Panic attack in cats: a disorder not to be underestimated. Here are the causes, the symptoms to observe and what needs to be done about it.
Adopting a cat means taking care of them, not only feeding them but also paying attention to its behaviours, which can tell us a lot, and to its health.
Just like us humans, our four-legged friends can also have a panic attack. This condition can happen suddenly. Let’s see together what are the causes and symptoms not to be underestimated of panic attacks in cats.
Panic attack in cats: causes and symptoms
Anyone living with a feline is aware of its immense curiosity, yet even our four-legged friends can suffer from panic attacks .
Unlike human panic attacks, which occur due to stress, cat panic attacks occur when the feline is in a dangerous situation.
This situation leads the cat to a “fight or flight” mode, a mode that triggers panic in our furry friend. However, the real problem arises when the cat shows panic symptoms even when there is no dangerous situation.
From the moment our furry friends cannot communicate the discomfort they feel or ask us for help, it is up to us to know how to interpret the signals that they communicate to us through their body language.
For this reason it is advisable to pay attention to the following symptoms:
Fast heart beat in cats
Shortness of breath
Dilated pupils in the feline
Excessive salivation
Agitation
Loss of appetite in the cat
Needs on the floor
Tendency to hide
Tremor
Cat always licks
In the event that the cat presents one or more of the symptoms listed above, it is advisable to contact your veterinarian.
Panic attack in cats: what to do
The first thing to do when we are faced with a panic attack of our four-legged friend, is to reassure the latter.
Like? It is enough to speak to the Kitty in a soft and relaxing voice , in order to make our furry friend feel safe. If the cat has hidden under the bed, however, it is advisable to leave it alone and wait for the discomfort to pass.
If your beloved feline experiences a panic attack when he is out of the house, great care must be taken, as he may flee in fear.
Unfortunately there are no therapies to cure the cat from panic attacks. According to experts, one must learn to recognize this disorder in the cat in order to help him.
It could be useful, to prevent panic attacks in the cat, distract them, perhaps playing with them, cuddling them and spending time with them to make them feel safe at all times.
