What Are Ailurophobia Symptoms
Ailurophobia symptoms can range from mild to extreme. The most common symptoms are extreme anxiety when thinking about or seeing a cat.
Emotional symptoms include:
- Excessive thinking about how to avoid cats.
- Extreme anxiety when you hear cat sounds, such as purring, hissing or meowing.
- Fear of places where you may see a cat.
Physical symptoms of ailurophobia include:
- Tense muscles, trembling or shaking.
What To Do If Your Cat Has A Panic Attack
Firstly, if your cat is having a panic attack, the best thing to do is to leave them alone until they have calmed down.
You wont know for sure what is causing their feelings of anxiety so you could end up making the situation worse unintentionally.
However, it is important to remember that all cats have their own personalities. Some will prefer to hide away but others may seek comfort.
To test this, you can sit a short distance away from your cat and talk softly. Make sure you hold your body low to the ground so they dont perceive you as yet another threat! If your cat comes over, make sure you are slow and gentle with any movements you make, and watch your cats reaction carefully.
If your cat refuses to move, then simply leave them alone.
If your cat has stopped eating or drinking because of a panic attack, you could bring their food and water closer to them. Alternatively, you can leave their bowls in a quiet room away from any people or other pets.
If you really cant bear to see your cat in a state of anxiety, there are plenty of natural remedies you can try.
You can also seek the advice of a vet if you are concerned, as they can give you advice on the best ways to deal with cat anxiety. These include behavioural modification techniques, desensitization, and certain medications.
Do Cats Know When You Are Sad
You might have wondered – can cats sense emotions such as sadness?
Based on a study regarding emotion recognition in cats, it was demonstrated that cats are able to recognize conspecific as well as human emotions through auditory and visual observations.
However, they may perceive things from a different angle. Cats are able to sense sadness in a way that they associate the visual and auditory signals of human sadness such as frowning and a listless voice with how they are addressed or treated whenever their human is in a sad state.
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Although cats are known to be independent and may not be as social as dogs are, they do form ties with their colony in the wild. When it comes to your home, you are considered as part of your cats colony so they recognize the importance of emotional signals in living harmoniously with you as their furparent.
Meanwhile, how do you know if your cat recognizes that youre sad or they just want to be fed? According to the animal behaviorist Shadi Delshad, it helps to be observant about how your cats behave through time. For example, if you notice your cat coming over whenever youre feeling down, its likely that they know how your are feeling.
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What Is A Panic Attack
Well start with the human version. MayoClinic.org defines it as a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. A person may experience a wide range of symptoms, including:
- Shortness of breath
We kept our list of things we could observe in cats instead of feelings or other intangibles. If youve seen a cat frightened by something unexpected, you probably recognize many of these same signs. Your kitty may hiss and back away from you. It may strike at you or simply run away and disappear for a while. One of the other human symptoms is a fear of danger. That sounds like this frightened cat.
Getting An Additional Cat
Unless you get two kittens or littermates together, adding another cat could lead to even more stress and conflict.
There is no guarantee that your cat will like the new cat, or that they will become fast friends. You are also adjusting their environment to accommodate the new cat, which can cause additional stress.
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Cat Owners Have Lower Heart Attack Risk Study
Owning a cat could reduce your risk of a heart attack by nearly one third, researchers told delegates of the American Stroke Associations International Stroke Conference in New Orleans last week. The finding provoked a mixed reaction from heart experts and veterinarians.
The finding was the main result of a 10 year study of more than 4,000 Americans by researchers at the University of Minnesotas Stroke Institute in Minneapolis. Executive director of the Institute, Dr Adnan Qureshi, who is also senior author of the study, was reported by US News & World Report to have said:
For years we have known that psychological stress and anxiety are related to cardiovascular events, particularly heart attacks.
Qureshi said having pets probably helped to relieve stress. The researchers said dogs probably had a similar effect, but there werent enough dog owners in the study to show this conclusively. Previous research has linked contact with pets to heart benefits, they said.
Qureshi and colleagues extracted data on 4,435 Americans aged 30 to 75, from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Study that took place from 1976 to 1980. 2,435 of the participants were current or former cat owners, while the remaining 2,000 had never had a cat.
Qureshi, who own a cat called Ninja, said they had expected to see an effect, because the theory was plausible, but the size of the link was a surprise.
Qureshi said this research:
Scaredy Cats: Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome
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Have you ever seen a cat suddenly stop what theyre doing, freeze for a moment, then jump straight up into the air and take off running like a hellhound was after them?
For most cats, this is pretty common behavior its simply a way to burn off excess energy or initiate play. But for some cats, this behavior can be part of a disorder known as Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome, a rare medical condition that affects the brain and causes bizarre and frustrating symptoms in cats.
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome, or FHS, can cause such severe and dramatic changes in a cats behavior that some owners swear their poor cat is possessed. It can affect cats of all ages, but it usually appears for the first time in afflicted cats between the ages of 1 and 5 years.
The word hyperesthesia means abnormally increased sensitivity of the skin. Although no one knows for sure what causes Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome, one thing we do know is that the poor cats who suffer from this disorder appear to be tormented by stimuli or sensations from which they cant escape.
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Why Do Cats Get Anxiety
Cats experience anxiety because of psychological, physical and environmental stressors. Without your intervention, their stress can have detrimental affects on your home, your family, and your cats overall health.Determining the root cause of your cats anxiety can be challenging, so begin by evaluating their environment and daily life. Some things to consider:
- In your household has there been a loss or addition of family member or pet?
- Has there been recent separation from a family member?
- Recently, have they had minimal play or exercise? Is your cat experiencing boredom?
- Are there any new causes of fear that could have sparked their anxiety, such as loud noises, other pets or humans?
- How have they been eating? Might your cat be having less-than-adequate nutrition?
- Is your cat otherwise healthy or are they experiencing any pain or discomfort?
Provide Playtime And Enrichment
Start a daily routine of exercise and play with your cat. Even 15 minutes a day with a laser pointer or wand toy will help your cat get the exercise he needs while reducing his stress. Similar to creating a safe space, youll want to make sure your cat has enough environmental enrichment while youre away to stay distracted from ensuing anxieties. Keep him stimulated with catnip toys, food puzzles, cat grass, and window-watching spots.
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How To Deal With Cat Anxiety And Cat Separation Anxiety
The signs and symptoms of cat anxiety can often mask other illnesses, so always visit your vet to ensure that there are no underlying conditions. When these have been ruled out, your vet may diagnose your pet with anxiety, in which case they could prescribe medication, or advise certain cat calming techniques.
How To Calm An Anxious Cat
If youre worried about your anxious cat, you should first make an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out possible illnesses and diseases that could be contributing to his symptoms. Following that, youll need to try to get to the bottom of what is causing your cats anxiety. From there, you can tailor your treatment plan to suit your cats specific needs.
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Cats Help Heal A Heart
You see, about a year ago Daniel had a massive heart attack. As he recovered at home, he made friends with two black cats who would come into the yard while he was getting a little fresh air. He started to look forward to spending time with the cats, who helped him relax while he healed. Then Kimberly and Daniel moved to another location so they could be closer to Daniels doctors, and they decided that once they settled into their new home, theyd adopt a cat.
When they saw Felix and Jordan, they decided to foster them with the hope of adopting them if they settled in well. It didnt take long to decide. They made themselves right at home, says Kimberly. We bought them toys, but they rejected those for an empty cardboard box that they love to play in.
Not too long after they made it official and adopted the brothers, Daniel had a panic attack and Jordan quickly came to his side. As soon as he sensed Daniel was in distress, he lay down on his chest, began purring and pawed Daniels beard until the feelings subsided. Jordan has been helping him ever since.
Jordan has a very calming effect, says Kimberly. Felix, on the other hand, is always ready to play. He plays fetch for hours, and I had no idea that was a thing with cats. They are both very affectionate and sweet.
S To Avoid For Separation Anxiety In Cats
There are many suggestions out there for how to help separation anxiety in cats, but not all of them are accurate. Some of the most common management suggestions you might find are getting an additional cat, punishment, and confinement.
Heres why you should not use these responses if your cat is suffering from separation anxiety.
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What Else Should I Know About Panic Disorder
People with panic disorder may be extremely anxious and fearful, since they are unable to predict when the next episode will occur. Panic disorder is fairly common and affects about 6 million adults in the U.S. Women are twice as likely as men to develop the condition, and its symptoms usually begin in early adulthood.
It is not clear what causes panic disorder. In many people who have the biological vulnerability to panic attacks, they may develop in association with major life changes and major lifestyle stressors. There is also some evidence that suggests that the tendency to develop panic disorder may run in families. People who suffer from panic disorder are also more likely than others to suffer from depression, attempt suicide, or to abuse alcohol or drugs.
Fortunately, panic disorder is a treatable condition. Psychotherapy and medications have both been used, either singly or in combination, for successful treatment of panic disorder. If medication is necessary, your doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety medications, certain antidepressants or sometimes certain anticonvulsant drugs that also have anti-anxiety properties, or a class of heart medications known as beta-blockers to help prevent or control the episodes in panic disorder.
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What Do I Do If My Cat Is Having A Panic Attack
When your cat is having a panic attack, it’s important to take things slow and leave your cat alone unless she’s looking to you for comfort. You can start by slowly lowering yourself to the ground and then summoning your cat. When it comes, pet it slowly while keeping your eyes open to see how your cat is reacting to what’s happening around. Observing your cat’s reactions can help you eliminate the causes of the fear.
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Final Thoughts: Cat Panic Attacks
Hopefully, you have found this guide on cat panic attacks helpful.
You should now be able to recognize cat panic attack symptoms in your own feline friend and have the knowledge to help them out however you can.
Of course, as with all health issues, you should speak to your vet if you think your cats panic attacks are getting worse, as there may be an underlying medical cause.
Can Cats Have Separation Anxiety
The answer is yes, cats can miss you when you leave. “Cats may become anxious when separated from a person or animal whom the cat is fond of or socially attached ,” says Kenneth Martin, DVM, Diplomate, ACVB at Veterinary Behavior Consultations, LLC in Spicewood, Texas. But what causes separation anxiety in cats? The answer isn’t clear, but experts think genetics may play a part.
Like , a cat’s anxiety may develop or worsen when the routines they’re familiar with change. So if you’re moving, changing your work schedule, or experiencing a death in the family, your cat is likely feeling those changes, too.
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Body Language Of An Anxious Cat
- If your cat is hiding, or alternatively if your cat has frozen in fear, they are likely to have a tense, hunched or crouched posture, usually pressed quite low to the ground.
- Your cat will have all four of their feet planted firmly underneath themselves so that they are ready to quickly escape or take a defensive swipe with a paw if the situation escalates.
- Your cats legs and tail are likely to be pressed close to the rest of their body, their head lowered, and neck pulled in towards their shoulders.
Kitty Is Extra Aggressive
If your cat is aggressive for no known reason, anxiety might be behind kitty’s behavior. “A well-behaved pet wouldnt go repeatedly berserk on you without a solid motive, so try to discover the root of the problem and fix it for them,” iHeart Cats advised on its website. What’s more, “boredom can result in anxiety for a cat that needs attention, and taking out their frustrations on your belongings is one way they can express their discontent to you.”
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Recognizing Your Cats Anxiety And How To Calm Them
Like humans, when cats experience anxiety, it can range from being as serious as having a panic attack or as minor as simple nervousness. Anxiety affects humans on a greater level than what we may be aware of the same goes for your cat. Lets address what anxiety is: some believe that it is only a feeling that can come and go. In reality, anxiety is a mental health disorder. Despite how some may challenge this idea, its a fact. And its extremely common, with more than three million cases in the United States per year. As explained above, it is a disorder which is characterized by stress, fear, and worry that is strong enough to interrupt with daily activities. These same feelings can show in your cat and it will affect their ability to live life to their fullest.
This little kitty is not a happy camper.
Detecting Anxiety
The trick about anxiety is that it is not always easy to find the cause of it. Its hard enough to diagnose in humans, so trying to diagnose it with our pets can be a challenge for veterinarians and behavior specialists. Anxiety can be caused by extremes such as physical and verbal abuse, or by seemingly small things like moving to a new home, separation from their humans, or another addition to the household. A tool that pet owners can use to detect the cause of anxiety is the called the HISS test.
This cat is definitely being very cautious.
This cat tucked himself away in a corner, showing that hes anxious about something.
Causes Of Extreme Fear And Anxiety In Cats
Extreme fear and anxiety can be caused by a variety of situations. You may notice a change in your cat due to the following causes:
- Illness or injury
- Unfamiliar people, animals or environment
- Roughness from people
- Confinement, such as sitting inside a crate or carrier
- Lack of social environment
- Unclean litter box
If your cat is sick, injured or does not feel safe, they may start displaying the clinical signs of extreme fear and anxiety.
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