity. A vet visit is in order when anything unusual is noticed, even if kitty seems ok overall. Wellness visits themselves are invaluable for finding stressful issues before they fester into larger problems. In our practice, we use food therapy, homeopathy, and Chinese herbs to treat both the emotional and physical side effects illness causes.

This brings us to the last place to help reduce stress – the trip to the vet. Whether your cat needs a problem addressed, wellness care, or even a discussion on stress-relieving strategies, the car ride is often an obstacle. Call your vet in advance to discuss non-prescription calming pheromones, flower essences, or supplements that can make the trip to the vet much easier for kitty and their chauffeur. For timid or motion sick felines, after their initial visit anti-nausea or mild sedatives can be prescribed to alleviate fear and discomfort. Follow up with games and training so your cat associates the carrier with comfy pleasure and yummy treats!

Unfortunately, life is not a utopia for any of us, including cats, and not all stressful circumstances can be eliminated. But measures can be taken to help ease tensions where we can. The first step is to pay attention to each cat’s personality and comfort zones. Be mindful of what your cat is experiencing, identify possible stressors, and then discuss strategies with your veterinarian to address your cat’s environmental, emotional and physical needs. The effort will be rewarded with more purrs and contented looks from your happier and healthier kitty!

Dr. Anne Carroll is the owner of the Chelsea Animal Hospital where she and her associates practice conventional medicine and surgery as well as several alternative modalities including traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. For more information on alternative veterinary medicine visit their website at www.chelseaanimalhospital.com .