Owners spending more time at home because of the Covid pandemic could be stressing out their cats.

A Swindon veterinary surgery has revealed a rise in the number of felines suffering stress-related conditions.

And according to Vet’s Klinic nurse Debbie James it could end up become a life threatening issue.

She said: “We have seen a rise in blocked bladders in male cats and cystitis in male and female cats during the lockdowns and coming out of lockdown. These conditions need to be seen by a veterinary surgeon and treated as the most common cause is stress.

“Blocked bladder is a life threatening condition and if you notice your male cat straining to urinate or not urinating or urinating in strange places around the house or blood being present then contact your vets as soon as possible.”

The issue of humans being the cause of a cats stress is something that should not be taken personally.

In line with their nature, cats are used to a routine and Debbie explained a disruption in that routine can change the mood of a cat.

“Any change in routine can unsettle cats as they are a creature of habit," she said. “They like routine and any change, such as people being home more, can cause a cat to become stressed. If cat owners are working from home or self-isolating then the advice is to keep to their routine as similar to normal as possible. If more family members are at home then our homes need to be more cat-friendly too.”

Hiding places and resources for food, water and litter trays in a quiet area are suggested to keep cats feeling mellow.

Dogs do not suffer from the same stress but Debbie said: “Cats need space and time alone. Dogs don’t need this as much, but this isn’t to say that they don’t suffer with their own problems as a result of the lockdown.

“ A lot of people got puppies during lockdown, many who are brand new and inexperienced. Now owners are going back to work, rescues are constantly receiving phone calls regarding giving their dogs to rescue centres as they no longer have time for them.

Now a lot of lockdown puppies that have grown up during lockdown in particular haven’t had any proper socialisation - with people, other dogs, the vets, to name a few. They’ve become very protective over their owners and tend to have separation anxiety as a result of their owners being home all the time.”