Meow Connection

The similarities between cats and humans might be few in number, but when it comes to how cats feel, we are surprisingly alike.

As with people, cats can also become sad or even depressed and the signs are quite clear once you know what to look for and pay a bit of attention to your pet.

There are a multitude of reasons for which your pet might be sad, some more common than others. You should normally pay attention to how your cat behaves before drawing any unfounded conclusions, because finding the cause is very important in dealing with the situation and properly solving the problem.

For instance, some of the changes that might appear in this case are the lack of activity, excessive sleeping, losing interest in their interactions with both human and animal companions, diminished appetite, lack of personal grooming and signs of uncleanliness or even mood swings and a change in normal behavior.

If they are faced with loss, be it the death or the disappearance of an animal friend or a favorite human caregiver most cats get depressed and it is natural for them to mourn as humans do in these situations. It is also important to take into consideration that depression in cats can be the consequence of a disease, such as Hypothyroidism or even cancer. The symptoms and signs differ depending on the illness that triggered the emotional imbalance in your cat and it is important to visit the veterinary to diagnose the problem.

There are also cases that might mistakenly lead owners to believe that their cats are anything but sad, when they actually are. For instance excessive meowing or purring can also be a sign that the pet might be unhappy. Sometimes cats purr more than they normally do, not because they are pleased, but because they try to comfort themselves when something is wrong. Meowing or aggressive behavior should also make one ponder, because mood swings and a change in a cat’s normal attitude towards others signals an unhappy pet.

Being lonely might seem as a common and unimportant reason, but not all cats that are
faced with this issue manage the problem by scratching or destroying a few things around the house in their owners’ absence. Some cats become sad because they long for human companionship and it is important to know the specifics of your pets breed before submitting your pet to a certain life style that might affect not only its mood, but also its health.

Boredom is another common reason for a cat to be unhappy, especially if they are the only pet in the house and they spend a lot of time on their own. Try to spend as much time as possible with your cat, and shower them with love when you come back from work so they do not feel neglected. Providing them with ‘active play’ toys can also help keep them engaged when you are away (check out Catit Circuit toys on Amazon for around $20).

Chances are that the reasons why your cat is unhappy and sad are actually common and easily solved causes or even sometimes natural ones, such as being influenced by the time of year and becoming depressed during winter months (Seasonal Affective Disorder). However, to avoid more serious and drastic situations, you should pay close attention to your pet to ensure its good health and general well-being before overlooking or minimizing your cats more serious problems!