Any situation that makes changes to the usual way of life can cause anxiety for a mustachioed pet. Each animal expresses it differently: it experiences fear, shows aggression, cries, asking a person for help, or simply gets mad.
In this state, it risks harming itself and others, as well as damaging furniture or wallpaper. To avoid sad consequences, you need to calm down a hyperactive kitten or an adult pet as soon as possible. The methods below will help you with this.
Signs of aggression in cats
Before using any sedatives, you should consult a veterinarian.
The reaction to stress manifests itself differently in cats, and an inexperienced owner may not immediately recognize fear in the animal’s behavior.
When cats behave nervously:
- lick the skin on one side of the body (one paw, one side);
- calm themselves by making loud purring sounds;
- become completely indifferent to their favorite food or become overly gluttonous;
- They begin to gnaw on various objects and chew indoor flowers.
In case of severe fright due to a loud sound or the appearance of a dog, pets:
- they freeze in place, flattening their ears, tucking their paws and tail under them;
- attempt to escape;
- trying to hide in a dark, secluded place.
During an attack of aggression, small predators begin:
- arching the back to look larger, inflating the tail and hair on the body;
- hiss loudly, snort, howl, showing his teeth;
- look closely at the object that causes aggression;
- rhythmically whip the tail over the body, twitch it;
- hit an approaching object with the front paws with claws extended.
If a panic reaction occurs (if the cat was unable to hide or protect itself), the animal experiences:
- copious flow of saliva, similar to foam;
- loud scream, heartbreaking meow;
- involuntary urination.
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Contraindications
Not in all cases can a pet be given sedative medications. General contraindications include:
- allergies and hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
- hypotension or attacks of low blood pressure;
- pregnancy or breastfeeding period of kittens;
- infections of the urinary and reproductive systems of the body;
- diabetes;
- kittens are up to one year old.
Many owners use human remedies to relieve psychological stress in animals.
It is important to note that many natural ingredients that have a positive effect on humans can cause a completely different reaction in an animal.
Such a well-known relaxant as valerian makes cats even more excited. However, almost all pet owners know this. It is less known that opiate-based sedatives stimulate the sexual instinct in animals. Moreover, literally from one tablet the cat develops a stable addiction and other mental problems arise.
So, there is a large selection of sedatives for cats. However, these drugs should be used carefully so as not to harm your pet, because sedatives are not as harmless as it might seem to an uninitiated person.
A long-awaited pet has appeared in your home - a little kitten. Of course, it requires care and attention. You need to carefully monitor the kitten's condition, especially in the first days and weeks.
Sometimes kitten owners are faced with the problem of their pet's reluctance to eat. There may be several reasons for this.
It happens that a kitten does not eat or drink during the first 2-3 days in a new home. He is lethargic, doesn't want to play and sleeps almost all the time.
How to identify the cause of anger in a cat
Irritability in adult animals is provoked by a painful condition.
Domestic cats, unlike dogs, have retained many qualities inherent in wild animals. Instinct tells them that danger can come from any object.
Pain inadvertently inflicted on a cat by a person leads to the idea that he poses a danger.
What can cause panic and aggression in an animal:
- moving, unfamiliar surroundings;
- the appearance of new things, other animals in the house;
- strangers (especially if they try to touch or stroke him);
- household appliances that make loud sounds (vacuum cleaner, electric meat grinder, etc.);
- poor health, illness;
- excessive affection from a person;
- games with children if the latter begin to cuddle the pet.
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If a kitten is hyperactive, this may indicate thyroid disease, as well as be a temperamental trait or a reaction to environmental events. Excessive activity can be temporary or chronic. Therefore, the owner should know when hyperactivity in a kitten can be eliminated on their own, and in which cases contact a veterinarian.
Features of the use of sedatives
Often, taking sedatives is a way to normalize a cat’s condition in the period before castration, a long trip, a visit to a veterinary clinic, or home renovations.
Sedative drugs have two types of action: cumulative and immediate. In the first case, you should start giving them to the animal 10-14 days before the expected event.
Often taking sedatives is a good way to normalize a cat’s condition.
Instant-acting drugs act quickly, but are harmful to the body; such drugs should not be used too often.
Popular herbal preparations:
- Relax plus;
- Stop stress;
- Feliway;
- Phospasim;
- Cat Baiyun;
- Fitex.
Chemical sedatives:
- Xylazine;
- Amitraptyline;
- Vetranquil;
- Diazepam.
Important! Before using any sedatives, consult a veterinarian.
Is Valerian safe?
Important! The herb valerian has long been considered a mild sedative of plant origin, but not for cats.
Valerian acts on cats as a stimulant that can increase aggression, sexual desire, and hallucinations. In case of overdose, an epileptic seizure may develop.
Catnip is also not a sedative for cats.
How to suppress aggression and calm down
The better the owner prepares his animal for the show, the calmer it will be at the show itself.
You can quickly suppress aggression in an adult animal like this:
- Wear thick clothes and thick gloves, take a blanket and wrap the aggressive cat, holding him in your arms until he is completely calm.
- Spray the cat with water.
- Leave the animal indoors for a while, during which time the anger will gradually subside.
- Don't look the cat in the eye.
- Prepare in advance a place in the room where the pet can hide.
- Do not punish your pet - punishment will only provoke a repeated attack of anger.
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Visit to the veterinarian
In any case, if your cat exhibits aggressive behavior, it is better to take your pet to the veterinarian. The specialist will ask questions about the pet’s lifestyle, moments of aggression, and also examine the animal.
Your veterinarian may perform several tests to identify any diseases or conditions that may be contributing to aggressive behavior. After them, the veterinarian will draw conclusions and recommend options for solving the problem. This can be either advice on care and maintenance, or the prescription of special medications that reduce the animal’s stress level.
How to calm an active kitten
When a kitten is not sleeping, it always shows increased activity and is full of energy. Every day the little animal grows, learns, and encounters something new. Everything unknown can cause sudden fear or an attack of aggression in the baby.
To calm down an angry kitten or calm a frightened one, you should try using the following methods of influence:
- Relieve excessive activity or stress through games.
- Use interesting toys that can captivate a small pet (a furry mouse, a ball with a bell on a long rope), putting them out of reach the rest of the time.
- Do not stop the game abruptly, wait until the kitten is really tired.
- Offer your baby a favorite food or treat at the end of the game.
- Ignore the kitten if the behavior becomes aggressive, end the game immediately.
- Prepare a comfortable place for your little fidget to sleep (cardboard box, basket, fur house).
Buy an automatic document feeder
If your cat gets hungry at night and can't find food, she will come looking for her human to feed her.
Using an automatic feeder is a great way to give your cat a limited amount of food at night without having to deliver it yourself! Your cat will soon learn to sit and wait for the feeder to give her food instead of coming and waking you up.
You can also purchase slow feeders shaped like small mice. You can fill them with a kibble before bed and place them around the house for your cat to sniff and “hunt” while you sleep.
How to trim your nails calmly
There is the simplest way to calm a cat before trimming its claws: you need to attach a pair of clothespins (with weak compression force) to the scruff of the neck.
You need to prepare in advance for a long trip by train, car or flight.
This is where psychology comes into play; in childhood, a cat carries a kitten, holding this place with its teeth; if there is compression in the nape area, the animal instinctively calms down and relaxes.
What not to do
Cats are very smart and can be offended by their owner for various reasons. The main thing is to remember that any reaction of the animal is natural, but not subject to your understanding. The pet acts as its instincts tell it to. Therefore, I will list what you should never do if your pet is overexcited.
- Trying to reason with him with words is useless.
- Raise your voice and use physical force. This will only aggravate the situation and cause mistrust.
- Approach a worried animal in open clothing. Even if your cat has never bitten you before, if she is in a bad mood she may attack in order to defend herself.
- Lose one's temper. The cat perfectly captures the emotions of the owner, and if she feels that she can control you, her authority will be lost, as well as the opportunity to influence her condition.
Friends, in this article I told you all the known and tested ways to calm a cat. If you know of others, please share them in the comments. Let's exchange experiences.
How to calm your pet on the road
For a long trip by train, car or flight, you need to prepare in advance . If the date of the trip is known, it is worth starting taking cumulative sedatives; if the trip was not planned, you can give your furry pupil a medicine that instantly affects the nervous system.
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But the most important thing is to get a comfortable carrying bag for your trip. You need to purchase it in advance so that the cat gets used to the new thing. It is necessary to allow the cat not only to examine the bag, but also to sleep in it for several days. Several diapers for the toilet, clean water, dry food - items necessary on a long trip.
Add variety to your cat's daily routine
The busier your cat is during the day, the less likely she is to want to play after dark. Making sure your cat has plenty of healthy activities is a great way to keep her active during daylight hours.
Consider adding things like cat trees, food puzzles, and interactive toys. If your cat is an indoor cat but you have a backyard, you can even build a cat enclosure so they can spend plenty of time observing the local wildlife.
Setting up a bird feeding station near a window is also a way to give your cat something interesting to look at during the day.
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