Cat depression and anxiety can look quite different from the same syndromes in humans.
And confusingly the symptoms of depression in cats can also be a sign of other potential cat health issues.
So there is quite a bit that cat owners should know about cats and depression.
Some signs of anxiety rather than depression in cat include going outside the litterbox, excessive grooming and other cat behaviours done excessively and and excessive meowing.
Compulsive activity in cats can manifest for several reasons, one being depression. Others include boredom, anxiety or fear.
Depression itself is unlikely to directly cause extreme illness or death in your cat. However, some of the ways in which it manifests can lead to serious health issues and even death.
Some may hypothesise that an indoor cat could be more likely to suffer from depression than an outdoor cat as they are not able to roam and hunt as freely. However, there is no evidence to support this view.