Cat Depression Checklist

Cats are independent animals that have no problem being alone most of the time. Despite the fact that many like to pretend that they don't need their owners, they still crave human interaction. By showing love to your pet cat, it is less likely that it will become depressed. If you suspect your cat may be depressed, this checklist may help you.

  1. Sleeping

    • If your cat suddenly begins to sleep more than usual, this is a sign that it may be depressed. Some cats are naturally more active than others, so only you can determine whether your cat's sleeping habits have changed. It is important that you take at least 30 minutes out of each day to spend play time with your cat. Like humans, cats are negatively affected if they do not have consistent interaction with their loved ones.

    Appetite

    • A loss of appetite is also a major sign of depression in cats. You can easily monitor how much your cat is eating by measuring out how much food it is fed each day. A good feeding schedule is once in the morning and once in the evening. The amount that each cat eats varies. Consult your veterinarian for specific information of what kind of diet is best for your cat. If you start to notice more and more leftover food at each feeding time, then something is wrong.

    Friendliness

    • If you notice that your cat is spending less time with you, it may be depressed. Some warning signs to look for is hiding under beds or couches and hiding in corners. You may also notice that your cat becomes more aggressive toward you or other pets in your home. Sudden hissing, scratching and biting are all signs that could indicate depression.

    Grooming

    • A lack of grooming is a strong indicator of cat depression. Cats are very clean animals and often spend more than an hour cleaning themselves each day. You may not always be around when it grooms, but it's important to be observant about its grooming habits. Cats typically clean up after using the litter box, so a change in litter box behavior is an easy thing to look for. Also check the cat's hair regularly for any matting, as this indicates that it is not properly grooming its hair.

    Not Using Litter

    • Even in the wild, cats like to cover up their mess, so it is very abnormal behavior if they don't do so. If your cat is litter trained and then suddenly stops using the litter box, it is possible that it is depressed. Because cats cannot talk, this is one of the best ways they can show you that something is wrong. They may go completely outside the litter box. They may also go inside the litter box but not cover it up.