Help your furry friend feel less anxious
More information regarding our evaluation process is available here. Independently researching, assessing, and recommending the top options are our editors. We may receive commissions on purchases made after clicking on one of our chosen links.
Like humans, cats occasionally get stressed. Boredom, overstimulation (too much noise and/or excessive touching), and environmental changes can easily upset them. Soothing options for cats can be helpful when changes to their environment are unavoidable, even if avoiding stress in your cat’s habitat is desirable.
According to Dr. Zay Satchu, DVM, Bond Vet’s co-founder and head veterinarian, some of the products that are sold to help cats deal with stress and anxiety include treats, collars, sprays, and plug-ins. As stated by Satchu, “Through sprays and plug-ins, calming pheromones that help kittens unwind are dispersed into the air. Treatments incorporate a blend of calming and relaxing herbs, much like some teas are good for people.
So what should you look out for? The most efficient sedatives, in Satchu’s opinion, are pheromones, rosemary, chamomile, and/or tryptophan. Although she prefers Feliway products, cat parents have used alternative approaches with some degree of success. It may take trying out a few different products before you find one that truly makes your cat feel more at ease because no product works with all cats.
Below, you’ll find the best calming aids for cats.
Best Overall: Feliway Classic Cat Calming Diffuser
What We Like
- Easily delivery (diffusion)
- Covers up to 700 square feet
- No unwanted side effects
What We Don’t Like
- Can take up to 7 days to kick in
- Need to replace the canister every 4 weeks
Everyone, including Dr. Satchu and the doctors who care for the cats owned by the cast of The Spruce Pets, appreciates Feliway. It imitates the pheromones that cats ordinarily emit to alleviate tension and worry. Your cat’s specific nerves absorb the pheromones, which then transmit calming signals to the brain.
This diffuser may help to relax your cat in stressful situations like moving, welcome a new child or pet, and during disruptive events like thunderstorms and fireworks. It has been clinically proven to reduce urine spraying and scratching in 90% of cats1. One diffuser and a refill with a four-week shelf life are included in this starter set. You can buy more refills individually (view on Amazon).
Best Spray: Pet MasterMind Cool Kitty Cat Calming Pheromone Spray
What We Like
- Can spray it anywhere (you’re not limited to one room)
- Also contains soothing flowers
What We Don’t Like
- Mixed results
- Works on a short term basis
MasterMind 2 for Pets While diffusers constantly disperse the substance into a general area, the Cool Kitty Calming Spray allows you to precisely target and fully control where you spray the product. In addition to pheromones, it also contains jasmine and passionflower, two florals with calming inclusional qualities. Although you can use it whenever you like, it is especially useful when visiting the doctor, traveling, or when new family members or pets move into the house. You can spray it on your cat’s favorite hiding spots, including their bed or travel bag.
Best Wipes: Feliway Animal Health Wipes, 12 Count
What We Like
- Easy to pack
- Releases natural pheromones
What We Don’t Like
- Need to have a hard surface to wipe
- Only 12 in a box
Whether you’re taking your cat on a short vehicle drive to the veterinarian down the road or a long one, traveling can be stressful for cats. These Feliway Travel Calming Wipes, which function similarly to baby wipes and include pheromones as their active ingredient, are convenient to pack in any bag or keep in your glove box. While traveling, you can wipe down any hard surface, including a cat carrier, the car seat, or the airline seat, even though you shouldn’t use them directly on your cat. When you do, a calming face pheromone is generated, similar to the one cats produce when they rub their faces against things or people.
Best Treat: VetriScience Composure Calming Formula for Cats
What We Like
- Starts working in 20 to 30 minutes
- Can increase dosage for desired results
- Can be broken into smaller pieces
What We Don’t Like
- Some cats might not eat them
- Can be difficult to chew
- Medicinal smell
These treats, which contain colostrum, L-theanine, and thiamine (a B vitamin), can start to calm your cat in as little as 30 minutes. These substances not only soothe the nervous system but also improve cognitive function and brain health. You can double or triple the dosage without suffering any unfavorable side effects if you’re not getting the desired results. The amount of chews you give your cat will depend on its weight. You can also chop a treat into pieces if your cat likes a smaller bite or if you only want to give them a small quantity. You can give them every day or only when they’re actually needed, such in stressful situations, if your cat has an anxious nature.
RELATED: The 8 Best Healthy Cat Treats of 2022
Best Diffuser: ThunderEase Multicat Calming Pheromone Diffuser
What We Like
- Covers up to 700 square feet
- Easy to use
What We Don’t Like
- Needs a refill every 30 days
This ThunderEase package, another diffuser substitute, can help quiet down all the cats in a multi-cat residence. This particular diffuser mimics the pheromones normally exuded by a nursing mother cat, which helps minimize fighting between cats living in the same home, reduce stress and anxiety, and encourage resilience, allowing your cat to more easily adapt to any changes. This bundle offers coverage up to 700 square feet, but like the Feliway diffuser, it also need refills. You can choose to buy a 30-day supply or a 60- or 90-day supply of coverage.
Best Drops: Richard’s Organics Pet Calm
What We Like
- Uses organic ingredients
- Easy to travel with
What We Don’t Like
- Can be difficult to give to your cat
- Wears off in a few hours
Richard’s Organics Pet Calm has a blend of four herbs that encourage relaxation: valerian, chamomile, passionflower, and skullcap extract. These herbs might improve your cat’s sleep while easing tension, anxiety, and excitability. It’s a liquid drop, so administering it might be challenging, especially because there aren’t any odors to persuade your cat to consume it. The best course of action is to let your cat lick it off after putting it on a paw.
Best Collar: Sentry Calming Training collar for Cats
What We Like
- Releases pheromones which is very effective
- Works for 30 days
What We Don’t Like
- Some cats get irritated by collars
By releasing pheromones, which in turn greatly reduce anxiety in your cat, soothing collars work in a manner similar to diffusers and calming sprays. The collar’s manufacturer claims that studies on animals have shown it to be effective in reducing excessive meowing, reducing a dog’s fear of loud noises, and controlling undesired habits. Satchu says that some cats’ anxiety may be exacerbated by wearing collars, undermining the purpose of the sedative. However, if your cat is used to wearing a collar, this may be a good option for you.
RELATED: The 7 Best Cat Collars of 2022
Best Budget: ThunderWunders Calming Chews for Cats
What We Like
- Low cost
- Easy delivery
What We Don’t Like
- Picky cats might not eat them
When considering how frequently they must be replaced, the cost of soothing therapies can add up quickly. If you’re on a tight budget but still want high-quality and favorable reviews, these ThunderWunders Calming Cat Chews are a fantastic substitute. Each chew costs less than 20 cents because the jar contains 100 chews. The three main ingredients Satchu suggests for soothing your cat are tryptophan, chamomile, and rosemary. Each chew also contains extra components like dried cheese and dry chicken liver to entice your cat to actually eat them.
Final Verdict
The Feliway Diffuser is highly recommended by veterinarians and cat owners with direct knowledge, but if you need something more portable for travel, the Feliway Travel Calming Wipes would be a better choice for you.
What to Watch Out For When Giving Calming Aids to Cats
When choosing the finest sedative for your cat, one of the most crucial considerations is the distribution method. Plug-ins, sprays, collars, and treats are the four main categories. Since you are the pet’s expert, your decision may not be the ideal one for someone else. Satchu continues, “If you’re interested in an expert viewpoint, “I trust Feliway plug-ins and sprays, but cat parents who have used the collars and goodies have reported mixed results. Some cats may become agitated by a collar alone, which can be detrimental.
Ingredients Ingredients are also very important. Pheromones, rosemary, chamomile, and tryptophan are the main molecules to look for, according to Satchu, but other products may also contain calming ingredients including passionflower, colostrum, L-theanine, and jasmine. You need to look for extra ingredients like chicken or liver to entice your cat to want to eat the soothing treats.
Portability
Whether portability is important depends on how you plan to use the sedative. If your cat is nervous at home, a plug-in diffuser is usually your best bet. However, if you’re searching for a method to calm your cat while seeing the vet or traveling, you might want to try a wipe, spray, or treats.
FAQ
Can cats consume CBD products without risk?
Despite the fact that CBD is getting a lot of attention for both humans and dogs, there hasn’t been enough research on its benefits on cats. Because of this, we do not suggest utilizing CBD oil as a calming agent for your cat unless you’re doing it directly under the guidance of your own veterinarian.
Is it safe for cats to use lavender essential oil?
Despite the fact that lavender essential oils can promote relaxation, they should never be applied to or around cats. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, lavender contains the chemicals linalyl acetate and linalool, which are toxic to cats.
Why Should I Trust the Product Review from the Cat?
Three-cat parent Lindsay Boyers is always looking for ways to enhance the quality of life for her furry kids. She spent some time talking with a knowledgeable veterinarian to get suggestions for the top substances and products to help calm cats down. She has used Feliway products herself and had great success.
To understand more about cat calming techniques, we chatted with Dr. Zay Satchu, DVM, Bond Vet’s co-founder and chief veterinary officer.
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