The short answer to can gets depressed is yes. However, 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.
As cats can’t communicate with us directly it can be hard to identify if your cat is depressed – particularly if it is naturally a loner type.
– Lack of appetite and weight loss – Loss of interest in playing or moving around – Excessive amount of time hiding
– Less interested in physical contact with their humans and/or other animals in the house (this would be relative to how they have behaved in the past. – More sleeping than normal – Loss of interest in grooming and allowing their coat to become matted.
If you see a mix of these signs and are concerned that your cat is depressed the best thing to do is contact your veterinarian. It is notoriously difficult to diagnose pain in cats so some of these symptoms may be because your cat is in pain and unwell rather than being depressed.
– Moving house – A new human or animal in the house – Construction or work in the house – Guests in the house