do cats get depressed?
A feral cat has had 2 litters in about 6 months. The 2nd litter was 5 and is now only 2. She ignores her babies and seems listless. Twice she let me put 1 kitten to nurse but if I moved so did she. She hears her babies crying but doesn't react. Her kittens from the previous litter are more curious than she is.
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Sure, all animals can get depressed
It’s not unusual for a person to get “the blahs” every now and then. We might have a bad day at the office, a disagreement with a family member or perhaps the weather has been too gloomy for too long. We may mope around the house, sleep more than normal, stare at the television or get out a half-gallon of double chocolate fudge ice cream and go at it with a spoon.
Those are some typical things we humans might do when we’re depressed. But what about your pet cat – is it possible that it can occasionally feel down-in-the-dumps? Do cats even have the emotional capacity to get depressed? If so, how do they behave when they’re feeling down?
Other symptoms of depression in cats include:
* Not using the litter box.
* Lackluster effort in personal grooming.
* Restlessness or listlessness.
* A change in behavior from friendly to aggressive.
* Hiding from or distancing itself from the owner.
* Doing attention-getting behaviors such as clawing the furniture or excessive vocalizing.
Excerpts taken from the article "The Kitty Blah's" by Rebecca Sweat in a Special Issue of Pet Life Magazine
How To Help A Depressed Cat
Cats become depressed for many of the same reasons people do. Often it’s because of a major life change, such as the pet owners divorcing, the death of a family member or pet, the kids going off to college, or the addition of a new family member into the household – anything that significantly disrupts the cat’s ability to predict and control its life.
Pam Johnson Bennett, a feline behaviorist in Nashville, Tennessee, says the fact that kitty doesn’t have the “inside story” can exacerbate the problem. For example, if the pet owners are separating or divorcing, the cat will not understand why the husband and wife are arguing with each other, or why certain people have suddenly disappeared from the house. That can make the cat feel unsettled or depressed.
“During a crisis such as a death in the family or divorce, the cat may approach its owner, expecting that person to act like he or she usually does. But the owner may be crying or act very withdrawn and not pay much attention to the cat. So suddenly everything in the cat’s world turns upside down,” Bennett explains.
If you are feeling down, chances are, your cat will feel the same. “Your cat can easily pick up on your emotions,” Bennett says. “If your cat thinks your world is falling apart, that worries the cat because if your world is falling apart, it thinks its world will too.”
But you don’t have to have a major crisis in your family for your cat to feel down-in-the dumps. Lack of activity or exercise, a poor diet, boredom, or long hours of being left home alone – all can cause a pet cat to be depressed.
Perhaps the wife who had been a stay-at-home mom goes back to work full time. Try to monitor how you are presenting yourself to your cat and be as cheerful as possible when you are around it.
If you think your cat is simply lonely or bored, provide some outlets to keep it happy while you are away from home. Buy some new cat toys and put the old ones in storage. Rotate toys occasionally for variety. Tie a toy to a rope and suspend it from a chair. Leave an empty paper bag on the floor for your cat to bat around. Buy a window perch for your cat so it can watch the great outdoors. Fill the food bowl with some enticing, new flavors. Rub some catnip on the scratching post for a surprise that your cat will discover when it walks by. Be creative in thinking of ways to keep your cat entertained when you aren’t around.
When you are home, make a special effort to interact with your cat. Try to greet kitty the minute you come home from work. Talk to the cat while you cook dinner. Let it sit on your lap as you watch television. Take it for a walk after your evening meal. Start a trick training program. Don’t let a day go by without spending at least a half-hour of one-on-one time with your cat.
If your cat’s depression persists, consult a certified animal behaviorist or veterinarian who can recommend the appropriate kind of anti-depressant or anti-anxiety drug. “The drugs should not be used as a solution in and of themselves, but as an adjunct to behavior therapy,” Wright says. “Once the behavior starts to turn around, then in cooperation with the referring veterinarian, you can start to wean the cat off of the drug gradually from week to week.”
Most importantly, don’t just ignore your cat’s depression and think it will just get over it by itself. “Often when there’s a reason for the cat to be depressed, there’s also a reason for the owner to be depressed, such as during a family crisis,” Bennett says. “It may be hard to think of your cat when your life is in upheaval, but your cat is suffering too and it needs your help.” Making the effort to cheer up your cat will not only help it adjust, it may also help you. A snugly little kitty can make anyone feel better.
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