Mary Allen
If your cat suddenly withdraws, hardly eats, or plays, it may be suffering from depression. If the veterinarian can rule out physical causes for the behavioral disorders, you must work with him to find the cause of the depression – only then can you help your battered velvet paw.
The causes of depression in cats can be as diverse as in humans. In many cases, however, the triggers have something to do with drastic changes in the cat’s life. If you know your house cat well, it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to identify the reason for the depressive behavior.
Possible Causes: Changes in the Cat’s Environment
Drastic changes are not at all popular with cats. They value routine and everyday rituals. The routine everyday life of a velvet paw is particularly disturbed when you move with the cat. For some cats, moving is so bad that they fall into depression. The same can happen if the owner suddenly refuses their otherwise beloved pet the usual cuddling and stroking. Have you perhaps started a new job and are now away from home much longer than before? This can also get on your house cat’s spirit if he is not used to being alone.
Depression After Traumatic Experiences
Similar to humans, depression in cats can also occur after drastic, traumatic experiences. It doesn’t matter whether a cat was accidentally locked up for a long time (e.g. in a basement), had to spend time in a boarding kennel or even an animal shelter, or whether it was abused – many velvet paws react extremely sensitively to such external influences, possibly even with them depressive behavior. The loss of a caregiver or a long-term companion can also lead to depression in cats.
Depression in cats often has physical causes, such as a serious illness or injury. If, for example, the pain after an accident or an operation is unbearable for the velvet paw, it can happen that she becomes depressed. In the convalescence period after complicated surgical procedures, the cat is usually particularly susceptible to this.