PSYCHOSOMATIC DISEASES PSYCHOSOMATIC IN FELINES: LITERATURE REVIEW
Views: 55DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32435/envsmoke-2025-0008Keywords:
Behaviour, Ethology, Psychobiology, Veterinary psychiatryAbstract
Awareness of the strong connection between observed behaviour and physical and emotional health is essential for the well-being of the animal patient. Often, it is a change in the individual's normal behaviour that alerts guardians and veterinarians to the possibility of a psychosomatic pathology. There is ample evidence in the veterinary literature that physiological and behavioural health go hand in hand. In most cases involving domestic cats, physiological and behavioural conditions simultaneously contribute to clinical signs. Our domestic cats do not express changes in their physiological and emotional states in an easily recognisable way. Therefore, it can be difficult to diagnose physiological diseases and quantify the contribution of each to the final diagnosis of a psychosomatic pathology. The presence of various levels of stress, especially distress, compromises behavioural and physical health and influences treatment outcomes. This review aims to assist veterinarians in recognising physical and behavioural changes associated with acute stress and chronic distress, including stress-related diseases. Emphasis on a complete history will allow the clinician to determine which signs are behavioural and which are medical, with the understanding that they are not mutually exclusive. Equally important is the contribution of pain, chronic diseases, and adverse environmental situations to behavioural changes and the expression of psychosomatic disorders. There is a growing body of evidence that stress and distress have profound effects on the health, behaviour, and well-being of cats. The author drew on a substantial body of clinical realities and published veterinary research to produce this review.
Downloads
References
BARDIN, L. Análise de conteúdo. Lisboa: Edições 70, 1977. Available from: https://www.academia.edu/40820250/BARDlN_L_1977_An%C3%A1lise_de_conte%C3%BAdo_Lisboa_edi%C3%A7%C3%B5es_70_225. Accessed on: 9 Jun. 2025.
BENEDITO, R.A.; DE VASCONCELOS, T.C. Analysis of the knowledge of domestic cat guardians on the feline environment. Pubvet, v. 17, n. 12, article e1493, p. 1-9, 2023. Available from: https://doi.org/10.31533/pubvet.v17n12e1493 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31533/pubvet.v17n12e1493
DELGADO, M.; DANTAS, L.M.S. Feeding cats for optimal mental and behavioral well-being. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, v. 50, n. 5, p. 939-953, 2020. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2020.05.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2020.05.003
DEMONTIGNY-BÉDARD, I.; BEAUCHAMP, G.; BÉLANGER, M.C.; FRANK, D. Characterization of pica and chewing behaviors in privately owned cats: a case-control study. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, v. 18, n. 8, p. 652-657, 2016. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X15591589 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X15591589
DEMONTIGNY-BÉDARD, I.; FRANK, D. Developing a plan to treat behavior disorders. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, v. 48, n. 3, p. 351-365, 2018. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2017.12.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2017.12.004
DENENBERG, S.; DUBÉ, M.B. Tools for managing feline problem behaviours: Psychoactive medications. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, v. 20, n. 11, p. 1034-1045, 2018. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x18806760 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X18806760
DIAS, T.C.L.; SANTOS, J.L.G.; CORDENUZZI, O.C.P.; PROCHNOW, A.G. Nursing audit: systematic review of the literature. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, v. 64, n. 5, p. 931-941, 2011. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-71672011000500020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-71672011000500020
ELLIS, J.J.; STRYHN, H.; SPEARS, J.; COCKRAM, M.S. Environmental enrichment choices of shelter cats. Behavioural Processes, v. 141, p. 291-296, 2017. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2017.03.023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2017.03.023
FERREIRA, T.C.; SOUSA, C.V.S.; COSTA, P.P.C. Transtorno Obsessivo Compulsivo em cães e gatos [Obsessive compulsive disorder in dogs and cats]. Journal of Veterinary Science and Public Health, v. 3, n. 1, p. 37-43, 2016. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4025/revcivet.v3i1.32567 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4025/revcivet.v3i1.32567
FURTADO, G.D.; DA SILVA, D.B.; SOBRAL, F.E.S. Canine psychiatry: the importance of approaches to animal psychopathologies. Environmental Smoke, v. 5, n. 3, p. 46, 2022. Available from: https://doi.org/10.32435/envsmoke.20225346 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32435/envsmoke.20225346
FURTADO, G.D.; SILVA, A.S.; TELES, J.A.A. Estudo do comportamento e a Medicina Veterinária da conservação [Behavioral study and the Veterinary Medicine of conservation]. Environmental Smoke, v. 1, n. 2, p. 176–182, 2018. Available from: https://doi.org/10.32435/envsmoke.201812176-182 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32435/envsmoke.201812176-182
FURTADO, G.D.; SOBRAL, F.E.S. Veterinary psychology: dog behavioral diseases. Environmental Smoke, v. 6, n. 3, p. 11–16, 2023. Available from: https://doi.org/10.32435/envsmoke-2023-0002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32435/envsmoke-2023-0002
GAIA, J.A.S.; GAIA, C.L.B.; MOURA, E.J.B.; FURTADO, G.D.; ISAZA, C.A. Las células neurológicas y su interfaz en el proceso de aprendizaje de los seres vivos [The neurological cells and their interfaces in the living beings learning process]. Environmental Smoke, v. 2, n. 2, p. 84–101, 2019. Available from: https://doi.org/10.32435/envsmoke.20192284-101 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32435/envsmoke.20192284-101
GIL, A.C. Como elaborar projetos de pesquisa. 6. ed. São Paulo: Atlas, 2017. Available from: https://www.academia.edu/48899027/Como_Elaborar_Projetos_De_Pesquisa_6a_Ed_GIL. Accessed on: 15 Jul. 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22409/tn.15i28.p10563
HALLS, V. Tools for managing feline problem behaviours: Environmental and behavioural modification. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, v. 20, p. 1005-1014, 2018. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X18806757 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X18806757
HORWITZ, D.F.; RODAN, I. Behavioral awareness in the feline consultation: Understanding physical and emotional health. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, v. 20, p. 423-436, 2018. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X18771204 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X18771204
STELLA, J.; CRONEY, C.; BUFFINGTON, T. Effects of stressors on the behavior and physiology of domestic cats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, v. 143, n. 2-4, p. 157-163, 2013. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2012.10.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2012.10.014
URREGO, R.; RODRIGUEZ-OSORIO, N.; NIEMANN, H. Epigenetic disorders and altered gene expression after use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in domestic cattle. Epigenetics, v. 9, n. 6, p. 803-815, 2014. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4161/epi.28711 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4161/epi.28711
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Gil Dutra Furtado, Grazielly Diniz Duarte , Ana Luiza Madruga De Oliveira
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The copyright for manuscripts published in Environmental Smoke belongs to the author, with first publication rights for the journal. The published articles are of total and exclusive responsibility of the authors.
