Your cat’s “internal clock” depends on routine. Discover how changes to their daily schedule can trigger stress, the signs to watch for, and how to keep your cat feeling secure.

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Can Cats Tell Time? Understanding Your Cat’s Internal Clock

A 2011 study of laboratory cats in a research program demonstrated how much cats can be affected by changes to their routine. The cats and their regular caretaking were tracked for almost three years. During that time, life happened. The cats were exposed to “unexpected external events (UEE)” which included the absence of their usual caregiver, changes to the time of their usual care and feeding, and a lack of enrichment (e.g., music, playtime) for a few weeks.

How Changes in Routine Cause Stress in Cats

The cats’ responses were significant: compared to when the cats received typical care, the cats experiencing change were more likely to vomit, have diarrhea, urinate outside their litter boxes, and eat less than usual, even when they were physically healthy. The researchers referred to these clinical signs as “sickness behaviours.”

Cats experiencing change were more likely to vomit, have diarrhea, and urinate outside their litter boxes.

Although the relationship between stress and health was not a new concept, it was unknown how strong this relationship was for cats. “This was the first study to investigate sickness behaviours in cats as a response to psychological stressors or UEE,” notes Dr. Judi Stella, lead author of the 2011 study, and a Senior Scientist at Purdue University, where she researches dog and cat welfare and behaviour. 

“Our findings are directly transferrable to cats in homes. For example, if an owner is out of town and the cat is cared for by a pet sitter, the cat would perceive the change in caretaker similarly to the cats in the study.” 

Though we can’t prevent cats from experiencing any stress, we can help them adapt by introducing changes slowly and gradually. Dr. Stella also suggests “socializing kittens with a variety of people and experiences will help them cope with stressors later in life.”

Common Sources of Stress for Cats

Here are some of the most common sources of stress for cats in homes, and how you can help.

1. Changes to Daily Schedule

 When possible, try to set up a schedule you can stick to every day, regardless of your work hours. Feed your cat, clean their litter box, and play with them at around the same time each day.

• If you are going to be gone for more than 12 to 24 hours, have a pet sitter come to care for your cat, trying to adhere to the cat’s regular schedule as much as possible. As Dr. Stella recommends, “Having a pet sitter the cat is familiar with will help the cat feel less threatened by the change.”
• Leave your cat with items that smell like you—dirty socks or a gently worn t–shirt can be comforting.
•  Don’t forget the fun stuff! Food puzzles, safe solo toys, bird videos, and a window perch that allows sunbathing can keep your cat busy while you are gone.
• Timed feeders can help you feed your cat on their regular schedule, but they should not replace basic care (you still need a pet sitter!).

2. Changes im Household Members:

• Whether entertaining guests or adding a new housemate (such as a baby, romantic partner, or new companion animal), personnel changes are MAJOR for kitties. New beings in the house mean new smells, sounds, interactions, and habits.
• Give your cat hiding spaces if they are unsure of visitors. Never pull a cat out of hiding or force them to interact with guests.
• Make sure your cat can still easily access critical resources (litter box, food, water, safe spaces) if they aren’t ready to meet visitors or new household members.
• Take the time to introduce your cat to new sounds and smells BEFORE a baby arrives. Pair these experiences with treats, so your cat has a positive association with them.
• With new pets in the home, do a slow, controlled introduction based on positive experiences.
• Excessive hiding, conflict, and sickness behaviours are a warning sign—seek help from your veterinarian and a qualified behaviour professional.

3. Noise or Environmental Changes

• Construction and remodeling are loud to cats’ sensitive ears. White noise or other sound buffers (think classical music) can make scary sounds less threatening.
• Set up a safe room and encourage your cat to spend time away from the main source of noise.
• Seek help from your veterinarian for short-acting medication to reduce your cat’s stress and anxiety.
• When adding or moving furniture, let your cat explore changes on their own time. Never force a cat to explore before they are ready, for example, by picking them up and placing them on that new couch—forced interactions often backfire and increase fear.

4.  Diet or Litter Box Changes

•  If you want to try a new type of food or kitty litter, offer change as a choice. Place the new food in a bowl next to their regular food; add a new litter box with the new type of litter rather than abruptly replacing all litter.  
• Let your cat take some time to show you what they like and accept their preferences. They may be perfectly happy with their current food or litter!

Our cats rely on us to reduce uncertainty about things they can’t control, like when they get fed. Routine does exactly that! While it’s okay to provide your cats with a little novelty, such as a new toy or cat bed, it should be done in the context of stability.

Putting it All Together

Our cats rely on us to reduce uncertainty about things they can’t control, like when they get fed. Routine does exactly that! While it’s okay to provide your cats with a little novelty, such as a new toy or cat bed, it should be done in the context of stability. 

Identifying stress in your cat is the first step to helping them. Dr. Stella advises, “Monitoring for sickness behaviours may be an easy way for owners to identify stress…these behaviours are often dismissed as “normal” but are often a response to the perception of threat.”

 

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. Subscribe today!