Feline fear is a real issue in behavioural medicine and the behavioural consequences can be many and varied. Cats that are fearful may become more dependent on the owner whilst others may lack confidence in dealing with family members. In extreme cases, fearful cats can go on to form abnormal attachments with their owners and may display separation-related behaviours. Cats can also become agoraphobic and may show reactions to sounds, people and other animals which are indicative of a fearful motivation. The most commonly documented fear-inducing stimuli in cats include other animals (both cats and other species), strangers (human), noises and unusual experiences such as travelling or visiting the vet.
Stressed cats are often hard to spot because usually cats become quiet and withdrawn when they are unhappy. Some typical signs of stress include excessive grooming (this may result in bald or sore patches), lack of activity, hiding, jumpiness and wariness or fighting around resources. Cats that stop playing become reluctant to move about or eat. When in close proximity to each other, the cats may move very slowly, as they are frightened of being chased or attacked. Cat may spend most of their time hiding in the same place and will not come out to feed or interact. If the cat is jumpy and easily startled by movements or sounds, this can be a sign of stress. The cat may seem hesitant/nervous to approach cat-doors, food and toilets. There may be hissing and spitting when other cats approach. A household full of very passive cats that seem to spend all their time sitting still and watching each other probably indicates a high degree of stress.
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