Cats can become depressed, as you might suspect if yours has ever stopped playing or grooming, but it’s a different illness from human depression.
Dr. Bonnie Beaver of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Texas A&M University says depression – “a decreased response to the environment” – in cats is common in association with medical conditions, not strictly as a mental condition. Dr. Lorie Huston, a vet and writer, says, “Feline depression is probably more aptly termed feline stress and/or
anxiety.”
The most common cause is fever. Pain, and sometimes the loss of a human or animal companion, also can
All health and medical information is provided for educational purposes and is not meant to replace the medical advice or treatment of your animal's veterinarian.