It’s not unusual for humans to get a little down-in-the-dumps once in a while, but did you know that your cat could be fighting depression too? Cats have moods, just as humans do, and while their lives may not seem as complicated as ours, they are sensitive beings who can become depressed from time to time. Just like with humans, cats can develop depression for a number of reasons. Major life changes, such as moving to a new home or the introduction of a new cat to the household, can cause a great deal of stress to a cat, and are a leading cause of depression in felines.

Depression symptoms in cats include:

• Sudden change in appetite or eating habits Fluffy used to wake you at 6am every day for breakfast, but now waits for you to get up? Or does your kitty simply have no interest in food at all?
• Not grooming Cats often stop taking such good care of themselves when they aren’t feeling well. If the coat seems to have lost its usual shine, or your cat just seems “dirty” then you might want to keep an eye on his/her grooming habits. Some cats have trouble grooming if they are particularly messy (such as having soiled onself in a crate/carrier on a car trip) and will need extra help. Depressed cats also might need some extra help grooming if they just don’t feel up to the task.
• Unusual aggression If your cat is usually very friendly, but has suddenly started biting, scratching, or marking his/her territory, then there could be something wrong.
• Sleeping more than usual “But my cat sleeps all the time!” Cats are chronic nappers, so this one may be kind of hard to determine. However if your cat seems listless or reluctant to wake up, or would rather sleep than look into an interesting noise that he might have heard, then that might be a sign. For some people, they can tell something is wrong when the cat sleeps through the sound of the can opener.
• Restlessness If your cat feels like something is wrong, he might pace around restlessly, unsatisfied by eating, sleeping, or playing.
• Not using the litterbox Cats usually will use their litterbox under normal circumstances (see article Has your cat stopped using the litterbox?) but will stop in times of illness or stress, among other reasons.
• Hiding from owner(s) When Hazel went into heat at 4 months old, she immediately hid behind the stove and refused to come out for several days, except to eat or use the litterbox. Her spay appointment wasn’t for some time yet, but it had to be bumped up immediately because she became so depressed from the changes in her body stressing her out. The veterinarian explained at the time that significant amounts of stress can cause a cat to hide and not want to come out.
• Attention-seeking behaviors (excessive vocalizing, or destructive behavior) Other cats who go into heat usually pace the hallways and cry loudly, “yowling”, and sometimes even mark their territory. This is another sign of depression and discomfort/stress in cats. Other cats who are depressed might try to tear up the furniture or carpet, or knock over things to get attention.

Is your cat depressed? Here are some things you can do to help your kitty get help for depression:

• Visit the veterinarian. The first thing you should do when you suspect depression is consult a veterinarian to rule out any physical causes of depression such as illness. Cats do their best to hide symptoms of illness and can often appear perfectly healthy, so a depressed cat could actually be a very sick kitty as well.
• Try to narrow down the cause of the depression. A good veterinarian will ask questions to rule out any basic lifestyle changes that could have triggered the depression. If the litterbox has recently moved, or there is a new cat hanging around outside your window, these could be some possible causes.
• Extra attention Try to spend at least 2-3 sessions of 10 minutes each, playing with your cat, each day. Also, try to brush and groom your cat at least once a week. This is a normal amount of attention to give your cat, so if you are already doing so, try adding extra play or grooming sessions to cheer them up. Even cuddling in front of the TV for an extra half hour could be enough to make your kitty feel especially loved. If your cat is depressed because you are sad (such as a divorce or recent death in the family) then both of you need extra time together to reassure eachother and support eachother through your difficult times. It has been said that pets can help people cope with depression, and the opposite is true for pets.
• Prevent boredom If your cat is having to spend a significant amount of his day alone, then he might be getting a little bored. Try to make sure that he has enough toys to entertain him. Some people like to leave the television or radio on for their cats, while others call home and talk to their answering machines so that kitty can hear their voices. Some loner cats do better with a companion such as another cat, or another animal such as a dog. After a period of adjustment, most cats will play with eachother, cuddle, and be very good friends. Lastly, try opening the drapes so your cat can look outside. Putting a bird feeder outside the window can provide some entertainment and turn your window into a “television” for your cat.
• Consult the veterinarian again - and maybe an animal behaviorist if your cat’s depression persists past all your attempts to cheer him up. If kitty’s not feeling better even with the help of medication and your best efforts to provide a happy lifestyle, then it may be time to consult a behaviorist. Animal behaviorists are kind of like psychologists are to humans. They help you and your cat to analyze a problem and find a solution that will work for both of you. Sometimes that may mean a change in medication, or perhaps there is something you have overlooked that could make your cat feel better.

Unfortunately, depression is not a problem that can go away all on its own. Your cat has to deal with his problem and in many cases, he can not get through it alone. Your cat will always need your loving care to help him cope with life’s battles. Remember that as hard as this is for you, this is also hard for your cat — but the effort that you make to help him feel better will also help you feel better in the end. It also means the world to him, but we don’t have to tell you that. His purring will tell you on its own.

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