Handling Anxiety in Cats

Cats, like people, each have their own distinct and unique personalities. And, like people, their quirks and personalities often include forms of neurosis, depression, and other mental illnesses. Often, high-need and "bad" cats aren't malicious, but simply coping with problems relating to anxiety or despair in the only way they know how.

I am the proud owner of one extremely high-need cat, a cream-colored Russian Blue mix. She was the only survivor of a litter of feral kittens and was bottle-fed from three weeks of age owing to her mother's illness. Like children, cats who are separated from their caregivers at an early age are often set up for chronic neurosis. My cat reacted to the traumas of her early kittenhood by developing a number of unusual (and, at times, frustrating) traits.

Fortunately, with love and care, cats with mental illness can still be loving, charming members of any family. The secret to properly caring for neurotic cats lies in recognizing their "bad" behavior as cries for help and attention, rather than taking punitive measures against their negative or hurtful behaviors.

When my cat was younger, she was frenzied and anxious. She would often dart from one end of the house to another, chirping and mewing as if she were in pain. She would also attack my feet at night and randomly leap on my hands or head. At first, these seemed like attempts at playing, but I later realized that they were her way of getting my attention when she needed reassurance. Communicating love and understanding to her were the most important steps I took in easing her neurosis.

One of the most important rules for caring for a high-need cat is to avoid declawing at all cost. Declawing is a painful, inhumane procedure that amputates the lowest joint of the paw, forcing cats to walk unnaturally. The ASPCA has received numerous reports of cats becoming increasingly neurotic following this surgery, and it does nothing to eliminate the underlying problems that are causing these unfortunate behaviors.

Soiling or spraying carpet, floors, or bedding are among the most frustrating behaviors of neurotic cats and need to be addressed as soon as possible. Giving a high-need cat a sufficiently sized litterbox in a private area, and cleaning it frequently (at least once a day) will often help even the most reluctant cats feel comfortable in their litterboxes. Do not react to soiling of carpet and floors with anger or punishment, as this will only make a neurotic cat more likely to become anxious about the process of using the litterbox.

Products containing soothing pheromones are considered by many cat owners to be extremely useful in calming a mentally ill cat. One product, called Feliway, covers the anxiety-inducing odors of urine and feces with the natural, calming scents emitted from the glands in cats' cheeks. The company that makes Feliway claims an estimated 86% success rate in calming neurotic cats.

Cats with mental illness universally must be spayed or neutered. Often, anxiety communicated by cats is the result of high levels of sexual hormones. This keeps unaltered cats in a constant state of tension and frustration, much like hormonally-intoxicated human teenagers. Male cats who are unneutered will often spray, roam, and become aggressive when denied access to females in heat, and females who are in heat become unbearably nervous and needy. Spaying and neutering are critical in maintaining a cat's mental health.

As in humans, cats with mental illness rarely make full recoveries, and some vets even recommend antidepressants like "Kitty Prozac" to deal with the psychochemical problems that cause feline anxiety. Talk to your vet about what options may be best for your pet's individual situation, and you will likely find that even the most crazed of cats can become a loving, enjoyable member of your family.