1. Lost That Lovin Feline:Understanding Stress in CatsCats dont like being heldtightly, they get really stressedThey need our attentionMaggie Roberts and Nicky TrevorrowCats Protection

2. What is stress?Is it always bad?The stress response occurs when the optimalstate of an organism is threatened by a stimulusor stressor, in order to try to revert to its originalstate Stress is a necessary part of life Important for adaption andsurvival Can be physical or mental 3. The physiology of stress 2 main systems regulate stress in thebody Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis Sympathetic nervous system Control the release of hormones that helpthe cat face a challenge 4. When is stressa problem? When the cat cant perform the normalstress responses Repeated stressors over a long period oftime Chronic stress leading to excessive orexhausted hormone levels 5. Stress and emotions What emotions are felt when stressed? Anxiety Fear Frustration Boredom Depression 6. What are the commonmisconceptions about stressed cats? 7. How does this cat feel? 8. Behavioural signs of stress Body posture Facial expression Use of space 9. Behavioural signs of stressBody arched Signs need to be viewed as awhole, not in isolationBody archedFluffed up furGreeting behaviour Feeling threatened 10. Behavioural signs of stress 11. Behavioural signsof stress Changes tomaintenancebehaviour 12. Behavioural signs of stress Range of behaviours Frequency of behaviour Change in behaviour 13. The physical effectsof stress Suppressed immune system Increase risk of infection andtumours Reduction or increase innormal behaviours Abnormalities of the gut andbladder Impair memory and learning 14. Stress-related physicaldiseaseInfectious disease Carriers may sheddisease and getsymptoms Respiratory disease- FHV FIP Diarrhoea 15. Stress-related physicaldiseaseNon-infectious disease Urinary tract Cystitis Inappropriate urination Skin disease overgrooming Gut problems IBD Obesity and weight loss 16. What can we do to help? Understand cats as a species Reduce potential stressors wherepossible Provide enough resources andenrichment Have a lower maximum catcapacity Improve throughput House cats separately fromdifferent sourceshttp://learnonline.cats.org.uk/content/ufo/ 17. Cat flap blockingMonty and Mable (siblings)Courtesy of Sally McMahon 18. Monty 2 days post separation Monty is already morerelaxed He goes in and out thecat flap withouthesitation He will now comeCourtesy of Sally McMahon forward for a fuss 19. Providing resourcesPrivacyHidingplacesIdeallyhousedseparatelyfrom othercatsElevatedperchesBut at leastspreadingresourcesappropriatelyif communalfacilities 20. Providing resources Disposable scratching facilities to preventdisease transmission Allows cats to show their natural behaviours 21. How would cats prefer to eat?In a large group? Neighbours catSeparately? Using one food bowl? 22. How would cats prefer to eat? 23. Enrichment 24. Enrichment 25. Enrichment 26. Its all about throughputCats in needCats in needCat capacityCat capacityLength of timeto rehomingNumber ofcats per penover a yearNumber ofcats per penover a year35 days 3Length of timeto rehomingCats withinfectiousdiseasex30x30x10x5Cats withinfectiousdisease21 days091745 days torehome 27. In summaryStress. Is a necessary part of life Causes problems if longstanding, repeated or thecats cannot react with a normal stress response Affects the physical and mental well being of cats Lots of things can be done to reduce stress in cats not all are expensive! 28. Check out our new app!Cat MatchKindly sponsored by FeliwayBuild your own shelter! Get cats readyfor homing bymatching iconsAvailable now for free onApple and android phonesMake sure the cat doesntget stressed! 29. Thank you for listening