Psychosomatic Illnesses

Dr. Tony Buffington, a veterinarian at Ohio State University, has described a form of bladder inflammation in cats that is not related to diet or microbes, but responds to “anti-anxiety” drugs.

In certain felines, even mild stress can bring on an episode of cystitis (painful urination sometimes accompanied by bleeding into the urinary tract).

Some veterinarians believe that cats can exhibit other medical manifestations of stress-induced anxiety, such as itchy skin or a tendon vomit easily.

The behavioral component of these medical conditions has not yet been studied, but it is possible that there are various feline behavioral problems that mask.