Signs of stress in cats with anxiety

I have been observing Willow and Rio for the past week and want to quantify the behavioral shifts. Willow, who is 6 and has allergies, has increased her grooming frequency by roughly 40% based on my logs. Rio, a 2-year-old DSH with recent flea issues, is hiding under the bed more often. I am trying to distinguish between general stress and specific anxiety responses. What are the common behavioral signs that indicate a cat is experiencing stress or anxiety? I need specific indicators to compare against my baseline data.

Look for changes in appetite, hiding, and elimination habits. If it is sudden, rule out medical issues first. I saw this with Whiskers when his CKD was progressing. Check litter box avoidance to see if the signs match. For anxiety, it is usually slower onset. Grooming more can be a sign of stress, but for Willow, it might be related to her allergies. Do not assume it is just behavioral without a vet check.

Buster does this all the time. He meows a lot and then sits in the corner. i think it is just him being vocal. but he also stopped eating for a day last week. not sure if that is stress or just being a brat. he is 6 now. what do you look for besides the noise?

Mochi is teething so he is acting weird too. He chews on things and hides. i thought it was just the teeth but he also has fleas. is that stress or just discomfort? we are using the stuff from flea treatment thread. it seems to calm him down a bit when the itches stop.

Thank you. The grooming correlation is noted. I will cross-reference the hiding behavior with the allergy management strategies I am already using for Willow. For Rio, the hiding seems to coincide with the flea treatment cycle. I will monitor the frequency of hiding spots over the next 7 days to see if there is a pattern distinct from the other cats.