Wintertime can be hard for many people in cold climates. There's less light, it's harder to get outside, and people can suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which has symptoms like depression, increased appetite, and sleep disturbances.
If you're a cat-owner who lives in a climate that gets cold and dark in the winter, you might have wondered whether your cat can also be affected by SAD. The answer is that we think they can.
A survey done by the UK organization The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals indicated that 1/3 of cat-owners noticed that their cat's mood and energy levels were lower during the winter than the summer. Not only that, but ¼ of them also noticed an increased appetite in their cat during the darker months.
These findings indicate that some cats, like some people, probably suffer from seasonal affective disorder.
SAD is a condition in which people and pets suffer ill effects because of the decreased levels of sunlight present in the cold, dark winter months. Scientists believe the symptoms of SAD are the result of disruptions in two hormone levels: melatonin and serotonin.
Melatonin is produced in the body when it is dark, and it causes sleepy and relaxed feelings. In some people, when melatonin levels get too high, the result is depression. Melatonin production is switched off when natural light hits the retinas, so when it is gloomy outside, those levels might stay elevated throughout the day.
Serotonin levels are also partly regulated by sunlight; its production requires sun, so less light equals lower serotonin levels. Low serotonin is associated with depression and comfort food cravings in humans.
In humans, light therapy can be effective at decreasing the symptoms of SAD. This is probably the case for cats, too, so you can do the following things to help your cat avoid or combat winter blues:
Remember, if you suffer from SAD yourself, these tips can help you, too. However, if you feel depressed or helpless, contact your doctor right away.
References
You May Also Like These Articles:
If Your Cat Does This Strange Thing, Don\'t Ignore It
Sound-Related Seizures in Cats
Feliway - A Useful Tool to Help Treat Stress in Cats