Anxiety in Cats

Anxiety in Cats

 

Behavioral problems have become a major concern for pet parents over the past decade.  Years ago cats had working roles within the household and spent a lot of their time outside.  Cats ridded the house & barn of unwanted pests.  Our modern lifestyles have evolved more quickly than our pets’ instincts and now some of these once desirable behaviors that we have bred into our animals are no longer so useful.  Cats need physical exercise and stability in their daily routine, just like people.  Some cats have trouble adjusting to our modern lifestyles and some are simply prone to anxiety.

 

Even the most laid back cats become frightened by too much excitement.  Often times there are specific situations that seem to set off our pets’ fears that require more help than behavior modification training alone.  In the case of rescued cats, pet parents may not know their pets’ histories or why they react to certain situations with fear, but there seem to be a list of triggers that are common stressors:

  • Travel
  • Guests
  • Visits to the vet or groomer
  • Thunderstorms or Fireworks
  • Separation Anxiety
  • Changes to home environment or routine
  • New pets in the household

 

Regardless of what stressor sets off your cat, there are going to be times when a calming product can make life a lot easier for both of you.  Before starting any new supplements, it is always a good idea to talk to your vet about any questions or concerns you may have because your vet will know your specific cat’s history.

 

 

 

Studies

 

L-theanine attenuates abstinence signs in morphine-dependent rhesus monkeys and elicits anxiolytic-like activity in mice.

 

Effects of L-theanine on posttraumatic stress disorder induced changes in rat brain gene expression.

 

Psychological stress on female mice diminishes the developmental potential of oocytes: a study using the predatory stress model.

 

Setting apart the affected: the use of behavioral criteria in animal models of post traumatic stress disorder.

 

Chronic exercise improves repeated restraint stress-induced anxiety and depression through 5HT1A receptor and cAMP signaling in hippocampus.

 

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in macaques following early life stress and inverse association with hippocampal volume: preliminary implications for serotonin-related function in mood and anxiety disorders.