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why your cat is pacing a lot

7 Reasons Why Your Cat is Pacing A Lot

Posted on November 26, 2018January 13, 2020 by Reg

Have you noticed that recently your cat is pacing a lot? It’s not the normal behavior your feline bud displays every once in a while; this time, your cat is pacing excessively as if it’s bothered by something. Since cats can’t speak, people who take care of them has to rely heavily on cat behavior. If there are irregularities such as excessive pacing, it’s best to figure the causes early on in order to prevent and find fast remedy.

why your cat is pacing a lot

Pain

Your cat pacing a lot is clearly a sign of discomfort. That’s the first thing that people usually consider. Since your nap-loving kitty seems to be losing a number of naps and do a lot of pacing, you can think of pain as the primary reason. While this is a rather broad one, consider injuries first. Check your cat if he or she has visible wounds which you can help mend. If not, see if there are lumps or a part that your kitty keeps licking to know in which part it’s feeling pain or discomfort.

why your cat is pacing a lot

Hyperthyroidism

Cats with overactive thyroid has their metabolism up. As such, your cat can get easily hungry and quite hyperactive. Both of these can cause discomfort and anxiety to your cat because it can’t stay put and feel rested thus the excessive pacing.

Old Age

Another common reason why your cat is pacing a lot is due to old age. Felines can become senile and this causes them to develop unusual behaviors. For older cats that seem to keep wandering, it’s either they are feeling confused in their own house as to where their food or water bowl is or they are simply wanting to do something but can’t figure out what. It’s important for people to be extra patient and help elderly cats to stay in focus and reduce their age-induced chronic pacing.

why your cat is pacing a lot

Stress

When your cat is pacing too much, you can immediately tell there is something bothering him or her. Just as how people usually pace back and forth when they can’t stand or sit still either due to nervousness or excitement, the same goes for cats. But unlike for us humans that understand what we’re feeling, why and how to resolve this, cats may also know but the way to relieve themselves can be quite limited. As such, pacing turns into one of the ways a cat relieves its jittery feelings especially when it’s anxious or stressed. This roaming behavior becomes even more obviously related to stress when you either moved houses, renovated some stuff, have a new baby and other changes in your house that your cat considers its territory.

why your cat is pacing a lot

Emotional Distress

All of the above can be put under or be part of emotional distress. Pain and stress for example are easily related to distress. But in this part, we focus more on your cat’s emotions over other factors such as nerves or medical issues. So while it continues to be a subject of debate and further study on whether cats feel an attachment with their fellow pets or their owners, many do believe they have feelings. This considered, when a cat suffers from the loss of a family or friend whether it’s a human or pet, this can cause emotional distress to your kitty pushing him or her to develop this excessive pacing behavior. When your cat is also in conflict with a fellow pet if he or she lives in a multi-pet household, this can also be a factor.

Boredom

This is a pretty self-explanatory reason that answers why your cat is pacing a lot. To resolve this, best to engage your kitty in stimulating puzzles and play high-energy games together. By high-energy, it usually means you just chilling in one place and letting your cat chase the red dot or some other toy you’re controlling.

In Heat

If your feline bud hasn’t been spayed or neutered yet, pacing is a behavior that indicates your cat is in heat. Cats can get into excessive pacing habits when they’re looking for partners during this cycle and male cat would usually get into this roaming behavior especially when it can detect the scent or pheromones of a queen cat around the area. Additionally, when your pregnant cat is pacing a lot it’s a signal that you’re welcoming the kittens anytime soon.

 

So,  depending on which one has caused or is causing your kitty this abnormal pacing behavior then the remedy is also different for each case. It’s best to observe your cat for some time to figure if it’s a medical or behavioral issue. Then, as your cat’s guardian, you can decide if it’s behavioral modification or a vet’s recommended therapy or medication that will help solve your cat’s unusual pacing habits.

 

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2 thoughts on “7 Reasons Why Your Cat is Pacing A Lot”

  1. Paul Bloomfield says:
    April 25, 2020 at 10:43 am

    Hi

    My cat is nearly 14 years old and last couple of days I have noticed him wandering back and forth. Also I have heard him crying and yowling on the stairs last few nights. He has also been pooing on the bedroom and living room carpets which he has never done, even if the cat litter needs changed. I have checked him over for any lumps and noticeable scratches. I have noticed nothing. I am very worried about him, is there any advice you could give me?

    Regards

    Paul

    Reply
    1. Anything Kitty says:
      May 1, 2020 at 11:17 pm

      I am so sorry to hear of your situation. It must be very difficult for you. It does sound like your kitty is very blessed to have you in its life.

      Please understand that I am not a veterinarian and it is always advised to consult your trusted vet with any information we provide at Anything Kitty. It may sound like your kitty is showing symptoms of “Cat Dementia”. It is common when cats get to be around that age. We do have an article on our site that you can find here

      There are not many known treatments. However, in my experience when it comes to brain and central nervous system health there are a few things that may help. They are all natural remedies that have been known to help with the development of cats health, particularly with brain and central nervous system function. I use these on a regular basis with my 2 kitties. I am not sure where you live but these items are available on Amazon. I have made sure to select the items with only the good ingredients and none of the bad that can often be found in pet products. You can find them in the links provided below.

      https://amzn.to/31DO2Sa

      https://amzn.to/39iFP8r

      I would suggest getting both and trying each of them with your kitty at different times in the day. Again, it is always a good idea to consult your trusted vet.

      I hope this helps in some way. I would appreciate you contacting me again with your progress. 🙂

      Reply

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