9 Signs Your Cat is Unhappy
by mylifewithpets | Last updated on October 26, 2021
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Do you ever stop to wonder if there is anything you could do to make your cat’s life even better?
Many people believe that cats need very little to be happy because they’re very independent and some don’t show much affection.
And, while cats are usually less needy than a dog, they are still very sensitive animals and very attached to their humans.
So, if you ever asked yourself if your cat is truly happy, we’re here to let you know how you can find out.
Why Are Cats Unhappy?
The first thing you need to know is, if your cat is unhappy and you can identify the reason, you need to take her to the vet urgently.
Because if there is no obvious reason, than she may just be ill and in that case, professional help is required.
Other than that, there are a lot of possible reasons why your cat may be feeling unhappy and, while some are easy enough to sort out, others require more work.
Unhappy cats will often become depressed and decide they just don’t want to live anymore, so making sure your cat is happy and healthy can save you both a lot of heartache.
Is Your Cat Ill or Injured?
This is the number one reason for an unhappy cat and one only a vet can solve.
If your cat is feeling pain, discomfort, nausea or overall illness, she won’t be happy.
Or maybe she’s apathetic and can’t muster the energy to move.
An important thing to consider is cats are experts at hiding pain, so if your cat is showing she’s unhappy, it’s because she’s really in trouble.
Is Your Cat Missing Someone?
Like we’ve said, cats are deeply attached to their humans.
Sometimes it’s their families, others is one family member and, occasionally you’ll see cats fall in love with other people than their family (don’t worry, it’s very rare!).
They can also establish beautiful, deep bonds with other cats or other animals as well and it’s a lovely thing to witness.
Except that, when that person, animal or group aren’t around anymore, cats have a really hard time with it and become deeply unhappy.
Life Happens!
People and animals die and that is the worst case scenario for an attached cat.
They can also move away, definitely or temporarily, some cats are so sensitive to absences, they can become depressed just by their human going on vacations.
Feline depression is a huge concern for cat owners.
To deal with a cat that has just decided she no longer wants to live is a long process.
Usually and when detected early, it can be reversed with patience and a lot of love but sometimes there is just not turning it around.
9 Signs That Say Your Cat is Unhappy
Here you’ll find the 9 main signs that your cat is unhappy.
But remember to only consider each sign if it’s a change from your cat’s usual behavior, if not it can just be one of those personality traits cats are known for and that make us love them even more.
The best way to tell if you’re cat shows any of these signs?
Just spend as much time as you can or as much time as your cat will allow you with her.
Can you think of a better prescription? Yeah, neither can we.
#1 Aggression
If your cat has always been easy going and is suddenly attacking you, animals or other people, something is going on.
If it happens when you touch her or pick her up, it probably means you’re causing her pain when you do it.
When it happens when you interact with her, for no particular reason, it means she’s feeling uneasy, anxious or stressed, meaning something is bothering her.
This happened to us a couple of months ago, when we moved.
Our cats hated the entire process. They hate the carriers, they hate being outside and they hate new environments.
To say they were unhappy is an understatement.
But we knew it would be like this, so we came up with a plan along with our vet to try and minimize their stress.
When our vet first mentioned pheromone diffusers, we weren’t sure what to think of it.
But, as usual, our vet was right and once we started using them, we noticed quite a difference in our cat’s behavior.
Our cats responded very well to our plan, which in no way means they walked merrily into their carriers, but it sure avoided a lot of the stress and scratches that usually come with getting them there.
#2 Body Language
Apart from wanting to scratch your eyes out, the number one tell tale sign your cat in unhappy is a change in her body language.
Cats use their body language to communicate, with other animals and humans alike.
Maybe she’s looking more tense and on edge, her tail is tucked and her ears are held back, her hair standing on end and she’s not even winking her eyes.
Or maybe it’s a slight change in the way she walks, jumps or lays down, in which case she may be trying to accommodate pain or discomfort when she moves
If that’s the case, there is a wonderful Omega 3 food supplement you can give your cat to make sure she’s comfortable and healthy.
When our vet first mentioned pheromone diffusers, we weren’t sure what to think of it.
But, as usual, our vet was right and once we started using them, we noticed quite a difference in our cat’s behavior.
Our cats responded very well to our plan, which in no way means they walked merrily into their carriers, but it sure avoided a lot of the stress and scratches that usually come with getting them there.
#3 Spraying
Cats spray when they’re unhappy for two main reasons.
They may do it to show discontent, they want you to know that they’re unhappy so they’ll make you unhappy too by spraying your clothes, shoes, bed, etc.
Or they may be spraying to surround themselves with their own scent in order to feel better.
It’s particularly telling if they’re spraying items belonging to someone that they’re missing. They do it to feel calmer, more at peace, to soothe their unhappiness
#4 Changing in Eating Habits
When unhappy, cats can under eat or overeat, much like humans.
What you need to watch out for is a change in the cat’s feeding pattern, because it can go either way.
For us, an older cat suddenly stopped eating wet food, which he used to love.
He was still eating the dry food, it was just the once-loved wet food he was shunning.
When we took him to the vet to make sure everything was okay, all tests came back okay, but the vet did notice he seemed to lack his usual energy.
Our vet recommended this rebound formula to get him back on his best mood.
We noticed a difference in his energy levels on the second day, his appetite returned and he was walking around like before.
Overall, it worked out great for our little man.
#5 Hiding
Cats love snuggling in a quiet nook, particularly if it’s somewhere hidden.
But in this case, your cat is hiding all the time, in places she never hid before.
That’s when you need to be on alert and see what’s going on.
Also, she’s refusing to come out of her hiding place, even when it’s just you and her.
Even when you’re tempting her with her favorite toy, treats or cuddling.
On the other hand, if you have a usually independent cat, one that doesn’t like cuddling or being held, and she’s suddenly demanding your constant attention, something is up.
If your vet has checked your cat and found nothing wrong, she may have had a fright that caused her to change her behavior.
That happened with one of our cats who locked herself in a cupboard for a few hours without us noticing and became really insecure, scared and unhappy after that.
Luckily, our vet told us about this calming collar that our cat used for about a year and the change in her behavior was remarkable.
She was back to her confident, happy self!
#6 Verbalizations
Unhappy cats are vocal cats.
They meow more, but they are also known to give low-pitched mournful yowls.
One thing you may not know is, unhappy cats can also show it by purring more often.
They purr loudly to make themselves feel better.
#7 Change in Sleeping Pattern
Cats are known to sleep 16 to 20 hours a day and that’s just the hard life they have (not).
But if your cat is sleeping longer than that, something is amiss.
Also, if she decides to sleep in places she never did before.
It’s all about small changes, the ones you wouldn’t notice if you weren’t paying attention.
#8 Change in Grooming Pattern
By this we mean your cat is grooming herself too much or too little compared with what she used to do.
A healthy cat cleans herself frequently.
Under grooming leads to lackluster, dirty coat.
Over grooming usually means hair loss and bald patches because she is licking it so much and biting it off.
If you notice your cat if grooming herself too much or too little (when compared to her usual behavior) than something might be happening.
If your cat is under grooming herself, for whatever reason, she’s probably feeling very unhappy, because cats hate dirt and messiness.
But what it the cause for under grooming is simply because she’s a bit fuller and can’t reach?
Or old age that is causing her some mobility issues?
Luckily, you can easily help her with that.
Assist your cat with her grooming by brushing her often.
We’ve tried dozens of cat brushes and this is the one all of them love the most (cats and dogs alike).
Soft, easy to clean and comfortable.
#9 Excessive Scratching
Cats scratch.
It’s a healthy habit, it keeps their nails healthy.
In case of an unhappy cat, you’ll notice she’s scratching more than usual.
This is because scratching relieves stress and anxiety.
So the extra scratching is meant to make her feel better, getting angry at her for it will only make the situation worse.
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