82 Chapter 6Stress
Stress is a reaction to a physiological, psychological or emotional challenge. A stressor
is an event, circumstance or stimulus that causes stress. Two types of stress have been
described (Selye, 1974, cited in McGowen et al., 2006):
● Eustress (‘positive stress’) is where the challenge is within the individual’s abil-
ity to cope and the outcome may be beneficial to the individual’s state of
well-being.
● Distress (‘negative stress’) is where the challenge is beyond the individual’s
ability cope with an outcome that is damaging to the individual’s state of
well-being.
It has been more recently proposed, however, that the term ‘stress’ should only
refer to ‘distress’ or more specifically to environmental challenges that the individual
is unable to cope with, especially to situations that he or she is unable to predict or
have any control over (Koolhaas et al., 2011).
The physiological stress response
When an animal perceives a potential threat or challenge to its environment, two
physiological systems are activated.
Box 6.1. Feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome.
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is an age-related condition, similar to human
dementia, that can affect cats of 10 years of age and older. Studies have shown evi-
dence of physical brain changes including cerebral atrophy and neuronal damage in
affected cats.Behavioural signs associated with CDS:
Spatial disorientation – getting trapped or lost in locations well known to the cat. Not
being able to find the food bowl or litter tray
Confusion
Anxiety
Aimless wandering or pacing
Decreased awareness or response to stimuli
Altered sleep and activity patterns – cats with this condition may be more restless and
vocal at night
Increased and/or inappropriate vocalizations
Changes in social relationships with owners or other pets, e.g. increased attention
seeking or uncharacteristic aggression
House soiling
(Gunn-Moore et al., 2007; Landsberg et al., 2010.)