Signs & Symptoms of Cat Depression

Believe it or not, pets can experience depression too. Typically, depression in cats is a symptom of another medical condition, and it disappears once the condition is treated. It is uncommon for a cat to have an extended emotional depression (as a human might) independent of illness. However, cats can exhibit behaviors indicative of depression after any kind of major disruption in its life. In addition, a cat that has lost a human or animal companion may show these signs as an indication of grief. If the signals below make you think your cat is suffering from depression for any reason, a trip to the veterinarian is probably in order.

  1. Loss of Appetite

    • One of the first symptoms of depression that a pet owner would probably notice is that the cat is not eating well. If a cat who usually licks the bowl clean is not even bothering to come when he hears the can being opened, or if there is still a lot of leftover kibble in the bowl when you go to refill it, there may be a problem. And because even a few pounds of weight loss can be significant in an animal that often weights 10 lbs. or less, you should not waste time getting him to a vet to be checked out.

    Withdrawl From the Family

    • When animals are ill or depressed, they tend to withdraw, or even hide. This is an instinctive behavior from their ancestors' days in the wild when a sick animal knew it had to conceal itself and not show that it was unwell; otherwise, a stronger animal might take advantage of the situation. Such behaviors are still seen in domesticated cats, so if your normally social cat has been staying under the bed or in some other comfortable hidey-hole away from people, you'll want to investigate.

    Changes in Personal Habits

    • Cats are normally fussy about their hygiene. If your cat stops grooming herself (you will notice her fur starting to look mussed and greasy), or if she stops using the litter box and instead starts using the bathroom rug (or your bedspread), you'll need to have your veterinarian check into the problem.

    Other Changes in Behavior

    • The depressed cat may simply act differently than usual. For example, it may become uncharacteristically aggressive toward its owners, or toward other animals in the household, or becoming unusually lethargic. Whenever a cat begins to change its habits, it is a sign that something is going on.