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by Suzie Cyrenne March 30, 2023 4 min read
Finding out that your feline family member has cancer is without a doubt a very stressful situation for any cat parent. But here’s a question I’m sure you’ve already reflected about once or twice: can stress cause cancer in cats?
Follow along because we’re going to get to the bottom of this in just a bit. And I’m also going to share a no-fuss natural option to keep your pet as stress-free as possible, so make sure you read this all the way through.
How about we kick things off by going over the possible indicators that your cat is suffering from cancer?
I’d just like to point out that detecting the possible indicators of cat cancer can be rather tricky. This is because cats are very good at hiding any signs of discomfort or pain. They also tend to lurk and keep out of sight when they’re feeling under the weather.
And it's not uncommon that most cases of cancer in cats have already become severe when they’re discovered because of these circumstances. This is the reason why having a regular bonding/cuddling session with your pet is a must to detect the following signs right away.
This is just a summary of the usual signs of cancer in cats. If you’d like to read a more comprehensive article about the topic, click here.
A study published in ScienceDirect highlights that stressors can contribute to the development of some “sickness behaviors” in cats. These include vomiting, decreased grooming and social interactions, as well as bouts of fever and diarrhea.
However, there is no concrete evidence that stress itself can set off the development of feline cancer. While chronic stress can potentially lead to other health and behavioral issues, cancer in cats is not one of them.
Unlike what a lot of people mistakenly believe, though, stress in cats isn’t something that should be disregarded at all. Apart from the sickness behaviors I emphasized earlier, chronic or acute stress can also eventually lead to other unpleasant effects.
And if your feline family member is constantly going through lots of stress—without any form of support or alleviation from your end—chances are he will also be prone to exhibit the following:
Your cat meows or “vocalizes” for a number of reasons. Apart from being his special way of greeting people and animals alike, your pet also meows when he is hungry or likes to have his water bowl refilled.
When your feline family member is going through a lot of stress, this vocalization can become more constant as well as significantly louder and more unhappy in tone. Moreover, one distinct characteristic displayed by stressed cats is that they tend to vocalize more in the evenings.
If your cat is experiencing extreme amounts of stress, it’s highly likely that he will become twitchy and aggressive over time. Regardless of how calm or timid your pet may be, chronic or acute stress will lead to aggressive or even hostile behavior sooner or later.
Some key indicators of aggression in cats that you should take note of include hissing and growling, crouching or “puffing up” when approached, as well as prominently showing their claws.
A change in bathroom habits can also mean that your feline family member is experiencing a lot of stress. This usually covers bouts of spontaneous peeing (and defecating) in the most unlikely of places.
Should your cat be going through acute or chronic stress, you will notice that he will have a few “accidents” here and there when he is startled or frightened. Interestingly, while most of these accidents are involuntary, some of them can also be deliberate as a form of defense mechanism.
A cat experiencing chronic or acute stress can display exaggerated ways to assert his territory. He may spray urine on the walls of his “domain” or show extreme alertness, especially when other people or animals are around.
Besides being very vigilant to those who may be near his territory, a very stressed cat is also prone to attacking anyone and anything he thinks is intruding the same. Even inanimate objects such as toys and pillows won’t be spared in most cases, too.
Chronic or acute stress in cats can result in even more serious behavioral problems if not immediately dealt with the right way. Zumalka’s CALMPET is primarily designed to maintain the balance of your pet’s nervous system as well as improve his overall social behavior.
CALMPET features a variety of premium natural homeopathic ingredients that work in synergy to take care of tremors, fear, nervousness, hypersensitivity to noises, and apprehension, among others. And the best thing about this natural product? You just have to spray it and you’re good to go..
In a nutshell, we’ve discovered that while stress can trigger “sickness behaviors” in felines, there is no concrete scientific evidence that it can also set off the development of cancer in cats.
On the other hand, it is also crucial to properly deal with your pet’s stress as soon as possible. Paying no attention to the whole thing will just lead to unpleasant or even aggressive behavior before you know it.
Are you looking to learn more about taking care of your cat’s stress? Click here to get in touch with a pet specialist at any time.
HOMEOPATH & CO-FOUNDER OF ZUMALKA
Suzie Cyrenne is a certified Homeopath with over ten years of experience creating natural products for cats and dogs. She co-founded eCommerce brand, Zumalka in 2013 with her husband Matt and is on a mission to help thousands of animals naturally improve their quality of life and shares her experience on their popular YouTube show. Hence, she created a line of high-performance natural pet supplements to target the root cause of common health issues.
Suzie was influenced by her mother-in-law, who practiced homeopathy and made natural remedies from home. After being on prescriptions for many years for a skin issue without resolution, she wanted to try something new. Her problems were cleared up within a few months of dedication to a better diet supplemented by homeopathic remedies. That's when she knew that homeopathy worked! During this process, she wondered why there weren't better options for pets and soon created a popular line of natural remedies that have helped thousands of pets across the USA.
When she’s not traveling or reading the next personal development book, you can find Suzie snowboarding, working out, or enjoying a daily hike.
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