As pet parents, it is our duty to ensure the security and well-being of our Javanese cat. We should make an effort to learn more about their psychological and physical well-being.
Javanese cats are living creatures, much like people. They feel things and are prone to depression, anxiety, and mental fatigue.
In this article, we’ll share what we know about depression in Javanese cats and discuss some of the signs and potential causes.
Due to sickness, trauma, pain, or the loss of a companion, Javanese cats may experience depression. In this article, we’ll also learn how to improve the life of a downcast Javanese cat.
Do Javanese Cats Get Depressed
So do Javanese cats get depressed? Javanese cats may experience depression and sadness as they are living creatures with feelings similar to those of people and other animals. They can also experience anxiety, stress, and mental fatigue. Changes in their circumstances, surroundings, or routines may also have an impact.
When a Javanese cat is depressed, you’ll notice that they begin to withdraw from certain activities, don’t bother to eat, and prefer alone, which leads them to sleep all day.
Javanese Cats Depression Symptoms
Do Javanese cats get depressed? Regardless of the cause, depression may affect Javanese cats, and the symptoms are typically the same.
It’s critical to recognize these symptoms of depression in your Javanese cat and get medical attention, as failing to do so might result in mental disease.
Let us take a look at some alarming signs of depression in cats:
1. Inability to eat.
As a result of their body’s demand for food, Javanese cats often like eating and are highly driven by it. They’ll become excited about meals.
Although it does occur in depressed humans, your Javanese cat will start to refuse food if it is depressed.
When your Javanese cat is depressed, they will ignore you when you call them for a meal, and they won’t even touch their free food bowl when you set it out.
Since eating promotes health, by the time your Javanese cat is refusing food due to depression, you may notice them dropping weight.
But if your Javanese cat isn’t eating and is therefore losing weight, it’s time to make an appointment with the vet.
Loss of appetite or weight loss in cats can have many causes, including depression.
2. Weakness and excess sleeping.
According to research, it is normal for your Javanese cat to sleep up to sixteen hours each day, but if your Javanese cat appears weak and occurs to sleep more, this might be an indication of depression in your Javanese cat.
Again, if your Javanese cat is depressed, you could see them napping when they should typically be alert and playing.
Your Javanese cat will probably become lazier than other cats as a result of depression, becoming abruptly more clinging and lethargic and beginning to nap more frequently during the day.
Depression can make your cat oversleep, just like it can in people.
3. Excessive grooming & related fur loss
Your Javanese cat’s excessive grooming may be brought on by stress, and anxiety in cats is frequently accompanied by depression.
In reality, your Javanese cat may groom itself frequently, but if it starts to happen more frequently than normal, there may be a major problem.
Your Javanese cat will develop skin bald spots and accompanying fur loss from over-grooming.
Where they have licked all of their furs off, they will have skin irritation and possibly rashes.
4. Lack of grooming & poor hygiene.
Do Javanese cats get depressed? You’ll know that your Javanese cat is depressed if they stop grooming themselves as they usually do.
If your Javanese cat stops grooming themselves, their coat will no longer be clean, but will instead grow matted or dull.
Your Javanese cat’s coat will get oily, develop dandruff, or have knots if they were unable to groom themselves and take care of their skin.
Even your Javanese cat, who often maintains cleanliness after using the litter box, may start to have dirty behinds.
If your Javanese cat ever stops grooming themselves, even if they don’t appear to be experiencing any health problems that might explain their unhappiness, they may be depressed.
5. Unsocial behavior and hiding.
When your Javanese cat is depressed, it will start to hide more frequently than the others.
This is to let you know that your Javanese cat’s usual social behavior will begin to abruptly diminish.
In this situation, your Javanese cat will start to ignore you and begin hiding in a place that is difficult for you to discover in order to avoid socializing or other animals.
You’ll notice that the amount of time your Javanese cat used to spend with you on a daily basis starts to decrease as they become depressed.
No longer will they hang out with you in the living room. Instead, your Javanese cat decides to be elusive and unreachable.
6. Keeping away from love and loyalty.
Even though they are not often timid, if your Javanese cat is depressed, they may become more reserved than usual and may not appreciate snuggling.
Your Javanese cat’s depression will prevent them from cuddling up against their owners or otherwise showing them affection; instead, they will grow more distant. Consider keeping an eye out for more depressive symptoms in them.
Your Javanese cat may begin to avoid being petted or sitting on your lap as often as normal if it is depressed. The Javanese cat will begin to veer away from you.
He will leap off the sofa even if you try to pat them or sit next to your Javanese cat.
This time, you might wish to take them to the vet so that their level of depression can be assessed.
7. Too much meowing & other vocalizations.
Your Javanese cat won’t be as generally quiet as they used to be when they are depressed; instead, you will notice them starting to meow and making other sounds more frequently than usual.
Your Javanese cat will vocalize and make other sounds at odd intervals throughout the day when they are depressed, such as wailing, yowling, or hissing in reaction to moderate stimuli.
When you hear your Javanese cat make sounds that are different from normal, they are attempting to tell you that something is wrong.
If your Javanese cat is typically vocal, you shouldn’t be too concerned if they are meowing excessively, especially if they seem joyful.
8. Aggression against people or other animals.
When a Javanese cat is depressed, they may become aggressive to the point where they are unable to act the way they used to act—sweet and cuddly.
When your Javanese cat is depressed, he or she will want to be left alone. If someone attempts to enter their personal space, the cat may hiss, snarl, or even attempt to bite.
Your Javanese cat may suddenly start becoming hostile against strangers if they are not used to doing so.
It is essential to take them to a vet, so they can determine whether your Javanese cat’s abrupt change in behavior is due to depression or another medical issue.
9. Issues with litter boxes.
Litter box issues typically occur when your Javanese cat is under stress, which is connected to depression.
In order to mark their territory, your Javanese cat may occasionally spray outside the litter box.
When your Javanese cat is under stress in your home—possibly as a result of other pets present—you will frequently witness this behavior in him.
Because of this tension brought on by the presence of other pets, stress, anxiety, and depression may develop.
It is best to put an end to any territorial disputes between cats before they cause mental health issues in your Javanese cat, since they may stop using their litter box as a result of depression.
10. Relocating to a new home.
It always has an impact on pet parents, including your Javanese cat, when they move to a new place and anything new.
The tension of moving to a new house will be increased by the possibility that it will be as spacious as your formal apartment.
It’s possible that your formal apartment has enough room to accommodate your Javanese cat’s need for exploration.
When their level of activity is limited in your new flat, this might cause depression.
Additionally, if your Javanese cat is accustomed to having access to the outdoors, and you relocate them into an apartment where they are unable to do so, they may develop depression.
Causes Of Depression In Your Javanese Cat
Do Javanese cats get depressed? To start, you should be able to identify the true reason of the depression in your Javanese cat if you wish to manage it.
As it is, your Javanese cat may experience depression as a result of specific circumstances in their lives, but even a minor event might set it off.
The following are typical reasons why your Javanese cat may get depressed:
1. Due to stress and anxiety.
Given that cats are schedule-loving creatures, you may train your Javanese cat to maintain a routine, and they will do so.
Therefore, altering routines without a good reason can prevent your Javanese cat from keeping to the schedule she enjoys.
Your Javanese cat may soon feel stressed out and may have cat anxiety, which subsequently transforms into depression if the plan is not constant. Javanese cats prefer to keep to plans.
2. Sickness at the root.
When your Javanese cat is suffering from an illness, they may get depressed and stop playing or moving about the way they used to.
Your Javanese cat may be in depression for the reasons listed below:
- Upper respiratory diseases.
- Fatty liver disease.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Dental problems, and
- Many other pressing and life-threatening diseases.
If your Javanese cat is sick and in pain because of depression, you need to see your veterinarian this time for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
3. Due to traumas and injuries.
When your Javanese cat is suffering from trauma and injuries, which is probably the reason for their depression, you’ll notice that they are no longer able to walk around freely and engage in their favorite activities.
Therefore, trauma and injuries are the root cause of depression in your Javanese cat.
Your Javanese cat will now experience discomfort and pain in addition to how comfortable it once enjoyed.
4. Loss of a close relative.
We feel uncomfortable and unhappy when we lose someone we love, and the Javanese will too.
Your Javanese cat may grieve and maybe get unhappy while we are mourning a family member who has died away or a companion pet.
When a human family member or another pet goes out, your Javanese cat will experience the same thing.
5. Newly added relatives.
Your Javanese cat may get unhappy unexpectedly due to the family’s recent additions.
When you start giving your new baby in the family more attention than you used to give your Javanese cat, your Javanese cat may start seeming depressed.
This will also occur if a pet dog or another cat enters the scene or if the focus shifts to them.
6. Due to human perceptions.
Do Javanese cats get depressed? Because you do offer him affection, your Javanese cat may feel your depression and anxiety.
Your Javanese cat may experience depression and other emotional cues from its pet parents, as research has shown that cats can detect anxiety and depressive states brought on by human emotion.
7. Depression caused by the season.
Your Javanese cat may develop seasonal depression, sometimes referred to as seasonal affective disorder, much like us pet owners.
Your Javanese cat may start acting differently as soon as the season changes, which is a result of depression brought on by the weather.
Therefore, if you observe that your Javanese cat is acting strangely, it’s possible that the season is causing depression in your cat.
WebMD, says; Aggression. A sad cat becomes more aggressive. Examples of aggressive acts in cats include hissing, biting, chasing, and growling. If you notice such behavior, it may be a good time to see your vet.
How To Support Your Javanese Cat when In Depression
Do Javanese cats get depressed? Due to the fact that your Javanese cat may experience depression as a result of particular events, you should also look for ways to support and assist them in enhancing their mental health.
Here is how you can help your depressed Javanese cat:
1. Make sure you give your Javanese Cat some quality time.
Do Javanese cats get depressed? Try to schedule extra time with your Javanese cat if you see they’re feeling down.
You may change your schedule and find a method to pet your Javanese cat when you sit with them, which will help to cheer up the cat.
The stroking of their ears, making scratches on the side of their face or under their chin, or even brushing them are some acceptable ways to begin.
You are soothing your Javanese cat while doing all of these.
2. Try to bring in fresh games and toys for your Javanese cat.
Your Javanese cat will benefit from extra activities and will regain their interest in life if you provide them new toys in a variety of sizes, textures, and colors when they are depressed.
As you actively try to play with your Javanese cat, you may attract them with toys that resemble fishing poles.
Additionally, you should provide them with puzzle toys like the one that will make your Javanese cat work for tasty treats.
If your Javanese cat isn’t paying attention right now, try offering him or her toys that move on the floor in odd patterns and produce fascinating noises.
To entertain your cat or subscribe to cat TV, download cat-themed games to your mobile devices.
3. Provide fresh food choices.
Your depressed cat may benefit from new food types with various tastes or brands.
You may also feed your Javanese cat human food like roasted or boiled chicken, yogurt, or cheese.
Once more, if your Javanese shows an interest in meat-based baby food, you can also give it to them because they will feel better after eating it.
You may ask your veterinarian for advice on the right type and quantity of food for your Javanese before you give it to any human.
4. Tune in to soothing sounds.
You may find a variety of calming cat music to cheer up your depressed Javanese cat. These tunes are calming, cat-specific, and specially created.
You may find cat music on YouTube that your Javanese cat might like.
Your Javanese cat can sense the underlying tracks of the music, which feature cats purring, and other frequencies of sound, and will remain peaceful.
5. Attempt supplements.
If you wish to treat your Javanese cat’s depression, give them food containing I-theanine and I-tryptophan.
These natural supplements can help your cat’s brain produce more serotonin, which can help treat depression.
Your Javanese cat would feel better thanks to this serotonin because it is a neurotransmitter and greater levels are linked to the feelings of calm and happiness your Javanese cat needed.
6. Make use of pheromones and stimulating smells.
Do Javanese cats get depressed? When your Javanese cat is depressed, there are pheromones designed for cats that can help calm them.
Again, you can give your Javanese cat a variety of exciting odors to assist awaken their senses when they are feeling down.
Depression can be lessened by the scents of rosemary, catnip, and mint.
7. Think about getting another cat.
It is absolutely necessary to get a second cat as a pet to help your Javanese cat when it is depressed.
Getting another cat can be the best course of action for your Javanese cat if it’s depressing because it’s lonely after losing a prior feline friend.
Your Javanese cat may be looking for a companion for their lately passed away housemate because he was quite friendly with a former feline roommate.
8. Get expert assistance.
Due to his depression, you have done everything to organize your Javanese cat, but to no effect.
But in this case, you can speak with your vet about giving your Javanese cat a psychoactive medication.
In the idea of receiving professional help, you may also suggest a veterinarian behaviorist who can assist in offering a personalized treatment plan and medications to aid your Javanese cat.
