The Stress Signals Every Cat Parent Misses
Your cat may be showing signs of stress right now—here’s how to recognize them before they turn into bigger problems.
Hey Whisker Crew,
When we think about stress in cats, we usually picture the obvious stuff: hissing, hiding, or refusing to use the litter box. But as I learned this week on the Golden Whiskers Podcast with Nayana Morag, stress in cats is much more layered—and often invisible until it causes bigger problems.
Nayana is the founder of Essential Animals and has spent decades teaching about natural care for animals. In our conversation, she broke stress down in a way that made me think about my own cats differently. She explained that every animal is born with a “stress bank.” Some cats start life with a healthy balance, while others come into the world already in debt depending on what their mother experienced.
From there, everything we do as guardians either adds deposits or makes withdrawals. Extra playtime, good food, and choice-filled environments top up the bank. But moves, new family members, or poor diet chip away at it. And when the balance dips too low, that’s when problems start showing up—overgrooming, aggression, litter box issues, and more.
👀 What to Watch For
Here are some of the key ideas Nayana shared in this c6-minute clip from our conversation
Every cat has stress. It’s not about eliminating stress completely—it’s about helping our cats be resilient enough to handle it.
The “stress bank” analogy. Think of your cat’s wellbeing like a bank account. Positive experiences keep the account full; chronic challenges drain it.
Good stress vs. bad stress. A short fright that quickly passes? That’s healthy, even protective. But ongoing, unresolved stress keeps the body from returning to balance.
Structural stress. Diet that doesn’t suit them, no chance to climb or scratch, too much (or too little) social interaction—all of these can quietly wear your cat down.
Humans as stressors. Our own worry and tension often pass directly to our cats. Sometimes the best thing we can do is calm ourselves first.
🎧 Listen to the clip here
✅ Nayana’s Action Steps for Cat Parents
Here are some simple things you can try right now based on Nayana’s wisdom:
Observe subtle signs. Watch for overgrooming, sudden aggression, or litter box issues—these are often stress signals.
Check their “stress balance.” Ask yourself: Am I adding deposits (play, comfort, routine) or making withdrawals (changes, disruptions)?
Tweak the environment. Add a perch, hiding spot, or play outlet to reduce structural stress.
Look at food. If your cat resists what you’re feeding or seems uncomfortable after meals, remember that diet itself can be a stressor.
Calm yourself. Take one breath before interacting with your cat. Your peace helps their peace.
🧡 What I’m Trying with Niko & Milo
Listening to Nayana, I realized I need to think more about my cats’ “stress bank.” I’ve been good about giving them playtime and cozy nap spots, but I know I sometimes let my own stress spill over into how I interact with them.
This week, I’m trying:
Watching for small stress signals I might normally overlook
Offering a little more variety at mealtimes
Taking a deep breath before I engage with them—so I’m calmer, and they feel calmer too
It’s a small shift, but as Nayana reminded me, those small deposits add up.
🐱 This Week’s Cattitude Prompt
What’s one small “deposit” you can make into your cat’s stress bank this week?
A new perch?
A few minutes of play?
Simply sitting quietly together?
Hit reply and let me know (or comment below)—I’d love to hear how you’re topping up your cat’s balance.
🎧 Listen to this week’s episode: "Is Stress Making Your Cat Sick? What Every Cat Parent Should Know" with Nayana Morag.
👉 Click here to listen now or search Golden Whiskers wherever you get your podcasts.
Thanks for reading, thanks for loving your cats, and thanks for being part of the Golden Whiskers family.
Until next time,
💛 Scott | Golden Whiskers 🐾