One minute, your cat is hugging you as happy as a clam, and the next minute, they’re climbing the curtains, screeching, and acting like a banshee. What’s going on? With this fluctuation in behaviors, one might wonder if their cat might have bipolar syndrome. Although this is a reasonable suspicion, it is important to note that at this time, cats are not recognized as being able to be diagnosed with bipolar syndrome.
In this article, we’ll explore what this condition is, details why it’s under-recognized or under-diagnosed in cats, and tips and strategies for ensuring good mental health for cats in general.
About Bipolar Syndrome
What exactly is bipolar syndrome? The word bipolar can be split into the root word “bi” meaning two and “polar” which can refer to having extreme opposites at two points or ends of an axis. In humans, this mental illness is characterized by two different moods: the very high or high mood (called mania) and the very low or hopeless (called depressive) mood.
These intense and intense emotional states swing dramatically from one another over time, with each mood often lasting from days to weeks or months. In between, there is also the potential for a normal mood, called euthymia.
While bipolar syndrome is also formerly referred to as manic depression or manic-depressive disorder, there are different types, such as bipolar syndrome type 1 or type 2. What all bipolar diagnoses have in common is that they are characterized by repeated, dramatic changes or swings in mood. These extreme moods can affect the individual’s energy levels, thought patterns, general behavior, sleep schedule, etc. In humans, a diagnosis is obtained by eliminating other causes followed by a thorough psychological examination.
If diagnosed, treatment usually includes various medications and psychotherapy (talk therapy).
Cats and Bipolar Syndrome
As mentioned, cats are not recognized as having bipolar syndrome. In fact, actually assessing depression and mania in our feline friends can be quite tricky.
When a pet cat is acting weak or potentially showing some of the signs below, one may subconsciously think that depression may be a potential cause:
- Personality change
- Not eating
- Dizziness
- hiding
- Withdrawal
- Decreased grooming behavior
- Changes in social relationships with people or other pets
If these types of changes in a cat’s behavior are seen, they are often explained to veterinary medicine by an underlying medical or physical health condition.
While the list of potential causes for the disease is long, some may include:
- Pain – common examples can include pain from injury, dental problems, or arthritis, (even in young cats)
- Infection
- Kidney failure or obstruction
- foreign body
- Diabetes
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Cancer
- Feline cognitive dysfunction (dementia)
Whatever the cause, when a health condition is properly treated, it can make a world of difference in a cat’s behavior and poor general behavior will usually improve.
Cats will show varying levels of activity throughout the day, which is normal. Although they sleep most of the time, they can also have their little windows or bursts of activity and energy (hello, zoomies!) because they are predators with a hunting instinct. These “highs” may not be understood by the cat owner as a manifestation of mania.
Some cat owners may also mistake many of the following for mania:
- Very high level of activity (hyperactivity)
- Assault
- Losing weight despite eating well
- Pacing
- Excessive vocalization
- Too much fixing
- irritability
Some underlying health conditions that may actually be causing these behaviors may include:
- Anxiety/fear
- Compulsive disorders
- pain
- Stress
- Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis
- Hyperthyroidism
- Feline cognitive dysfunction (dementia)
- An official diagnosis of hyperactivity
Again, if one of these (or other) health conditions is the cause of what appears to be “manic” behavior, proper medical treatment can help bring a cat back to baseline. Furthermore, while cats show signs of stress and may have diagnosable mental health conditions such as compulsive disorders or cognitive dysfunction, these are diagnosed after other medical causes have been ruled out. .
Diagnosis of Bipolar Syndrome in Cats
As the discussion above illustrates, signs in a cat that would normally be considered “depressive” or “manic” to humans are often explained in veterinary medicine by some other underlying medical condition. In addition, the more intense moods of cats do not stay and last for a long time and then rotate to the other end of the spectrum like bipolar syndrome in humans.
Furthermore, since bipolar syndrome requires constantly alternating manic and depressive states to be diagnosed, it is easy to see how a diagnosis of bipolar syndrome is not recognized as an option for a cat.
Additionally, in the world of medical testing, it is difficult to use animal subjects for modeling medical treatment for bipolar syndrome in humans. Some of the reasons for this, as stated below, help explain why cats are underdiagnosed with this disease.
Many of the defining characteristics of bipolar syndrome in humans cannot be tested in animals. Because veterinarians cannot communicate with their patients and their patients do not have the same awareness and cognitive abilities as humans, analyzing feelings of worthlessness or guilt, for example, is not possible. .
In the human world, testing with animal models for bipolar syndrome has to be separated into two categories: a group with animals that model mania, and a group that models depression. No successful group has ever shown depression and mania. Even more, no way has been shown to mimic the characteristic cycle between two of the animals.
Although cat behavior can be complex and can vary, there may be additional reasons for this behavior besides the aforementioned health causes. Not only does a cat’s genetics play a role, but aspects such as what occurred during their socialization as kittens, life experiences, individual personalities, etc., can all come into play. Many times, their mood or variations are triggered or activated due to an external factor in their environment, rather than a biochemical abnormality occurring in their brain.
How to Help Your Cat
If your cat is suffering from apparent signs of hyperactivity/mania and depression, what can you do?
- Plan a visit to your cat’s vet. Rule out any medical reasons for the behavior changes. Many times, behavioral changes can be linked to a medical problem that, when treated, can help resolve the behavioral changes. Some cases may benefit from a veterinary behaviorist, a veterinarian who specializes in animal behavior and has more advanced training in managing behavior modification plans and psychotropic medications.
- Be a detective! Try to think like a cat and see if you can come up with potential reasons for behavior that you would normally be unaware of. For example, some stressful event or change in routine like a recent move or a new addition to the family (furry or human!) may be at play. Another example might be that a cat is agitated near a certain area because they observed from the window of that room a feral cat outside scurrying around.
Some areas for encouraging overall good mental health for a cat that you can implement at home may include:
- Offers safe, comforting, and quiet places to rest, perch, or hide. This can be as elaborate as a large cat tree or as simple as a box placed in a quiet area with a blanket inside.
- Proper litter box etiquette – one more litterbox than the number of cats housed separately throughout the home. Make sure they are cleaned regularly and regularly.
- Calming products such as pheromone diffusers.
- Environmental enrichment – various rotations of favorite toys such as prey toys, tunnels, catnip, bird watching opportunities, etc.
- Make sure you give your cat their desired amount of attention, love, and interactive playtime; it will vary from cat to cat.
- Mental stimulation such as clicker training, working for food/treats, and incentives with treat balls/food puzzles.
Conclusion
Although cats cannot currently be diagnosed with bipolar syndrome, they may have other mental and/or physical health conditions that may influence how they behave.
If your cat exhibits concerning behaviors with themselves or others, starting a conversation with their veterinarian right away will help ensure the best outcome.
Featured Image Credit: Zhuravlev Andrey, Shutterstock
