Humans celebrate the Spring Festival, but these behaviors will make kittens upset? Three tips to reduce the harm

Review expert: Wang Lei, National Park and Nature Reserve Researcher, PhD in Ecology

During the Spring Festival, the festive sound of firecrackers adds to the festive atmosphere for us, but for sensitive cats, it is a dangerous factor.

Why do kittens get stressed? What are the symptoms of cat stress? And how can we relieve it?

Why does the sound of firecrackers cause stress in cats?

Cats have extremely sharp hearing systems, far exceeding those of humans. According to research, cats' hearing range is usually between 20Hz and 65,000Hz, while humans' hearing range is approximately 20Hz to 20,000Hz. This hearing range allows cats to hear subtle sounds that humans cannot hear.

The sound of firecrackers is not only loud, but also sudden and sharp, which is a strong stimulation for cats. In the cognition of cats, this loud and unpredictable sound means potential danger and will trigger their instinctive defense mechanism.

At the same time, cats are animals with a strong sense of territory, and a familiar living environment can give them enough sense of security. The sound of firecrackers breaks the tranquility of the environment, which may make them feel that the surrounding environment has become strange and unsafe, thus generating strong fear and triggering a stress response.

2. What are the symptoms of stress in cats?

Stress response is an individual non-specific reaction caused by various stressful stimuli (stressors), including physical (physiological) and psychological (behavioral) parts. For cats, when they face the "big scene" of firecrackers, they are very likely to have a stress response, and there will be obvious changes in their physical state and behavior.

Stress signals from your cat’s body

From a physical perspective, stress may cause a cat's heart rate to accelerate, breathing to become rapid, and their abdomen can be clearly seen rising and falling rapidly.

Some cats will experience increased hair loss, and their owners will get cat hair all over their hands when they touch them. In severe cases, it may also cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, because the stress response disrupts the cat's endocrine and digestive system.

Cats' behavioral responses to stress

From a behavioral perspective, the stress response can cause a originally quiet cat to suddenly howl; it can cause a originally lively and affectionate cat to suddenly become timid and cowardly, hiding in dark and narrow corners, such as behind the sofa, under the bed, in the corner of the room, etc., and cannot be called out no matter how hard you call; it can cause a kitten that was originally more eatable to eat less, or even refuse to eat.

Some cats may become unusually agitated, pacing, scratching, or even displaying aggressive behavior.

Three effective ways to relieve cat stress

So, how do we relieve cats’ stress behavior?

1. Provide sufficient safe hiding space

For cats, a sense of security is extremely important. When they are under stress, a small, hidden space can bring them great psychological comfort. We can place cat beds or cardboard boxes in various corners of the home, such as next to the sofa and under the bed, and put soft mats inside or wrap a thick blanket outside, so that cats can get in at any time, hide themselves, and lick their emotional "wounds" with peace of mind.

At this time, you need to pay attention that when the cat hides in, do not pull it out forcibly, let it slowly calm down its nervous emotions in there.

2. Conduct recording training in advance

Related research shows that recording training is still a good way to treat noise fear. In specific operations, the owner can first collect some audio of firecracker sounds, adjust the volume to a very low level, and play it when the cat is doing daily activities. As the cat gradually adapts, the volume can be increased slowly and step by step. In this way, the cat can gradually become familiar with and accustomed to the sound of firecrackers in the process, thereby reducing the stress response when encountering the sound of firecrackers.

3. What the Master Should Do

When the sound of firecrackers sounds, the owner can put food, water bowls, cat litter boxes, snacks, toys, etc. near the cat's hiding space. You can also play some soothing natural sounds, such as rain, waves, insects and birds, to cover up the sound of firecrackers, so as to distract the cats and reduce the stimulation of firecrackers to them.

In addition, owners can prepare some pheromone products specifically for cats. They can simulate the pheromones secreted by cats' facial glands, making cats feel familiar and improving their sense of security.