10 Causes of Cat Depression and How to Overcome It

Can cats be depressed ? Of course, I can. Cats are just like humans, they can feel depressed when something happens to them. The only difference is that cats can't convey their depression through facial expressions

Cats can't express their depression from facial expressions, but when a cat is depressed it usually shows a certain attitude or behavior. Generally this behavior is different from the usual cat behavior. Depression in cats can be triggered by a variety of causes.

One example is a cat who is depressed due to not being able to leave the house to play. And there are many other reasons why cats get depressed. Then what are the other causes that make cats depressed? To find out the answer, in this article, Angora will explain it one by one.

Read the explanation until the end, Good Reader.

10 Causes Of Cat Depression

Cats can also feel depression like humans feel. Depression can be triggered by several things. What are the causes of depression in cats you can see below:

1. Cats Are Always Caged In Cages

The first reason why cats are depressed is that cats are always locked up in cages. This happens because the cat cage is too narrow and too many cats are caged in it. The cat feels claustrophobic and constrained so he becomes depressed.

Confining a cat goes against the cat's wild instincts, which always want to move freely, run around and explore and hunt small animals. Compared to confining the cat in a cage, it is better to lock the cat in a rather large room.

Although confining a cat indoors can also be at risk of causing cat depression, this risk is smaller than confining a cat in a cage, especially if the cage is too narrow.

2. Cats Want To Get Married But Can't

The next cause of depression in cats is that the cat wants to mate but can't. Because the owner does not have another cat to mate with his cat and the cat is prohibited from leaving the house by the owner.

This makes cats depressed because they can't mate, plus they can't go out of the house to find their own female to mate. The solution to overcome this is only to marry the cat or sterilize ( spay ) the cat.

3. Cats Are Not Allowed To Leave The House

It's normal for cats not to leave the house. Especially for cat lovers who have purebred cats, mix dome (mixed cats) or for cat lovers whose houses are close to the highway.

 The reason is because as owners we are afraid that the cat that we have cared for for a long time will be stolen or hit by a vehicle that passes in front of the house. Although we have our own reasons. Still not allowing cats out of the house can be one of the causes of depression in cats.

4. Lonely Cat At Home

For those of you who often work outside the home and only have time when they get home from work. It's possible that the cat you live alone when you work feels lonely. When a cat lives alone, it may feel lonely and afraid because no one is home.

As a result, he will feel depressed and will only spend his time sleeping all day and lose his appetite.

5. Consequences Of A Cat Necklace

Cats who are not used to wearing necklaces are also likely to experience depression due to being uncomfortable with the necklace. The cat will be busy trying to untie the collar, shaking its head and walking in a strange fashion, sometimes even like a staggering cat.

Cats who are depressed because of the necklace will usually be emotional, always clawing and pulling the necklace off. If your cat experiences this, it's best if you remove the collar first. And just put it on for a while every day so he gets used to it.

After the cat gets used to the presence of the necklace around his neck, you can wear the necklace continuously without worrying that he will feel uncomfortable and also experience depression.

6. Sad Cat Left By Owner

Apart from being sad due to being left dead by a relative or partner, staying at the owner will also make the cat depressed. There was once an incident where a cat lover told that the cat he lived in because of going home was depressed.

Cats experience changes in attitude and behavior. But thankfully this depression went away on its own when the cat owner apologized to the cat and a few days after the cat owner arrived home.

7. Sad Cat Lives Dead Spouse Or Siblings

Some cats will experience depression when left to die by their partner or sibling. Just like depression in normal cats, depressed cats will usually be lazy to eat, often sleep and meow as if to express their sadness.

8. Cats Mourn The Loss Of Their Kittens

Although based on research, cats cannot show their emotions by crying, cats can also grieve because they have lost their children. Whether it's because it died or because it was stolen, a cat will grieve when he finds out he has lost his child.

9. Injury

An injured cat will feel that he is losing his freedom to do certain things that he likes. Like playing, jumping and running here and there and wandering around exploring the environment around him.

This of course will make the cat less happy and the pain of this injury will make the cat's condition worse. As a result, the cat loses its happiness and becomes depressed.

10. Disease

Not only injury, but illness can also make cats experience stress or depression. The pain and the inability to move can make the cat feel sad and eventually become depressed. Cats who are sick and depressed will lose their zest for life so that the disease will be difficult to cure and experience death.

Signs Or Symptoms Of A Depressed Cat

Pay attention to your cat's behavior, if something goes wrong then you need to be vigilant. When a cat is depressed it will usually show the following behavior :

• The cat has lost its appetite

• Stomach ache

• Don't want to play

• Weight loss

• More quiet

• Happy to be alone

• Lost interest in the snacks he used to like

• More sleep even at times they are usually active

• Cats look dirty because they don't take care of themselves

• Usually spoiled now even stay away from the people he loves

How To Overcome A Depressed Cat Won't Eat ?

If you feel sure that your cat is really depressed or stressed. First, try to find out why and then choose the right way to deal with it. Choose one of the ways below that you think is right for dealing with or treating depression in your cat. :

• Get the cat out of the cage

• Mating a cat

• Let the cat play outside for a while while you watch him

• Adopt another cat so that the cat is not lonely

• Take off the cat collar

• Entertain the cat by often playing with him

• Entertain the cat by giving him his favorite food

• When you go home, leave the cat to a relative so that he is not lonely

• Bring a cat when you travel for a long time

• Take your cat to the vet to treat his illness and injury.

That's a discussion about the causes of cat depression, signs or symptoms and how to overcome them. Hopefully, this article will be able to answer your questions regarding cat depression. And add your insight and can be useful for you.

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