Most pet owners notice the obvious signs of stress — hiding, aggression, accidents. But the subtle signals are where the real picture is.
Sign 1: Changes in Appetite
A pet that suddenly eats less, eats more, or eats erratically is telling you something. Stress hormones suppress appetite in some animals and trigger compulsive eating in others.
Sign 2: Over-Grooming or Under-Grooming
Cats that lick themselves raw are self-soothing. Dogs that stop grooming entirely may be shutting down. Both are stress signals that often get misread as hygiene issues.
Sign 3: Vocalization Changes
More meowing, barking, whining than usual — or sudden silence from a normally vocal animal — both indicate emotional dysregulation.
Sign 4: Hiding or Clinginess
Two ends of the same spectrum. Some animals withdraw; others cannot tolerate separation. Both reflect an inability to self-regulate.
Sign 5: Disrupted Sleep
An animal that is suddenly restless at night, or sleeping far more than usual, is showing signs of chronic stress affecting their nervous system.
What Science Recommends
- Predictable routines reduce baseline cortisol significantly
- Environmental enrichment (puzzle feeders, sniff walks) burns stress hormones safely
- Physical contact (for animals that welcome it) activates the parasympathetic system
Not sure what is stressing your pet? Dr. Pawsworth at MyPetTherapist can help you work through it — free assessment included.
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