If your cat shows these signs for more than two days, or stops eating completely, it’s a good idea to visit a vet to make sure they aren’t sick.

It can be hard to tell when a cat is stressed because they are very good at hiding their feelings. However, if you watch their behavior closely, you will see small signs.

Here are the most common ways to tell if your cat is feeling stressed:

1. Changes in Hiding

• Hiding more: If your cat is suddenly spending all day under the bed or in the back of a closet.

• Staying away: Avoiding people or other pets they usually like to be around.

2. Bathroom Habits

• Missing the litter box: Going to the bathroom outside of their box (on the rug or bed) is a major sign of stress or health issues.

• Frequent trips: Going to the box more often than usual.

3. Eating and Grooming

• Less appetite: Not finishing their food or showing no interest in treats.

• Over-grooming: Licking themselves so much that they get bald spots or thin fur.

• Under-grooming: Their coat starts to look messy or greasy because they’ve stopped cleaning themselves.

4. Body Language

• Flattened ears: Ears pulled back or pinned against their head.

• Tucked tail: Keeping their tail held tightly against their body or tucked between their legs.

• Big pupils: Their eyes look very wide and dark even in a bright room.

5. Noisy Behavior

• More meowing: Frequent, loud, or “unhappy” sounding meows.

• Growling or Hissing: Reacting aggressively to things that didn’t bother them before.