Stress can make your cat sick
Stress Can Make Your Cat Sick – Here’s How
By Dr. Lee Wai Wai (DVM)
Cats hide stress well. By the time you see a problem, they may have been suffering for weeks. Unlike dogs, stressed cats get physically sick.
Here are the most common stress-related diseases I see in my clinic – and what you can do.
1. Bladder inflammation (FIC)
- Signs: Straining to pee, blood in urine, crying in the litter box.
- Emergency: If your male cat can’t pee, come immediately – it’s life-threatening.
- Fix: Reduce stress, feed wet food, keep litter boxes clean.
2. Overgrooming (psychogenic alopecia)
- Signs: Bald belly or legs, but skin looks normal.
- Cause: Stress, boredom, or anxiety.
- Fix: More playtime, cat trees, pheromone diffusers.
3. Peeing outside the litter box
- Signs: Urine on beds, carpets, laundry.
- Cause: Dirty box, new pet, moving home, or another cat bullying them.
- Fix: One litter box per cat plus one extra. Scoop daily. Never punish.
4. Sneezing and eye infections (FHV-1 flare-ups)
- Signs: Sudden sneezing, runny eyes after a stressful event (boarding, vet visit).
- Cause: Stress reactivates a dormant virus.
- Fix: Reduce stress, use pheromones during travel.
5. Vomiting or diarrhea
- Signs: Chronic tummy issues with normal tests.
- Cause: Stress affects the gut.
- Fix: Calming supplements, routine, and sometimes medication.
When to call us
- Straining to pee (emergency)
- Overgrooming or bald spots
- Litter box accidents
- Hiding more than usual
- Vomiting or diarrhea that doesn’t stop
A calm cat is a healthy cat. Let’s work together to find the stress source.