[UPDATED AUGUST 2024]
Do you have a jumpy cat that climbs the curtains or a dog that’s spooked by their own shadow? In this look at pet stress management, we’ll explore how to spot when your pet is stressed and the best ways to calm their jangling nerves.
Try the P.E.E.P. test
“Despite their happy-go-lucky reputations, our dogs can become stressed just like us. If you notice your dog acting up and suspect it could be because of nerves, don’t discipline them – but speak to your vet instead!” – Dr Charlotte Rice, Senior Veterinary Technical Manager at Lintbells
If your pet is stressed, they won’t necessarily make it obvious. Don’t expect them to march off to the shed in a huff or slam the door and play loud music in their bedroom. Instead, you’ll need to pay attention to different, subtler signs to discover what’s going on.
Here’s a quick checklist you can run through to judge whether you’ve got a stressed pet on your paws. We’re calling it the ‘P.E.E.P. test.’
P = Posture – Is your pet hunched, tense, cowering or defensive?
E = Eyes – Are their eyes wide, strained or pupils dilated?
E = Ears – Does it look like their ears are flattened or pinned back?
P = Position – Is your pet turning away, hiding or fleeing/freezing?
If your dog or cat is showing any of these behaviours, they may well be experiencing stress.
Pets under pressure
There are many reasons why your pet might feel uneasy. One of the main causes is a change of circumstances. Pets love routine – the same bed, the same blanket, and the same people and animals around them.
When a new puppy or kitten arrives in your home, your older cat or dog might feel unsure of their territory and their place in your affections.
Loud noises – whether fireworks or building works – can leave our furry friends feeling jumpy. And as for travel? Well, whether you’re taking your pet on holiday or to the vet, there’s a possibility they could find the journey unsettling.
Keep cool in the car
With vacations and trips coming up, here are some tips for helping your pets stay stress-free in the car.
- Take their favourite blanket or bed with you so they can curl up on it in the car, feel comfortable and have the familiar smells of home around them.
- Plan regular stops so they can stretch their legs and take comfort breaks.
- Drive smoothly to reduce the chance of travel sickness and keep the windows open slightly to allow cool air to flow through the car.
A new arrival
When welcoming a new kitten or puppy into the home, you’ll no doubt be feeling delighted – but your older cat or dog may not feel the same way about this young upstart invading their space. They could be worried that the new kitten or puppy will take up precious resources, such as their food and your affection, or they could feel threatened in other ways.
Start by introducing the animals to each other on neutral ground. For dogs, this might mean outside, rather than in your home. With cats, you might want to allow them to sniff each other through a stair gate, rather than putting them in the same room straight away.
For both cats and dogs, make sure that the older animals keep their original food and water bowls and that their sleeping arrangements don’t change. For cats, it’s a good idea to make sure they can keep their favourite elevated vantage point, so they feel safe.
Loud noises and bumps in the night
Our furry friends can easily get spooked by odd noises, whether it’s fireworks, thunder, or your child rattling by on a skateboard. They can even get freaked out by something as innocuous as a shadow at the window or a plastic bag that’s whipped up by the wind.
Tactics for dealing with your pet’s distress depend on the source.
- For thunder or fireworks, make sure that your pet has somewhere quiet and calm to retreat to, where the noise will disturb them as little as possible.
- If your dog is upset by the noise created by, for example, a child’s skateboard, you can show them the object up close, spin the wheels, and give them a treat to reassure them that they won’t come to any harm.
- Cats generally hate hair dryers and hoovers, and the loud, sudden whooshing noises they produce. You can allay your cat’s fear by turning the machine on in another room and letting the cat escape to a high place if that’s what makes them feel safe.
Desensitise your pet to frightening sounds in advance (with Dr Charlotte Rice’s vet tips)
In this video, our very own Senior Veterinary Technical Manager Dr Charlotte Rice goes through some tips that can work for desensitising both dogs and cats to loud noises during firework season and other festive occasions.
YuMOVE Calming Care for chilled-out companions
It’s never a nice feeling when you notice that your pet’s feeling anxious, but – luckily – there are proven ways to help lower those hackles and get tails wagging again.
For example, you can identify what’s triggering your pet’s fear and avoid it where possible. You can also contact your vet and look into behavioural exercises to tackle phobias. Finally, you can try a calming supplement such as YuMOVE Calming Care for Dogs or YuMOVE Calming Care for Cats at least three weeks in advance of a potentially stressful experience (this is the amount of time it takes for our soothing active ingredient to reach full effective levels in your pet’s body).
The specific combination of natural GABA Fermentate Blend and L-Arginine in our Calming Care supplements helps to maintain the calming pathways in your pet’s brain and support relaxation.
One last thing
If a problem persists, talk to your vet or a Clinical Animal Behaviourist to devise a practical plan to help your pet. We always recommend taking your pet to see the vet if you notice any unusual changes in their behaviour, just to rule out underlying issues.
