In Respect Of Feline Anxiety, Stress, and Fear
Because cats are so often portrayed by the pet industry as prima donnas, cuddly couch potatoes, or aloof manipulators, cat owners have minimal understanding of the animal living with them. That’s why when I lecture about cats and their health and sanity, I start by introducing them as ultimate survivalists and what makes them such remarkable survivalists. Felis Silvestris Catus has changed little from their ancestors: anatomically, behaviorally, and metabolically. I demonstrate how their stealth and highly efficient predator physiology, while helping protect them from danger and starvation in the wild, can also set them up for stress and anxiety, even fear in a household setting.
Their hearing, which allows them to listen in and track ultrasonic sounds of rodents and small prey, goes on overload or perceives a range of sounds found in the home environment as potential threats: electronics, loud noises, unusual sounds, or neighboring animals. Paw pads, attuned to picking up vibrations when honing in on prey, also absorb unknown environmental vibrations, placing the animal on alert for a potential encounter. Isolated, the cat may startle with these events, but recover easily. If the environmental events are on-going then the cat is at risk of health and/or behavior issues. In fact, there is growing evidence many chronic health problems of domestic cats are directly or indirectly the result of stressors or unusual environmental events.
Only recently, due to these increased health and behaviors issues, science started looking at how cats relate to their surroundings: the home environment, their humans and, other animals. So, in addition to its distinctive physiology, we need to consider the cat’s lack of control of its environment, unusual or threatening scents, unfamiliarity of caregiver or new surroundings, change in routines, hierarchies with other animals, even simple things, such as rearrangement of furnishings. Territory security is critical for cats, some say more so than their attachment to humans. However, a cat’s perception of safety is filtered by who is in that cat suit. Was the cat introduced to humans during that fragile socialization window as a kitten? Or is the cat guarded around humans? Is the cat encouraged to explore (with supervision) to help build confidence? Or is the cat more isolated? A less confident cat can find themselves at the mercy of a stressful lifestyle. And as for the human-feline relationship? A recent study supports what cat owners have known; cats do develop deep attachments, create a language just for their humans, respond to our emotions, and can even recognize facial expressions. So, our relationship and how we assemble as part of their territory, is just as critical.
And of course, I discuss diet. For lack of a better analogy, I explain that unless we are feeding a species appropriate diet to these obligate carnivores, it’s kinda like we are using cheap fuel in our vehicles. It will run, but how well? Good nutrition is the most important factor in health and longevity. But what’s not often discussed is how poor nutrition influences behavior. Many commercial cat foods are increasingly using plant proteins to meet the higher protein needs of cats. Unfortunately, plant proteins do not offer the complete amino acid profile required by this carnivore and must be balanced accordingly. While supplementation may look good on the label, our cats are the tests subjects for long term nutritional balancing. In my experience, many foods are deficient in stress fighting nutrients found naturally in the cat’s carnivore diet. These can include, taurine and arginine, Vitamin Bs, Vitamin C, Magnesium, and Zinc, which reduce anxiety and normalize stress responses.
More recently, I have been looking at the gut-brain axis, the feline microbiome, as well as the nutritional support of medicinal herbal therapies. How can we incorporate the synergy of these therapies to treat the whole cat? For instance, stress and anxiety are known triggers for housesoiling, yet, rarely looked at as a contributing factor to gastrointestinal issues and other sickness behaviors, which can include decreased food and water intake, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory infections, decreased activity and social interactions, and reduced body care (grooming). We understand from human research the brain can affect the GI microbiome neurologically and hormonally by changing intestinal motility, permeability, pH and mucus secretion throughout length of intestine or regionally. Reciprocally, healthy GI development is essential to development of the central nervous system. Herbal therapies offer healing support through medicinal properties from nose to tail and all organ systems, and on a supportive role nutritional benefits adding yet another healing dimension. In a recent case, the incorporation of a mushroom blend, Mushroom Defense, drew upon the nutritional values of added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And in theory, we drew upon the Common Mycorrhizal Network to help the cat feel more grounded in an indoor-only environment.
Feline well-being requires we acknowledge the cat’s innate nature and physiology. We must respect their need for security and safety in their territories and enrich their environments. We need to encourage social contact and supervised explorations, but in their terms. We should offer hunting and predatory enactments for mental and physical activity, and last but not least, offer a species appropriate diet. All these criteria are just as important as loving and petting.
We are modern day zookeepers.
Copyright Terri S. Grow, 2021
Because cats are so often portrayed by the pet industry as prima donnas, cuddly couch potatoes, or aloof manipulators, cat owners have minimal understanding of the animal living with them. That’s why when I lecture about cats and their health and sanity, I start by introducing them as ultimate survivalists and what makes them such remarkable survivalists. Felis Silvestris Catus has changed little from their ancestors: anatomically, behaviorally, and metabolically. I demonstrate how their stealth and highly efficient predator physiology, while helping protect them from danger and starvation in the wild, can also set them up for stress and anxiety, even fear in a household setting.
Their hearing, which allows them to listen in and track ultrasonic sounds of rodents and small prey, goes on overload or perceives a range of sounds found in the home environment as potential threats: electronics, loud noises, unusual sounds, or neighboring animals. Paw pads, attuned to picking up vibrations when honing in on prey, also absorb unknown environmental vibrations, placing the animal on alert for a potential encounter. Isolated, the cat may startle with these events, but recover easily. If the environmental events are on-going then the cat is at risk of health and/or behavior issues. In fact, there is growing evidence many chronic health problems of domestic cats are directly or indirectly the result of stressors or unusual environmental events.
Only recently, due to these increased health and behaviors issues, science started looking at how cats relate to their surroundings: the home environment, their humans and, other animals. So, in addition to its distinctive physiology, we need to consider the cat’s lack of control of its environment, unusual or threatening scents, unfamiliarity of caregiver or new surroundings, change in routines, hierarchies with other animals, even simple things, such as rearrangement of furnishings. Territory security is critical for cats, some say more so than their attachment to humans. However, a cat’s perception of safety is filtered by who is in that cat suit. Was the cat introduced to humans during that fragile socialization window as a kitten? Or is the cat guarded around humans? Is the cat encouraged to explore (with supervision) to help build confidence? Or is the cat more isolated? A less confident cat can find themselves at the mercy of a stressful lifestyle. And as for the human-feline relationship? A recent study supports what cat owners have known; cats do develop deep attachments, create a language just for their humans, respond to our emotions, and can even recognize facial expressions. So, our relationship and how we assemble as part of their territory, is just as critical.
And of course, I discuss diet. For lack of a better analogy, I explain that unless we are feeding a species appropriate diet to these obligate carnivores, it’s kinda like we are using cheap fuel in our vehicles. It will run, but how well? Good nutrition is the most important factor in health and longevity. But what’s not often discussed is how poor nutrition influences behavior. Many commercial cat foods are increasingly using plant proteins to meet the higher protein needs of cats. Unfortunately, plant proteins do not offer the complete amino acid profile required by this carnivore and must be balanced accordingly. While supplementation may look good on the label, our cats are the tests subjects for long term nutritional balancing. In my experience, many foods are deficient in stress fighting nutrients found naturally in the cat’s carnivore diet. These can include, taurine and arginine, Vitamin Bs, Vitamin C, Magnesium, and Zinc, which reduce anxiety and normalize stress responses.
More recently, I have been looking at the gut-brain axis, the feline microbiome, as well as the nutritional support of medicinal herbal therapies. How can we incorporate the synergy of these therapies to treat the whole cat? For instance, stress and anxiety are known triggers for housesoiling, yet, rarely looked at as a contributing factor to gastrointestinal issues and other sickness behaviors, which can include decreased food and water intake, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory infections, decreased activity and social interactions, and reduced body care (grooming). We understand from human research the brain can affect the GI microbiome neurologically and hormonally by changing intestinal motility, permeability, pH and mucus secretion throughout length of intestine or regionally. Reciprocally, healthy GI development is essential to development of the central nervous system. Herbal therapies offer healing support through medicinal properties from nose to tail and all organ systems, and on a supportive role nutritional benefits adding yet another healing dimension. In a recent case, the incorporation of a mushroom blend, Mushroom Defense, drew upon the nutritional values of added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And in theory, we drew upon the Common Mycorrhizal Network to help the cat feel more grounded in an indoor-only environment.
Feline well-being requires we acknowledge the cat’s innate nature and physiology. We must respect their need for security and safety in their territories and enrich their environments. We need to encourage social contact and supervised explorations, but in their terms. We should offer hunting and predatory enactments for mental and physical activity, and last but not least, offer a species appropriate diet. All these criteria are just as important as loving and petting.
We are modern day zookeepers.
Copyright Terri S. Grow, 2021