Will my cat get depressed if I get a puppy? A Comprehensive Guide

Is my dog or cat depressed?

For anyone who has lived through grief or depression, it may be a top priority to keep a pet from going through the same thing. Get to know the following signs of depression in cats and dogs. Staying informed will help you address worrisome behavior sooner rather than later.

Cats that suffer from depression may experience a loss in appetite, or they may start overeating. The same patterns apply to a cat’s grooming habits, leading to over- or under-grooming. After a change in home environments, cats with depression may start hiding from people or avoiding affection altogether.

Another sign of depression in cats is excessive vocalization. Lonely cats often meow out of boredom or to attract the attention of their owner. Depressed cats may also soil parts of the house or engage in other inappropriate litter box behavior.

Aside from meowing, dogs experience many of the same signs of depression in cats. A dog with depression may stop eating, or eat excessively as a form of comfort. They may also avoid people and hide in secluded places like a closet or basement.4

Though it may seem like a harmless habit, paw licking or chewing is a common symptom of canine depression. Paw chewing is also a symptom of dog food sensitivities, so check your dog’s skin and paws thoroughly to narrow down what is bothering your pet.

Dogs with depression may also become disobedient or lose interest in playtime activities. When left alone, dogs typically nap and wait for their friends to get home. A depressed dog, however, may sleep a lot more than usual. Rather than jumping at the door, your pup may not even react to your arrival.

What to know about depression in cats or dogs:

Symptoms of depression in humans often depend on the person experiencing them. Feelings of guilt and hopelessness are subjective, as are many of the other changes in mood or behavior. For this reason, it can be difficult for humans to recognize these symptoms in themselves and begin treatment.

Similarly, it can be difficult to recognize symptoms of depression in dogs and cats. But there are a few predicting factors to look out for. You may notice your pet becoming depressed after their favorite sibling goes off to college, or if a new person moves into the home.

Cats in particular are creatures of habit. Your feline friend may become depressed after switching pet food brands or types of litter.1 Whether it’s new food or a new face, it’s important for pet owners to temper their expectations and make the change as slowly as possible.

Another common trigger of feline and canine depression is the loss of a family member. You’ve likely seen one of those stories that tugs at your heartstrings: a pet owner passes away, and the pup waits at the person’s final resting place or a favorite dog park. These stories emphasize the powerful bonds between pet and owner. But they also demonstrate the way grief affects pets just as deeply as it does humans.

How Do You Help Your Depressed Cat to Feel Better?

Katherine Houpt, VMD, PhD, DACVB is an emeritus veterinary behaviorist at Cornell University. She emphasizes that you must be patient. Enrichment and attention are key to help your cat. Consider some of these ideas to help improve your cats mood:

  • Offer your cat special treats to entice her to eat
  • Try out some new interactive toys and games to stimulate her brain
  • Make extra time to play with your cat
  • Move a window seat to a new location so she gets a new view
  • Add on a catio to your home if you can
  • The goal is to keep your cat active!

    If your cat is not grooming, you need to brush or comb her. Make sure she is urinating and pooping normally and be really on top of your litter box maintenance. Stick to your regular routine as much as possible to provide your cat with some stability.

    Houpt does not suggest adding a new cat or kitten to your family during this time. Introducing them can sometimes be a challenge and cats can be very fussy about who they will befriend. An older cat may be irritated by a kitten and may react negatively to the new addition. And two adult cats may simply not like each other, so adopting a new shelter cat may also be challenging for your cat to adapt to during this time.

    Luckily feline depression tends to be short lived, so with a little help from you and your vet, your cat should be back to normal soon!

    How to Tell if a Cat Is Depressed

    Many people mistakenly believe that cats are aloof, unemotional creatures that have no particular attachment to their owners. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, felines have a wide range of emotions, including fear, sadness, contentment and affection. It can at times be difficult to distinguish a cats emotional state, due to their subtle facial expressions and body language, but that doesnt mean your kitty doesnt have feelings. And while ideally your cat is happy and content most of the time, you should also be able to recognize when your cat is feeling blue.

    Cats can become sad or depressed due to various reasons. Some common causes of cat discontentment include illness, boredom, grieving of a lost family member or pet that they were bonded with, or injury. Oftentimes, cat owners dont notice if their cat is feeling down, shrugging off a loss of interest in play or a cat sleeping longer than usual as normal or just “part of getting older.” However, these are common symptoms of feline depression.

    Its important to keep an eye on your cat if its become unusually reserved or quiet. Learn more about the frequent causes of depression in cats, the signs to look for, and your best course of action.