7 Subtle Signs Your Cat Is Stressed (and What to Do About It)

Cats are masters at hiding discomfort — in the wild, showing weakness is dangerous. That means stress often shows up in quiet, easily-missed ways. Here's what I watch for on my sitting visits.

The seven signs

1. Litter box changes. Going outside the box is rarely spite — it's one of the clearest stress signals a cat can send.
2. Over-grooming. Bald patches, usually on the belly or inner legs, from licking too much.
3. Hiding more than usual. Every cat has hideaways, but a social cat who suddenly lives under the bed is telling you something.
4. Appetite changes. Eating much less — or stress-eating much more.
5. Excessive vocalisation. New night-time yowling or persistent meowing.
6. Aggression out of nowhere. Swatting or hissing from a normally gentle cat.
7. Scratching new places. Marking sofas or door frames can be a response to feeling insecure.

Common triggers

Moving house, a new pet or baby, renovation noise, schedule changes, a new cat in the neighbourhood — or their humans disappearing on holiday while they're shipped somewhere unfamiliar.

How to help

• Keep routines sacred. Feed, play and sleep at consistent times.
• Create vertical space. Cat trees and shelves let cats observe from safety.
• Provide hideouts. A covered bed or an open cupboard corner works wonders.
• Play daily. Hunting-style play burns stress hormones.
• Rule out illness first. Many stress signs overlap with medical issues — when in doubt, see your vet.

When you travel, keeping your cat in their own territory with a consistent, calm visitor prevents most of these signs from ever appearing. That's the heart of what I do — more about my approach here.