Awesome life hacks by ANGRY ORANGE
5 tips to an anxiety-free pet
by Tracy Davis
Have you ever wondered why your furry friend sometimes starts shivering all of a sudden, why he barks and howls when you leave him alone or why he pees on the carpet although he is potty trained?
Just like us humans, our little, four legged friends can suffer from anxiety too. The most common form of it, separation anxiety, can happen frequently in both cats and dogs. They fear abandonment every time you leave the house and they might express their anxiety in different bad ways.
The most common signs that your doggo/cat has anxiety are:
- pooping or peeing in the house or failure to use the litter box
- barking/howling or excessive meowing when they are left alone at home
- destroying furniture (scratching or chewing)
- hiding in the corners or behind/underneath the furniture
- shivering uncontrollably
- panting and pacing around
Source: Unsplash
If the list above reminds you of a certain someone’s behaviour, it’s important to know that hope’s not lost and there are many things you can do to ease your furball's anxiety.
1. Close physical touch
Physical contact can be a great way of de-stressing and soothing your pet. Whenever you notice their anxiety getting triggered, pick them up, pet their fur, cuddle with them on the couch, offer them the attention they need to calm down.
2. Play with your pet
A good way to ease their anxiety, especially separation related, is to play with them as much as you can. Take your doggo for a long walk or to play ball in the yard, right before you have to leave the house. Play with your kitty, so that she can run around the house a bit and release some endorphins. Yes, just like for us, exercise can help keep up your pet’s good mood by releasing endorphins in their bodies.
3. Buy your dog a calming coat/compression wrap
Those funny little dog coats or t-shirts are not just a pet fashion statement, they also are beneficial in easing their anxiety. They apply mild, constant pressure to your dog’s torso, which helps reduce fear or anxiety. So, a little coat could go a long way, keeping your doggo calm and making him look extra cute.
Source: Unsplash
4. Create hunting related games for your cat
Any kind of games that involve food and exploration, mimicking hunting behaviours, are a great way to ease a cat’s anxiety. You can create a small treasure hunt around the house with little snacks your cat can find, or buying them food puzzle toys.
5. Offer the best litter box experience
An anxious cat might pee outside of the litter box, in a way marking its territory, either on the bed or sofa (or other places that are embedded in the owner’s scent) or around doors or windows as a way to deter other cats. Make sure your kitty has a clean litter box at all times, situated in an area easy to access. If you have more cats in the household, it could help to have different litter boxes for each one of them. Cats don’t like to share and this can easily be a stress factor for them.
We all know that our pets have this amazing mood-boosting power, helping us relieve stress and anxiety. Now it is our turn to be there for them, helping them to improve their mood!
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