Seeing the outdoors can be entertaining and engaging for an indoor cat, or it may cause stress. Stress
signs may include symptoms such as not eating, not using the litter box appropriately, hiding or over
grooming, hiding and aggression. If you notice these signs in your indoor cat, first seek veterinary advice
to rule out any medical conditions. If your cat is healthy otherwise, outdoor cats may be the stressor
causing the symptoms mentioned. Because even the sight of another cat, when not properly
addressed, can evolve into serious problems, it is important to assess and tackle any change in your
cat’s behavior right away.
Pay attention to your cat’s body language when they see an outdoor cat. Stress signs can occur in any
breed, size, age, or gender, and can stem from many different types of stressors. The most common
include fear, defense, territorial, redirected, status, play, pain, and discomfort. A fearful cat may exhibit
dilated pupils, ears turning back, or a twitching tail. In this situation, your cat may growl or hiss when
they see an outdoor cat. Your cat may appear nervous or frightened and startle easily, trying to run and
hide. A more offensive aggressive cat may have their ears back, constricted pupils, and their tail may be
up or down with fur standing on end.
To address aggression, work with a professional who looks at the context in which it happens. Never use
punishment as a training technique. It will not work and will only hurt your relationship with your cats.
To reduce the stressors, visual access can be blocked. Manage the outdoor cat so they are not to be able
to approach the home. Additionally, the indoor cat needs to ahve options for enrichment in order to stay
engaged with the indoors.
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