As we trudge through more days of gloomy weather, be aware of potential changes in your cat’s behaviour that seem to mirror the changing of seasons. You may be familiar with Seasonal Affective Disorder (aka SAD) and its prevalence among people who live along the latitudes prone to particularly dreary winters.
SAD is a condition resulting from extended periods of cold, dark weather and lack of sunlight. It comes with a mixture of different symptoms that include increased appetite, decreased energy, and depression. The medical community figures experiencing SAD indicates disruptions to the natural production of serotonin and melatonin in the body.
Melatonin is a hormone that causes you to feel sleepy and relaxed. Your body amps up melatonin production when it’s dark (such as at night), and natural light curbs that production. This contributes to your circadian rhythm, ensuring you’re more likely to doze off during the night and be alert in the daytime. This usually helpful feature tends to turn against us during the winter months, where daylight hours dwindle and melatonin production can go into overdrive, contributing to depression. Similarly, serotonin production relies on sunlight. A deficit in serotonin can be a contributing factor to depression and increased appetite.
SAD is a well-known condition amongst humans, yet it’s not as frequently recognised in cats. Luckily enough, many of the methods you can deploy to help with SAD in humans likewise have the potential to benefit your feline friends. Spending as much time outdoors during what daylight hours you have available is never a bad idea, and leash training your cat can lead to some perfectly delightful wintertide strolls. Failing that, make an inviting space by a window that catches a fair amount of sunlight. Your cat will be attracted to the warmth, entertained by whatever is outside, and achieve the desired effects on their melatonin and serotonin levels.
Light therapy is another common remedy for SAD that utilizes full-spectrum light bulbs that synthesise natural light and stimulates the same biological processes. There are countless therapeutic lights on the market for exactly this purpose. They require you to bask in the light for a set amount of time (check the light’s instructions, as specifics can vary) and many function on a timer that turns the light off after the set amount of time. You can place the light in your cat’s favourite snuggle space, or play with them under the light to ensure they benefit from it as much as possible.
As with the rest of the year, make sure your cat is healthy and well-loved throughout the bleak days. Cats often need bigger food portions during the winter, especially if they regularly venture outdoors, with or without SAD. If you have any concerns about their mood or health, consult your vet to make sure there are no more serious underlying conditions.