15 Signs Your Cat is Unhappy (NEVER IGNORE)

In this video, we will talk about 15 signs that indicate your cat is unhappy.

Two or more cats in the household are fighting
Although many cats enjoy the company of other felines, some cats prefer to be alone.
If your cats constantly pick up a fight with each other, it is a sign they are having a hard time sharing space.
On the contrary, a happy cat who’s well-adjusted will sleep with, play with, and groom the other cats. These can all be positive signs that your cat is happy and gets along well with their other buddies.
Keep in mind that aggressive behaviors can also be a sign of health problems. If your friendly cat is suddenly aggressive towards you or other felines in the house, make sure to take them to a vet for health check.
They always hide
Cats like to hide, but if your cats are always hiding, it could mean they are fearful or unhappy in their environment.
Sometimes cats hide if they are unfamiliar with an environment or are new to your family. If that is the case, provide your cats with their own personal space to help them relax and adjust.
And remember, if your cat has suddenly started hiding and the hiding is out of character, it may be a sign that they have an underlying health issue. Sick cats often hide to avoid predators who might take advantage of the sickness.
An Absence of Joy
If you try to play with your cats and they're not interested, it may be a sign they are feeling unwell. Keep in mind that in order to enjoy play, cats have to be carefree, relaxed and trust their owners. If they are stressed about something or in pain, they often won’t play much.
On the contrary, a cat who’s playing with their toys, or who is ready to join in a game of laser chase, is probably a very happy cat. Your cat is feeling good and comfortable enough with their surroundings to cut loose and truly play.
Their tail is often in lowered position
Cats use tail positions to tell you how they are feeling. It’s their way of letting you know when they are happy and content, feeling scared, threatened, or even in pain.
Happy cats hold their tail upright or in a question mark position. These cats are in a good mood and ready to interact.
On the contrary, a lowered tail, a thumping tail, or ears held back indicates the cat is in fearful, aggressive, or anxious. This is often a clear sign that your pet is not happy in their environment or they don’t feel comfortable around you, and you may want to look into figuring out why.
They don’t use their litterbox
If your cat has made a habit of missing the litter box, or eliminating somewhere else entirely, it is a sign that they are anxious, stressed, or that they are suffering from an underlying medical issue. A dirty litter box is another reason for out-of-box elimination. Cats who don’t like the type of the litter may also choose to eliminate out of the box.
If the issue is persistent, consult with a vet as your cat may be sick or unhappy.
Poor Coat Appearance
Cats are fastidious when it comes to their grooming. A shiny, clean coat is a sign of good health and an indicator that a cat isn’t experiencing any emotional or environmental stress.
An unhappy cat will have uneven fur and disheveled look. They may even start to neglect their grooming routine.
If your kitty is not keeping up their grooming habits, consult your vet as this could be a sign of a health issue.
They stare you down
Does your cat stare you down? It could be a sign of love or curiosity... or it could be because they're mad at you. If a cat stares right into your eyes, check their body language.
If your cat is staring at you and he is crouched down with his tail tucked under his body, or if he is hiding somewhere, this is an indication your cat is fearful.
A feline who is angry will exhibit telltale signs such as a stiff body, flattened ears, or hissing.
That body language, in addition to direct eye contact, is definitely a potential threat and a signal that your cat needs some space.
On the contrary, eye-contact with plenty of slow blinks are considered to be a sign of love and trust.
An unhealthy appetite
Happy cats tend to have healthy appetites.
If your feline companion refuses to eat or has a diminished appetite, it could be a sign that they’re not feeling well, or that they’re experiencing anxiety or stress. It could also be something more serious like an illness. If your pet isn’t eating like their usual self, make sure to visit a vet.
They are destructive
Another classic sign of unhappiness among cats includes destructive behaviors such as clawing up furniture or knocking objects over. Bored cats who don't have a friend to play with may resort to destructive behaviors as a way to work out some pent-up energy. Cats are remarkably intelligent, and if there’s no one to play with, they may decide to create their own version of stimulation. Lonely cats with separation anxiety may also start destructive behaviors to relieve stress.

[smb]

My husband passed a week ago, and my cat, who liked him better, seems so lost. She is extremely vocal now, and sometimes wanders the house as if she's looking for him. She has also begun loving on me so much and I love it, but I am sure she misses her man. So do I kitty, so do i.

[radiopal]

I work long hours away from home and have recently lost my wife of 27 years. My cat (Joy) usually greets me when I get home, and then hides for about an hour... then she's a cuddle bunny, She sleeps with me and on occasion will groom my beard. She's a great companion and feel guilty when I'm gone for 24 to 40 hours. But glad that she loves me.

[scottkamps]

I went to visit a friend, and stayed at his house a couple of times. He and his wife have about 4 cats. I would wake up in the middle of the night, and have to carefully maneuver around all 4 cats that slept where they could around me on the couch. One night, I rolled over without thinking, and my legs came down on one of them. Immediately apologized to the bolting ball of fuzz, but when I woke up the next morning, he was right back in his claimed spot. Felt so honored that they trusted me and were so quick to forgive.

[debrajean]

I have had kittens/cats my entire life and they do have feelings and emotions. Give your cat loving every single second you can like I do. Carry them around with you, hug them and kiss them all the time. Let them sleep with you - they love that.

[Alisturna]

My cat's specialty is to feel lonely in the middle of the night. And to vocalize it. A lot.

[LooseANDplay]

There is a cat in our neighborhhod that was left behind by her owner when she went to elderly home. She is fed by neighbors. I think she feels very lonely, she always comes around to be petted. And her tail waggs non stop, I figured that means she feels unsafe, because noone gives her shelter in rain or cold. In the winter I made a little house for her, under roof, so she could hide if needed. She always leads me to it and shows she is using it. I have a dog so I can't take her to house, also I know nothing about cats. I wish people who leave would make sure their cats get new, safe homes.

[valerierobins]

“A baby coming to live with you may stress your cat”

*throws baby away *

[Orbital_Tea]

I lost a kitty that was near and dear to me. She passed so suddenly i didn’t realize was was going on. When i got to the vet. The vet told me that my kitty was anemic and she was born with it. Sadly i couldn’t do anything, but watch her go and be with her as she passed. So a little time has passed since then and i have two new babies. They were very skid-dish at first, but now they remind me everyday about my heavenly baby. They have everything they need. Food available, water, toys, you name it they got it. I still miss her and i just pray and hope she doesn’t think I’m replacing her. I had her since she was a baby. She was an adult when she passed. Sorry if that was a little depressing. Just needed to get that out.

[mathildagregersen]

I rescue cats and my house during winter is filled with felines. My hubby and I are meticulous in cleaning and keeping our house clean with our furry family. The video of what makes a cat unhappy has helped alot. Thanks for educating me so I can keep these critters happy. Funny thing, at bedtime I give them all cooked chicken. Talk about vocal then. I guess they are unhappy when I take too long to give them their treat. 😅

[miadodson]

My home looks like a bomb site because 7 cats chase each other around, jumping on everything and anything, knocking everything over, than demanding that I let them sit on my lap all day and scratch their bellies and demanding to be fed 3 times a day, even if there is still half the food left from the last meal...and if I don't meet all of their demands I get filthy looks and/or whinging.

[sparkyheberling]

Last week we found one of our cats hiding in a closet. This was out of character, so we brought him to the vet *right away*. They discovered a fast-developing cancer and he was euthanized to spare him further discomfort.

Our other cat has been searching for Mikey. He has become markedly more attentive to us, clingy even. He is either missing Mikey, or he can tell we are grieving and is trying to provide comfort.

[sabina]

I have a cat who is very vocal. I found out that she was trying to tell me she is being bothered by fleas. I saw a bug or a flea come out by her mouth. I immediately gave her a flea treatment, a topical, and she quieted down. If your cats look unhappy, or if they are more vocal than normal like my kitty, they may need their monthly flea treatment.

[undead_oracle]

Cats can also be affected by the environment outside of their home. I lived in a 2 bed, 2 1/2 bath duplex apartment, figure there was plenty of space for the kitties to run and play and enjoy themselves. Which they did, but we also lived right next to a major highway and had neighbors that would shout and yell a lot. It would scare my kitties sometimes. We moved to a different state, still a 2 bed 2 bath apartment, but everything is on 1 floor, so the overall space is smaller. I was worried the kitties would be unhappy in a smaller living space. But they love it, the area is way quieter and has a lot of trees. The windows are bigger, and there are so many birds and squirrels that pass by or come onto the balcony. They spend hours staring out the window at the birds, they get so excited lol

[chuckylugs]

I know my cat is happy in my home. Every time he lies down, he lies with his belly up. He often follows me either the kitchen or the sitting room. I let him do what he likes, as long as he’s happy. He has never clawed the furniture. He’ll lie on the window sill near me when I’m sitting in my favourite armchair. Sadly he used to sit on my lap when he was kitten but I’m sad now because he no longer does this. My previous, late cat Sheba, once a ‘hell’ cat, turned into the sweetest loving wee thing and followed me literally all over. She was a real chatty wee thing and she was a ‘proper’ lap cat, I miss her sooo much 😪

[selenareal]

So you’re telling me I have a healthy, happy baby 🥺 what a relief!!! ❤

[iana]

i have a shelter cat, she was born on the street and has very short legs. she also has ptss and is always fearful. it took two yrs of patience before she came close. today she loves to be stroked, but she rarely relaxes all the way. so i feel very special when she does.

[williamduncan]

I have a cat who loves to fight with me, we took her in when she was a stray, now two years later she runs towards us when our car turns up and rolls on her back and rubs herself on our our legs, and when she goes out she never goes far, she's just a lovable thing ❤❤

[dutchesrichards]

Cats are so darn smart. My 2 boys are my everything. Their very affectionate just like their cat mom, they finally know what time their being fed a meal vs a treat. They know when it is bed time and they jump on my bed and start kneeling the pillows right before they curl up in bed with me.

They used to be very vocal at night and would do that while staring out the window. But their not anymore and they sleep with me all night.

I try to take very good care of their coats. Looks good so far.
And they get complimented on it a lot.

I love them so much. ❤🐈🐈

[tweccqs]

I really enjoyed learning how to know if my cat is upset. I now can watch for signs of distress. I’m happy to know that my cat is comfortable in our home and happy

[pollypurree]

I had a cat years ago who absolutely never groomed herself. Instead, she would lie down in front of my male cat and he would groom her everywhere except for her paws. To clean her paws, she would dunk them in the water bowl and swish them around.