Has Your Cat Gone a Little Wild Lately?

Spring can bring some interesting changes in our cats.

I’ve had several guardians telling me their cats are suddenly racing around the house, picking fights, bullying other cats, being bullied themselves, or generally seeming a lot more unsettled than usual.

And while a little extra craziness might just look like your cat has decided to embrace spring, there can be more going on underneath it.

Spring Brings More Activity
As the days get longer, we see more cats out and about.

Cats are seasonal breeders, so the increase in daylight can stimulate reproductive activity in cats that haven’t been desexed. This can bring an increase in roaming, calling, spraying and territorial behaviour.

But even if your cat never leaves the house, they can still be affected by what is happening outside.

There may suddenly be more cats passing through the neighbourhood, sitting in the garden, calling at night or appearing at the windows.

Your cat knows they are there.  And that can create a whole lot more activity in their world.

When Your Cat Doesn't Feel Quite So Secure
Cats are territorial animals, and feeling secure in their environment is important to them.  When that sense of security is disrupted, you may notice changes in behaviour.

Perhaps your cat is hiding more.

Maybe they're constantly on the lookout, seem restless or irritable, or are suddenly grooming themselves excessively.

Their appetite may change.

They may start spraying around the house.

Or you might see more tension between cats that previously got along perfectly well.

Sometimes the first thing a guardian notices is simply that their cat isn't quite themselves.

Spraying Isn't Always About The Litter Box
Territorial spraying can become more noticeable in spring, particularly when there are more cats around outside.

But I also see spraying in older cats, particularly when they become unsettled by changes in their environment or routine.  For an older cat, even relatively small changes can sometimes feel like a much bigger deal.

They may not be as mobile as they once were, and they don't necessarily have the same ability to get away from another cat or remove themselves from a stressful situation.

That can make territorial pressure particularly difficult for them.

Give Them A Safe Space
One of the simplest things you can do is give your cat options.

A cat tower, high resting place or somewhere they can hide away can give them a place to retreat when they want some peace.

Try to keep their routine as consistent as possible too.

And if you have more than one cat, think about whether they have enough separate resources. Multiple food and water areas, sleeping spots and toileting areas can help reduce competition and give each cat more choice.

You don't need to force them to interact.  Sometimes having the option to disappear somewhere quiet is exactly what a cat needs.

Look At The Whole Cat
When a cat's behaviour changes, I don't like to look at the behaviour in isolation.

A cat that is spraying, hiding, over-grooming or picking fights is telling us something about how they are experiencing the world around them.

• What's changed?

• What's happening outside?

• Has their routine changed?

• Are there other cats around?

• Are they getting older and finding their environment more difficult to navigate?

• And what else is going on with that individual cat?

This bigger picture matters.

Supporting Your Cat Through Spring
Homeopathy can be used to support cats with a wide range of emotional and behavioural challenges, from anxiety and restlessness through to territorial behaviour, spraying and conflict with other cats.

There isn't "one remedy fits all" for "a spraying cat" or for "an anxious cat".

The individual cat matters.

Their temperament, history, environment and the specific way their symptoms are presenting all form part of choosing the most appropriate homeopathic support for them.

So if your cat has gone a little wild this spring, don't just write it off as spring fever.

If they're hiding, spraying, fighting, bullying, being bullied or simply seem more unsettled than usual, get in touch and let's look at what might be going on for your individual cat.