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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical or veterinary advice. Always consult with a licensed veterinarian or animal behaviorist before trying any new treatments, products, or behavioral interventions with your pet. The authors and publishers of this blog are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any suggestions, products, or procedures described herein.
You’ve been brought here based on one of many riddles of cat owners: How to calm a stressed out cat? and are there stress reducing products for cats?
Based on experience, looking for behavioral changes that stick out is the best way to spot a stressed out cat. If you’re concerned about kitty, pay more attention to all the little things your kitty is doing…and yes there are products that can help!
Keep Reading!
Signs of Stress in Cats (Symptoms)
If you’ve owned a cat long enough or even been observant of a cat long enough your senses will likely tell you that these can be signs of a stressed out cat:
- Hiding (look for pattern changes from your cat’s normal behavior)
- Sleeping more than usual
- Using the litter box more frequently (or at least attempting to)
- Overly grooming
- Excessive scratching
- Unusual changes in their eating habits
- Meowing and Howling and Yowling, Oh my!
- Pacing all over the house over back and forth
- Changes in their behavior (You have the sweetest cat on the planet and now they’re being a little meanie)
- Depression indicated by non-responsiveness and excessive sleeping [1.]
Cat Anxiety: Why Do Cats Get Stressed or Anxious?
- A recent visit to the vet
- Loud noises
- Another animal in the house
- Feeling threatened (even outdoors)
- Traveling
- A new environment
- Not feeling well or illness
- Loud noises (thunder, fireworks)
- A human stranger in the house
- Changing their current environment (housework, moving furniture)
How to Calm a Stressed Out Cat
Having a stressed out cat is not a fun thing to watch or try to figure out the answer for. The following are some of the top ways, product types, and pieces of knowledge that may help your kitty out of the their stressed ways:
Calming Blanket for Cats
These blankets are known for being soft, have weighted padding, warming fabrics, or can be pheromone-infused. They provide love, sense of safety, serenity, and comfort in their environment.
Feedback / Why do cats like it?
- Softness (It has been a theory that this reminds them of their mother’s fur)
- Extra cushion
- Overall comfort
Owner’s Tend to Look For:
- Easy to clean
- Durability
- Allergy free material
Calming Colors for Cats
The jury is in and these colors seem to the be the most frequent answer found to have a calming effect on your cat. If you have an anxious kitty, try surrounding them with items in the colors listed below. You might notice a calming effect without spending anything if you already have items in those shades.
Green
Ever wonder why you tend to see a lot of green in the vet’s office? Apparently green has a calming effect on cats. Much like the nature of the outdoor world they come from, this color can help create a peaceful atmosphere for our little felines [4.]
Blue
Blue is a calming color much like for the “hoomans” and as it turns out is at the top of the feline favorites.
“Most felines tend to like blue the best. This is due to the fact that this is the color they see most clearly [2].”
Purple and Violet
Not surprising this is another calming color for cats. Adding to the list of benefits this color also helps them sleep better [3.]
Calming Scents for Cats
It makes sense to start this one off with a fun fact. “There are about 200 million odor-sensitive cells in the feline nose, compared to our paltry 5 million [1.]
Feline Facial Pheromones (FFP’s Synthetic)
Research has shown that use of these pheromones lower anxiety, reduce spraying, and induces calming. According to researchers at Ohio State University, it was “found that when stressed cats were exposed to a synthetic form of a feline facial pheromone (FFP), they ate more and seemed more comfortable in a hospital than did cats not exposed to the pheromone [5.]“
In the study, cats exposed to FFP showed significantly more relaxed behavior and higher food intake compared to those not exposed. The findings suggest that environmental changes, like using FFP or providing hiding spaces, can be effective, non-invasive ways to ease anxiety in cats.
Catnip
This one can definitely be worth a shot and is known to have both excitement and calming effects in cats. From kitty experience, this one typically starts with energetic activity and ends with a crash (like sugar in humans.)
Catnip affects cats for about 5–15 minutes, often triggering playful, hyperactive, or affectionate behavior followed by relaxation, and can help reduce stress, though sensitivity to it varies by age and genetics [6.]
If deciding to try it for the first time, always monitor your cat in case of any adverse reactions. It is worthy to also note that some cats do not react at all to catnip.
Don’t be surprised though if kitty starts acting excited and rolling around in it like a floppy fish!
Silvervine (Actinidia polygama)
Silvervine is also similar to catnip (although it seems to have a wider effect percentage-wise in cats as.) A study from the National Library of Medicine that tested silvervine on 100 domestic cats showed that silvervine was effective in approximately 80% of domestic cats [7.]
Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis)
Similar effects to that of catnip and often used as an alternative for cats that have no reaction to catnip. This is often mixed with catnip to give the blended affect.
These have been spotted as herbal mixes, cat treats (for calming effects,) and in liquid formats for a variety of ailments.
In the same study mentioned in the silvervine section above [7], the effectiveness was listed at “about 50% to Tatarian honeysuckle and valerian root.”
Calming Bed for Cats
These beds are specifically designed for stress, comfort, and feeling secure for your kitty. Calming beds work by combining soft, nest-like shapes, raised rims, and cozy materials like faux fur or memory foam to create a secure, warm space that reduces anxiety and encourages restful sleep.
Features to look for:
| What | Why |
| Washable | Because a cat will be a cat! There’s bound to some sort of need to clean. |
| Base that doesn’t slip | Useful for hardwood or smooth floors |
| Size | All cats are different sizes and some really stretch out when sleeping. |
| Hypoallergenic | Does kitty have allergies? Sensitive skin? |
Diffuser Plug in for Cats
Plug-in diffusers for cats help ease stress and anxiety by releasing synthetic pheromones that mimic a cat’s own calming scent.
How Are They Used?
Choose a location and plug it into an outlet. Ideally this would be a place where your cat likes to hang out. Let it run continuously in an open area for up to a couple days to begin to see the results and your cat will hopefully begin to decompress, relax, and calm a bit.
Commonly these are often refillable and last for a month or so. As always, follow the instructions according to the manufacturer.
Calming Collars
These collars are just like they sound. They are a collar worn around the cats neck (similar to a leash) that emit scents that are intended to calm and relax cats.
These are a common purchase in the hopes it will settle kitty down without having to use a more expensive option. Of course this depends on kitty and what it is that is bothering them.
Features to Ponder:
| Ingredients for Calming | Allergic or upset by any of these? |
| Breakaway Collar | Always important for a cat’s safety (especially the outdoor kitties) |
| Length of Effects | How long before you may need a replacement? |
| Size | Because every kitty is different |
| Adjustable? | So the kitty has some room and it’s no too tight |
| Tested or Vet Recommended | This is a bonus that would have data to support the use of the collar and its effects |
Smells Are Free! But Avoid These
While smells are free some of them can make your cat even more stressed out, disgusted, annoyed, leave the room, etc. Common ones that cats generally are not fond of [8]:
- The Citrus Family – Lime, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit
- Bananas
- Mint
- Menthol
- Tea Tree Oil
- Pine
- Scents that are strong – Remember cats have a sense of smell
- Perfumes and Cologne
- Spices with strong scents – cinnamon, pepper, mustard, clove
- Smoke
- Incense
- Strong cleaning product smells
- A foul smelling litter box – keep it clean especially with a stressed kitty!
Hopefully one of these tips will help you get your cat back to normal in no time!
Do you have a stressed out cat story with what worked to calm kitty down? Share in the comments below! 👇
References
1 – Moore, A. (2022, 2007). The Cat Behavior Answer Book. Storey Publishing.
2 – Olesen, J. (2022, February 22). What colors do cats like or are they in fact color blind? | Color meanings. Color Meanings. https://www.color-meanings.com/what-colors-do-cats-like/
3 – Kennedy, J. (2023, August 1). Using color therapy with your cat. Two Crazy Cat Ladies. https://twocrazycatladies.com/cat-health-issues/using-color-therapy-with-your-cat/?srsltid=AfmBOopol3sA4P6WyYzyD_gyKKpiTHv64PC_p0sF2FeN6HGkvuMnF-iJ
4 – Snyder, M. B. (2023, October 29). What color is calming to cats? – 21Cats.org. All Facts and Guides to Cats and Kittens – 21Cats.org. https://www.21cats.org/what-color-is-calming-to-cats/
5 – The Ohio State University. (2000, November 26). Cats comforted by synthetic chemical, research suggests. Cats Comforted by Synthetic Chemical, Research Suggests. https://news.osu.edu/cats-comforted-by-synthetic-chemical-research-suggests/
6 – SavannahS. (2023, April 28). What is Catnip? The Effects Catnip Has on Cats. Boulder Veterinary Hospital. https://bouldervet.com/blog/the-effects-catnip-has-on-cats/
7 – Bol, S., Caspers, J., Buckingham, L., Anderson-Shelton, G. D., Ridgway, C., Buffington, C. a. T., Schulz, S., & Bunnik, E. M. (2017). Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine (Actinidia polygama), Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and catnip (Nepeta cataria). BMC Veterinary Research, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-017-0987-6 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28302120/
8 – Leeson, J. (2024, December 26). What smells do cats Hate? 15 Scents Cats Dislike – https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-health/what-smells-do-cats-hate