What are the symptoms of depression in cats?
Symptoms of depression in cats can manifest themselves in a variety of ways, the most common of which are as follows :
- Apathy : the cat is insensitive to what is going on around it, moves very little, and remains inactive most of the time. Apathy is considered one of the main symptoms of depression in cats.
- Decreased appetite : Cats are animals that have the habit of eating small but frequent meals. If you notice that your pet has little or no interest in his bowl, something may be wrong. If your cat doesn't eat for more than a day, quickly seek the advice of a veterinarian, because cats are animals whose fasting effects are very poorly tolerated by the body.
- Abandoned litter : If your cat prefers your carpet, or any other place to its litter to relieve itself, when it has always been very clean, this can be a sign of depression, since depressed cats often let themselves go. When a cat defecates in the wild or in its litter box, an instinct drives it to bury, hide its excrement from potential predators or enemies (dogs, or even other cats). When this survival reflex is lost, it is not insignificant.
- Exaggerated licking : a cat in depression may find that its anxiety pushes it to lick its hair so intensively that it may leave bare areas, its skin may then be irritated and become infected.
Causes of depression in cats
Have you noticed in your cat several of the symptoms listed above, and your veterinarian has just confirmed your suspicions? It is now important to determine the causes that may have led to this condition in your pet. Here are a few clues :
- A change of environment : Cats are extremely territorial. A move can sometimes deeply disturb them, to the point of making them depressed if their new environment does not suit them. For example, a cat that used to go out and can no longer do so.
- The absence, or loss of a loved one : cats can be very attached to a human or even another animal, such as a dog for example. A separation, perhaps experienced with difficulty by your hairball, can cause anxiety, which can lead to depression.
- Boredom : Lack of stimulation can be seriously detrimental to our pets. When cats live in an apartment or house, without the possibility of going out, stimulation is sometimes rare, especially if there are no facilities to avoid boredom for the animals.
- Weaning too early : veterinarians agree that a kitten should not be separated from its mother before the minimum age of 8 weeks. Taking the kitten away from its mother before this age plunges it into an unknown world, and difficult to face without the reassuring presence of its mother.
How to help your pet overcome depression?
Now that you have determined the reason(s) that plunged your fur ball into this sad state, you will be able to act more easily before the depression gets worse. For example, if boredom is the cause of the illness, plan several times during the day to play with your pet and to change new toys regularly so that your pet doesn't get tired of them. More activity will also contribute to a better quality of sleep and a quicker recovery. When changing environments, place the things your cat is attached to in different areas of your home so that they are more welcoming to him.
CBD (cannabidiol) and depression in cats: what does research say?
Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is a molecule obtained from industrial hemp (Cannabis Sativa). Few people know it, but cannabis is a family of plants with very different properties:
- Cannabis Sativa (industrial hemp) rich in CBD, very very low in THC (less than 0.3% according to the law).
- Cannabis Indica, poor in CBD, and very rich in THC
- Cannabis Ruderalis, low in CBD and THC
THC is a psychotropic molecule, which is banned in many countries. The CBD itself is not psychotropic and is not classified as a narcotic in France. Traces of THC may remain in some products, and THC is toxic to cats. No study shows that CBD treats depression in cats: the studies below were carried out in humans or rodents, not in cats :
- A study from the University of Cantabria (Spain, 2015), carried out on mice, suggested a possible antidepressant-like effect, linked to the signaling pathways used by serotonin.
- An Israeli study published in 2016, also on animals, reported antidepressant-like properties.
- Two 2012 studies (CAMPOS et al, ELBATSH et al.) reported possible anxiety calming effects, mostly in animal models.
- In 2011, a small study (Bergamaschi et al.) in 24 people with social anxiety disorder reported possible anxiolytic effects of CBD; these results remain preliminary.
These results cannot be transposed to cats. CBD is not a veterinary medicine: never give it to your cat without the advice of your veterinarian.
