Displacement behaviour in cats

Stressed-out pets may over-groom themselves or chew their paws. Photo: 123rf.com

Have you ever been nervous about something, like an exam or interview, and found yourself chewing your nails or tugging at your hair? These perfectly normal reactions to stress are called displacement behaviours by mental health professionals.

When we have conflicting emotions or are stressed in some way, we may scratch, chew, tug or act in some repetitive way. Animals do it, too. Stressed-out pets may over-groom, or tug out bits of fur, or pace up and down. Some stop using their litter box.