To de-stress your cat, start by pinpointing the causes. Experts from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the Autonomous University of Barcelona identified four key stressors: limited interaction with owners (no petting or playtime), a boring environment lacking play, hunting, or exploration spots, conflicts with other cats, and disrupted routines or unpredictability. This leads to excessive meowing, inappropriate urination, and more. Here's how to help, backed by science.
Published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, their findings recommend scattering food around the home to mimic hunting, rotating toys often—choose small ones resembling prey—and installing cat shelves or trees for climbing and perching (a feline favorite). Also, separate litter boxes from eating areas and provide scratching posts. These simple changes can make a big difference.
