17 Powerful Ways to Help a Stressed Cat in a Small Apartment

Cats may seem independent on the surface, but in reality, they are sensitive, emotionally complex animals who thrive on stability, predictability, and environmental comfort. When something feels “off,” they don’t always cry, bark, or panic like dogs might—cats communicate stress through subtle changes in behavior, routines, and body language. For apartment dwellers, these stress signals can appear even more frequently due to limited space, unfamiliar noises, hallway sounds, and fewer opportunities for natural exploration.

If you’ve noticed your cat hiding more often, becoming more vocal, avoiding affection, overeating, undereating, or displaying destructive habits, you may be witnessing classic signs of a stressed cat in a small apartment. Stress can come from multiple sources: boredom, loneliness, lack of stimulation, changes in your schedule, tension with another pet, new smells or noises in the building, or simply not having enough vertical or horizontal “territory” to feel secure.

The good news? Apartment size doesn’t determine your cat’s happiness—what matters most is how you shape the environment. Your cat’s world doesn’t need to be huge; it just needs to feel enriched, predictable, safe, and full of species-appropriate outlets for energy and expression. With the right adjustments, even the smallest apartment can become a calming, confidence-building space where your cat thrives emotionally and physically.

In this guide, you’ll discover 17 powerful, apartment-friendly techniques to soothe a stressed cat, reduce anxiety at the source, and build an environment that supports natural feline behavior. Each method is designed for cat owners who live in condos, studios, tiny apartments, or shared urban spaces—places where overstimulation or under-stimulation can quietly affect your cat’s emotional health. You’ll also find practical setup tips, enrichment suggestions, bonding strategies, and environmental adjustments that can transform your home into a safe haven, no matter its size.

Let’s explore the proven methods that not only ease stress but also help your cat feel confident, relaxed, and genuinely at home again.

1. Create Predictable Routines Your Cat Can Rely On

One of the most powerful ways to calm a stressed cat in a small apartment is to strengthen daily predictability. Cats rely heavily on routine because it gives them a sense of structure and safety. In a small apartment, where noise, space, and movement are already limited, any change in your schedule can feel magnified to your cat. Even small disruptions—like waking up later than usual or changing feeding times—can make a sensitive cat feel unsettled.

Cats interpret consistency as security. When meals, play sessions, quiet time, and sleep patterns happen around the same time every day, stress naturally decreases because your cat can anticipate what happens next. This reduces hypervigilance, lowers tension, and helps prevent reactive behaviors like pacing, overgrooming, or excessive hiding. Even if your schedule varies, giving your cat a few predictable “touchpoints” each day—like a morning feeding, a midday treat puzzle, and an evening play session—can dramatically stabilize their emotional state.

Try anchoring your cat’s routine with the following:

• Consistent feeding times (biological rhythms rely heavily on meal timing)
• Daily play sessions around the same time each morning or evening
• Quiet rest periods where you reduce noise and activity in your home
• Predictable comings and goings (avoid sudden, chaotic departures)
• Regular grooming rituals to strengthen bonding and reduce anxiety

When a stressed cat can predict events, the apartment no longer feels restrictive—it feels stable, familiar, and manageable. Building reliable routines is one of the easiest yet most transformative ways to support your cat’s emotional health in a small living space.

2. Build Vertical Territory to Expand Their “World”

When living with a stressed cat in a small apartment, one of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety is to expand their territory vertically. Cats are natural climbers and observers; when they cannot move outward, they instinctively try to move upward. Small apartments with limited floor space can make cats feel trapped or overstimulated at ground level, especially with frequent foot traffic, noise, or shared living areas.

Vertical spaces offer your cat safety, control, and the ability to oversee their environment without feeling cornered. This sense of height instantly lowers stress because it allows cats to distance themselves from perceived threats or disruptions. Even simple adjustments—like placing a chair under a window or clearing off a shelf—can dramatically improve emotional stability.

Easy vertical additions include:

• Cat shelves or floating perches arranged like steps along a wall
• A multi-level cat tree positioned near a window for natural stimulation
• Top-of-fridge resting space with a blanket or mat
• Cleared bookcase cubes that become “safe cubbies”
• A tall dresser topped with a soft bed for quiet observation

The goal isn’t just creating climbing options—it’s building “escape zones” where your cat can retreat anytime apartment noise or activity overwhelms them. Vertical territory works especially well for cats who become stressed when guests arrive, when you rearrange furniture, or when other pets move unpredictably around the home.

Even in the smallest bachelor or studio apartment, adding height expands your cat’s perceived universe. When their territory expands upward, stress shrinks downward.

3. Offer Daily Interactive Play to Release Pent-Up Stress

A stressed cat in a small apartment often shows signs of tension simply because they do not have enough outlets for energy or instinctual behaviors. Apartment cats, especially those who stay indoors full-time, frequently struggle with boredom, under-stimulation, or frustration. Without proper outlets, this energy spills into anxiety, vocalization, destructive scratching, or aggression toward other pets.

Interactive play is one of the most effective solutions because it channels a cat’s natural predatory cycle—stalk, chase, pounce, grab—in a safe and structured way. Even 10–15 minutes twice a day is enough to dramatically lower stress hormones, improve confidence, and regulate sleep cycles.

Try a rotation of enrichment-friendly toys such as:

• Wand toys that mimic the movement of birds or mice
• Laser pointers used sparingly with a real toy “catch” at the end
• Feather teasers for vertical jumping and confidence-building
• Mouse rollers or track toys for autonomous play
• Treat-based puzzle toys to engage the brain and paws

According to feline-behavior specialists, interactive play sessions are not just exercise—they serve as emotional regulation. Play offers an outlet for stress, strengthens the bond with you, and gives structure to an environment that may otherwise feel unpredictable or overstimulating.

For more enrichment inspiration, you can explore Fear Free’s guide to feline stimulation here: Fun Feline Enrichment Ideas. This is the only external link that will be used in this post.

If your cat seems stressed, anxious, or restless, daily interactive play is one of the fastest, most impactful changes you can make inside a small apartment.

4. Use Safe Hiding Spots and Quiet Zones to Reduce Overstimulation

When living with a stressed cat in a small apartment, one of the most misunderstood stress signals is hiding. Humans often interpret hiding as disengagement, sadness, or dislike—but in feline psychology, hiding is a self-regulation strategy. Cats instinctively seek enclosed, quiet spaces when their senses are overwhelmed or when they feel unsafe.

Apartment environments contain constant triggers—hallway footsteps, elevator sounds, ringing doors, construction, unfamiliar odors, or unpredictable human noise. Without easy access to hiding spots, these stressors build up inside your cat’s nervous system instead of being released naturally.

To reduce sensory overload, create at least one designated safe zone where your cat can decompress. Ideal “stress-recovery” spots include:

• A covered cat bed tucked behind furniture
• An open carrier left out with blankets they love
• A cardboard box with two cut-out doorways for control and escape
• A soft blanket under your bed where noise is dampened
• A top-shelf cubby with reduced foot traffic and visual stimulation

Think of these spots as “emotional safety stations.” Your cat should always have the freedom to retreat—never pull them out. Forced interactions increase anxiety; voluntary retreat reduces it.

When a cat knows a hiding spot is available, they often use it less because they feel secure having the option. The existence of a safe zone is sometimes more important than the zone itself.

5. Provide Window Views and Safe Visual Stimulation

One of the easiest ways to help a stressed cat in a small apartment is to give them a safe place to observe the outdoors. Cats naturally enjoy watching birds, people, shadows, and moving objects—it’s soothing to their minds and prevents boredom from spiraling into anxiety. In a tiny apartment, where territory is limited, a single window perch can feel like opening an entirely new world.

Visual enrichment helps regulate a cat’s nervous system by offering a gentle, predictable stream of sensory input. It’s especially beneficial for anxious cats who hide, overgroom, or seem hyper-alert to sounds in the hallway. When you create window access, you’re offering both stimulation and emotional grounding.

You don’t need a big renovation to make this happen. Try:

• A suction-cup window perch with a soft pad
• A small cat tree positioned near a bright window
• A cleared windowsill with a blanket or towel
• A bird feeder outside (if allowed by your building)
• Leaving blinds partially open so your cat controls their visibility

If your cat becomes overstimulated by outside activity—very common in apartments with busy streets or loud neighbors—use partial curtains, frosted window film, or adjustable blinds to control exposure. Remember: visual enrichment is helpful, but only when your cat feels safe while observing the world.

Window watching is more than entertainment—it’s a powerful stress-regulating activity that keeps your cat emotionally engaged without overwhelming them.

6. Add Sensory Enrichment to Keep Their Mind Engaged

Mental enrichment is essential for a stressed cat in a small apartment, especially when physical space is limited. Cats thrive when they have opportunities to think, explore, and problem-solve. Without enrichment, stress builds from boredom, frustration, and lack of stimulation. This often leads to destructive behavior, nighttime zoomies, or tension with other pets.

Enrichment doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. Rotating a small collection of toys or puzzles can completely transform your cat’s emotional well-being. Mental engagement is as important as physical activity—sometimes more so—because it satisfies a cat’s natural hunting instincts in small bursts throughout the day.

Try incorporating:

• DIY treat puzzles using toilet paper rolls or egg cartons
• Scent exploration activities (chamomile, silvervine, catnip)
• Hide-and-seek food games to stimulate tracking instincts
• Interactive feeders to slow down meals and engage the brain
• Rotating toys weekly so they feel fresh and exciting

Cats don’t need 24/7 enrichment—they need variety. A simple rotation schedule prevents overstimulation while keeping your cat curious and mentally satisfied. Toys that feel “new” provide a rush of novelty that reduces tension and encourages healthy confidence.

For more enrichment ideas specifically designed for indoor-only cats, you can explore our guide: Indoor Cat Enrichment Ideas. This will be the only internal link for this part.

When mental enrichment is part of your cat’s daily life, stress has less room to settle in.

7. Provide Slow, Structured Introductions to New Scents and Sounds

A stressed cat in a small apartment often reacts strongly to unfamiliar scents and sounds. In confined living areas, sensory changes feel more intense and harder to escape. What seems minor to you—like a new candle, construction noise, visiting guests, or the smell of another animal—can cause dramatic shifts in your cat’s behavior.

Cats rely heavily on scent to determine safety. When their scent map changes abruptly, anxiety rises. Sound sensitivity also plays a major role; apartments often contain unpredictable noises from neighbors, pipes, elevators, or other pets in the building. Controlled exposure helps reduce reactivity and build resilience.

You can gently desensitize your cat by:

• Introducing new scents gradually instead of all at once
• Providing high, safe vantage points when unfamiliar guests visit
• Playing soft background noise (ambient music, white noise, nature sounds)
• Allowing retreat spaces so your cat isn’t forced to face triggers
• Rewarding calm behavior when new experiences arise

Think of this method as emotional “buffering.” You’re helping your cat build familiarity with environmental shifts at a pace that supports confidence, not fear. Over time, this reduces jumping, hiding, growling, or startling at normal apartment activity.

The more gradually new experiences are introduced, the safer your cat feels—and the less stress they carry in daily life.

8. Keep Litter Boxes Clean, Quiet, and Easily Accessible

A surprisingly common cause of stress—especially for a stressed cat in a small apartment—is an unpleasant or inconvenient litter box setup. In small homes, the litter box is often squeezed into noisy, high-traffic, or uncomfortable areas like bathrooms, laundry corners, or near appliances. These spaces feel unpredictable and unsafe to cats, who prefer privacy and stability when using the bathroom.

Stress around the litter box can lead to avoidance, constipation, holding urine too long (dangerous for male cats especially), or even medical issues like cystitis. Many owners misinterpret litter box avoidance as “behavior problems,” but it is often your cat expressing discomfort or anxiety about the location, cleanliness, or accessibility of the box.

To make litter use stress-free, ensure:

• The box is cleaned daily—cats avoid dirty surfaces more than dogs do
• The location is quiet—away from loud pipes, doors, or appliances
• The box is uncovered if your cat dislikes enclosed spaces
• You use a soft, fine-grain litter that feels good under sensitive paws
• Your cat has more than one exit path to avoid feeling trapped

If you live in a very small studio, consider using a few visual barriers—like a plant stand, storage cube, or lightweight screen—to create privacy without limiting airflow. Privacy reduces tension and makes the litter box a safe zone rather than a stressful chore.

When bathroom habits feel safe and predictable, your cat’s overall stress levels naturally drop.

9. Increase Safe Scratching Options to Release Tension

Scratching isn’t “bad behavior”—it’s one of the healthiest emotional outlets for a stressed cat in a small apartment. When a cat scratches, they are stretching muscles, marking territory with scent glands, releasing anxiety, and burning energy. Without appropriate outlets, this natural need gets redirected toward furniture, carpets, or doors.

You can dramatically decrease your cat’s stress by offering multiple scratching solutions in strategic locations. Cats prefer to scratch where they spend the most time or where they feel the most tension—entryways, next to windows, beside beds, or near social areas. The goal is not to stop scratching but to **redirect it in a healthy way**.

Provide a mix of:

• Vertical scratching posts (sturdy enough for full-body stretching)
• Horizontal scratchers (for cats who prefer ground-level marking)
• Inclined scratchers that mimic natural tree trunks
• Cardboard scratchers with catnip or silvervine for stress relief
• Scratching pads near windows where emotional energy spikes

Scratchers should be placed in high-traffic areas—not hidden in corners. Cats often scratch at transition points (doorways, hallways, paths between rooms) to feel grounded and in control of their territory. By giving them acceptable scratching options along these pathways, you help them regulate stress while protecting your apartment’s surfaces.

Scratching is emotional release, communication, exercise, and self-soothing all in one. The more healthy scratching outlets your cat has, the less anxiety they carry.

10. Reduce Noise Stress by Creating Sound-Controlled Zones

Noise stress is one of the most overlooked triggers for a stressed cat in a small apartment. Unlike houses, apartments come with shared walls, communal hallways, footsteps overhead, elevators, plumbing noises, slamming doors, and neighbor conversations. Cats, with their extremely sensitive hearing, can interpret these unpredictable sounds as threats.

Over time, noise sensitivity can build into chronic tension, leading to hiding, aggression, overgrooming, trembling, or sudden changes in activity. Luckily, there are many ways to reduce your cat’s exposure to stressful sounds using simple, apartment-friendly tools.

Start with:

• Soft background noise (fan, air purifier, white noise, gentle music)
• Thick curtains or window liners to buffer outdoor noise
• A cozy nest bed placed away from high-traffic walls
• Rugs and soft furnishings to absorb echoes in small spaces
• Your cat’s safe zone placed far from your apartment door

If your cat becomes intensely triggered by certain sounds—vacuum cleaners, children running in the hallway, neighbor pets—you can pair sound exposure with positive reinforcement. For example, play a recording of the trigger noise at very low volume while offering treats or gentle petting. Increasing duration and volume slowly over weeks can help desensitize sensitive cats.

The calmer your apartment’s sound environment, the calmer your cat becomes. Managing noise is one of the most effective, science-backed ways to reduce feline stress in urban living spaces.

11. Rotate Scents and Textures to Keep the Environment Emotionally Stimulating

Cats experience the world through scent far more strongly than humans. When living with a stressed cat in a small apartment, one of the most underestimated tools you can use to reduce anxiety is gentle scent enrichment. Because apartments offer limited exploration and fewer opportunities for natural scent-marking outdoors, indoor scents take on a huge emotional weight for cats.

Cats rely on their scent map to feel grounded. When the map is too static—or changes too suddenly—stress can rise. Introducing rotating, cat-safe scents gives your feline new experiences at a comfortable pace. It keeps their mind active while reinforcing that the environment is safe, predictable, and theirs to explore.

Safe scent enrichment options include:

• Catnip for playful stimulation
• Silvervine for cats who don’t respond to catnip
• Fresh chamomile (calming effect for many cats)
• A worn shirt of yours placed near their resting spot
• Scented enrichment toys rotated weekly
• A cloth rubbed on doorways or furniture to strengthen their scent map

A stressed cat often feels unsure about changes in their space. When you incorporate scent enrichment, you’re gently re-establishing emotional security. Cats feel safer when they can control and explore scents at their own pace. This technique is especially helpful for cats whose stress shows up as hiding, overgrooming, or sudden reactivity to small changes in the home.

Rotating scents every few days gives your cat new anchors within the apartment without overwhelming them. Think of it as subtle emotional enrichment—completely changing how secure your cat feels without altering any major part of your home.

12. Offer Gentle Grooming Sessions to Reduce Tension and Build Trust

Grooming is much more than fur care—it’s an emotional bonding ritual that can significantly reduce tension for a stressed cat in a small apartment. Cats groom each other socially to strengthen trust, share scent, and soothe one another. When you groom your cat, you’re engaging in a calming, biologically meaningful activity that deepens your connection and lowers their stress levels.

Gentle grooming mimics the sensation of social grooming between cats. It increases oxytocin—the “bonding hormone”—while decreasing cortisol, the stress hormone. This makes grooming one of the simplest ways to help anxious cats relax, especially in compact apartment environments where outside stimulation is limited.

Keep grooming sessions:

• Short (5–10 minutes is enough)
• Predictable (try the same time each day)
• Gentle (use soft brushes, avoid pulling)
• Positive (speak softly, offer treats if needed)
• Voluntary (stop if your cat walks away)

Stress often makes cats hypersensitive to touch, so your approach should be slow and relaxed. Focus on comforting areas like behind the ears, under the chin, or along the cheeks. These scent glands help reinforce familiarity and calm. Avoid overstimulating spots like the belly, tail base, or paws unless your cat clearly enjoys it.

Grooming also allows you to check for physical issues that may worsen stress, such as mats, skin irritation, or fleas. When grooming becomes part of your daily ritual, your apartment immediately feels less chaotic and more reassuring to your cat.

13. Use Soft Lighting and Cozy Nooks to Create Emotional Warmth

Lighting may seem like a small detail, but it has a major impact on a stressed cat in a small apartment. Harsh lighting, bright LEDs, or frequent on/off changes can overstimulate or unsettle sensitive cats. Soft lighting, warm colors, and cozy retreat areas help create emotional warmth and safety—especially in small living spaces where sensory input is harder to escape.

Think of your cat as a creature who prefers gentle dawn or dusk lighting. Bright, white light isn't natural to them. By making your apartment’s lighting softer and more consistent, you reduce environmental stress and help regulate their mood. This is especially useful for cats who hide under beds, avoid social areas, or seem on edge at night.

You can create calming “comfort zones” by using:

• Warm LED lamps instead of overhead lights
• A dimmable bedside lamp near your cat’s favorite spot
• A blanket fort or soft cave bed with indirect lighting
• Semi-dark resting corners for mid-day relaxation
• Soft fairy lights along shelves or window perches

Light influences behavior and emotional well-being far more than most owners realize. Soft lighting replicates the kind of environment cats seek in nature: warm, shaded, and secure. When lighting becomes soothing instead of harsh, your cat relaxes more easily, sleeps better, and feels less overwhelmed by daily apartment activity.

Creating cozy nooks with soft lighting doesn’t require major changes—just thoughtful placement of lamps, beds, and blankets. These small adjustments have a powerful calming effect on stressed cats.

14. Maintain a Calm, Predictable Human Energy Around Your Cat

A stressed cat in a small apartment will immediately pick up on human emotions, energy shifts, and changes in tone. Cats are extremely observant; they read micro-behaviors, breathing patterns, footsteps, and even your emotional state. In compact living spaces, there is no buffer between your mood and your cat’s environment—your energy becomes part of their world.

If you’re rushing, frustrated, overwhelmed, or moving chaotically around the apartment, most cats will retreat, hide, or display reactive behaviors. Likewise, if you’re calm, predictable, and emotionally consistent, your cat will naturally regulate themselves to your energy levels. This human-feline emotional mirroring is one of the strongest influences on stress levels in multi-species homes.

To support emotional stability:

• Move slowly and intentionally around the home
• Use a soft, steady tone when speaking to your cat
• Avoid loud arguments or sudden high-volume noises
• Create “calm hours” each evening when activity is reduced
• Recognize your cat’s body language and respond gently

Cats feel safest when their humans behave consistently. When your energy shifts from stressed to calm, your cat’s emotional environment shifts with it. The more stability you radiate, the more your cat will decompress and regulate themselves over time.

15. Give Your Cat More Control Over Their Environment

A stressed cat in a small apartment often feels overwhelmed simply because they lack control. In the wild, cats choose when to hide, when to explore, when to patrol, and when to rest. In apartments, these choices shrink dramatically. Without the ability to express normal feline autonomy, stress can manifest through behavioral changes, fear, or agitation.

To restore your cat’s sense of control, offer “choice points” throughout the home—places where they can choose between multiple safe options. Cats who feel in control experience significantly less anxiety and show fewer stress-related behaviors.

Offer autonomy through:

• Multiple resting spots (high, low, warm, shaded)
• Different feeding areas so meals aren’t tied to one location
• Open cat carriers that become safe dens
• Two or more vertical pathways instead of one
• A mix of cozy and open lounging spaces

Independence reduces the emotional pressure cooked into small-space living. When your cat can decide where to go and when, they feel far less confined—and far more confident navigating their environment.

This is also incredibly helpful for multi-cat apartments or cats who’ve recently experienced changes in their environment. Allowing your cat to choose makes the apartment feel bigger, safer, and emotionally manageable.

16. Strengthen Emotional Security Through Positive Social Rituals

A stressed cat in a small apartment often craves predictable, gentle social bonding—but only on their terms. Cats communicate security through routine social interactions: slow blinking, head bumps, grooming rituals, shared rest, and brief affection. These “mini connections” are biologically designed to signal safety and reinforce group bonds within feline families.

When these rituals disappear—due to owner stress, schedule changes, or an overstimulating environment—cats may become withdrawn, clingy, vocal, or reactive. Reintroducing gentle rituals can restore trust and emotional grounding. Even small moments of connection have huge impact on a cat’s stress levels.

Try incorporating:

• Slow blinking sessions (look at your cat, blink slowly, look away)
• Morning and evening “check-ins” with soft pets or brushing
• Sitting near them without initiating touch
• Talking softly during daily routines
• Gentle grooming to reinforce familiarity and comfort

You’re not just giving affection; you’re engaging in a primal social bonding ritual that signals emotional safety. If your cat tends to be vocal at night, anxious, or restless, reintroducing gentle connection rituals can rebalance their nervous system.

These routines are especially powerful when combined with techniques from our guide on nighttime stress: Cat Meowing at Night Apartment Fixes.

17. Cat-Proof and Simplify Spaces to Reduce Environmental Stress

Clutter, unpredictable objects, unsafe areas, and overstimulating décor can overwhelm a stressed cat in a small apartment. Cats thrive when their space is clear, navigable, and free from hidden threats. A small apartment can easily feel chaotic from a feline perspective if surfaces are crowded, walkways are narrow, or rooms are frequently rearranged.

A simplified environment helps cats feel safe and organized. When a cat knows exactly where they can jump, rest, hide, patrol, or observe—without sudden changes—their stress drops dramatically. This is why simple cat-proofing techniques are essential for emotional well-being.

To reduce stress:

• Reduce clutter on surfaces your cat walks or rests on
• Secure loose objects that may fall when your cat jumps
• Block off dangerous spaces like behind appliances
• Keep layouts consistent to avoid confusion
• Create predictable “paths” for your cat to navigate

A cat-proofed apartment doesn’t just make your home safer—it makes it more emotionally supportive. A stable, predictable layout reassures your cat that their world is safe, manageable, and within their control.

For deeper guidance on designing low-stress apartment layouts, see our full guide: Cat-Proof Apartment Spaces.

Final Thoughts

A stressed cat in a small apartment isn’t a hopeless situation—it’s an opportunity. With the right enrichment, emotional support, environmental design, and predictable routines, even the tiniest apartment can become a calm, confidence-building sanctuary for your cat. You don’t need more space; you need smarter, cat-centered choices. These 17 strategies empower your cat to feel safe, stimulated, in control, and deeply connected with you.

Small apartments can absolutely support big feline happiness. With thoughtful, stress-reducing changes, your cat’s personality re-emerges, their confidence grows, and your bond becomes stronger than ever.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if my cat is stressed in a small apartment?

Common signs include hiding, reduced appetite, excessive grooming, sudden aggression, changes in litter habits, nighttime vocalization, and decreased playfulness. Emotional withdrawal is often one of the earliest signals.

Can small apartments make cats unhappy?

Not necessarily. Cats don’t need large homes—but they do need vertical space, enrichment, safe hiding areas, and predictable routines. It’s about quality of environment, not size.

How long does it take for a stressed cat to calm down?

It depends on the cat and the source of stress. Some respond within days of environmental changes, while others need several weeks. Consistency and gentle routines accelerate the process.

Should I take my stressed cat to the vet?

Yes, if you notice sudden behavioral changes, litter issues, appetite loss, or signs of pain. Stress can have medical causes, so it’s best to rule out illness.

Can I help a stressed cat even if I work long hours?

Absolutely. Slow-feeders, window perches, enrichment toys, predictable routines, and evening play can dramatically reduce stress—sometimes more effectively than constant presence.