Not all cats lie contented across the back of an over stuffed sofa, selectively oblivious to housemates and visitors. Cats can be afflicted with worry and anxiety, just as humans can. Although cats are unable to describe these emotions, they are very expressive through their behavior. With some observation and attention to body language, you should be able to identify the situations that cause anxiety in your pet cat.

The anxious cat, regardless of the reason, will usually show physical signs of distress and conflicted emotions. She may hide much of the time, especially when faced with visitors, loud noise, or other uncomfortable stimuli. Cats may also show indirect signs of anxiety, such as urinating and defecating outside the litter box, or urine-spraying (a marking behavior); they also may lick themselves to the point of causing bald spots or even broken skin. An anxious cat’s pupils may be dramatically dilated, and she may lash her tail back and forth-such behaviors usually signal agitation or fear.

What kinds of situations are likely to make your cat so nervous? Most common is anxiety due to social conflicts with other cats. Social anxiety may be spurred when second, territorially aggressive cat joins the household, for example. Territorial behavior includes stalking, staring at and pouncing on the victim, who usually chooses to hide rather than be continually bothered.

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