Health and Behaviour 87
Pathological skin diseases
Human and canine studies have demonstrated an association between stress and
pruritic or inflammatory skin diseases (Kimyai-Asadi and Usman, 2001; Nagata
et al., 2002). Further research is required to ascertain if a similar link exists in cats
but it is very possible that it does, especially in cases of allergic skin diseases such as
flea allergic dermatitis (Sparkes et al., 2016).
The gastrointestinal system
There is a direct link between the gut and the brain via the sympathetic and parasym-
pathetic pathways (Bhatia and Tandon, 2005). An association between stress and
gastrointestinal disease is therefore as likely in cats as it is in other species.
Irritable bowel disease
In human and canine medicine there is a well-recognized link between psychological
stress and irritable bowel disease (IBD) (Simpson, 1998). There is less scientific evidence
that the condition exists in cats but it is generally believed that it does, and as with other
species it is likely that there is an association with chronic stress (Sparkes et al., 2016).
Alterations in gastrointestinal motility
Stress has been shown to both delay gastric emptying and accelerate large bowel
motility (Taché et al., 2001; Bhatia and Tandon, 2005). It can therefore have varying
Fig. 6.2. ln most cases of over-grooming the primary cause of the behaviour is medical
but this can be exacerbated or maintained by stress. Over-grooming of the abdomen may
be indicative of internal discomfort such as that caused by a lower urinary tract infection.
Photo courtesy of Celia Haddon.