Don’t go and just put it around your cat’s neck, because that can cause stress and negate any positive affect the collar may have,” she says. Let him sniff it, and then offer him a treat. “If you’re looking to try out a collar, I recommend introducing the cat to it before trying to put the collar on your cat. She adds that like Thundershirts, there is a chance that owners may have difficulty putting a collar on their cat. The pheromones in cat calming collars mimic those that mother cats produce to calm and soothe kittens, and they can also help to calm adult kitties.ĭelgado says that cat calming collars work for some cats, but have absolutely no effect on others. Some of the most popular products for cat anxiety are cat calming collars infused with pheromones, such as the Sentry HC cat calming collar. Also, you should definitely consider whether or not she might injure you in the process.” Cat Calming Collars
“It's important to be aware of exactly how much your cat can be handled and how amenable she may be to wearing any type of garment. I’ve heard many times that they’ll lay down and stop moving around if wearing a Thundershirt,” she says.ĭelgado notes that while Thundershirts for cats may indeed have a calming effect, getting them on your cat can be an issue. “Anecdotally, I can say that Thundershirts seem to make cats less fidgety. Delgado says that while there hasn’t been a lot of official research into the effect that Thundershirts have on anxious cats, they have been proven to have a calming effect on dogs. Reportedly, this pressure can calm anxious and stressed-out animals. The Thundershirt for cats is a kitty-sized compression vest that applies a gentle, constant pressure, much like swaddling a baby. “Most products that are available over the counter don’t offer extreme results, but some may have a calming effect,” she says. Both Delgado and Krieger stress that every cat is different, and a solution that works for one kitty might not work for another.ĭelgado adds that because many cat calming products are available without prescription from a veterinarian, owners can’t expect them to work miracles.
However, finding the right one for your cat might take some trial and error. If you determine that your cat is suffering from anxiety, there are several options available. “On the other hand, cats that are comfortable in their environment will eat, drink and sleep in the open, they'll interact with their people, they'll play with toys, and they’ll generally be out and about-not just hiding and slinking around all the time,” Delgado explains. If your cat does have anxiety, this can take many forms, from hiding and refusing to eat to urinating and defecating outside of their litter box. “There's a difference between cats that get scared during fireworks on the 4th of July and cats that spend a lot of their time stressed out or afraid of what may seem like nothing,” she says. Mikel Delgado, a certified cat behavior consultant and cofounder of Feline Minds, a San Francisco Bay area company that offers cat behavior services, adds that anxiety is different from fear in that it’s a sustained condition. Even a home remodel or a raised voice can cause anxiety, depending on the cat.”
“New situations, an unfamiliar environment or a previously unknown animal can all cause stress.
“A change in routine can be very jarring for a cat,” says Krieger. What Causes Cat Anxiety?Īccording to The Cat Coach, Marilyn Krieger, a certified cat behavior consultant based in Northern California, cat anxiety can stem from many causes. There are many reasons a cat may experience anxiety, but there are also many calming products that pet owners can try to help manage their cat’s anxiety. As a pet owner, keeping your cat’s anxiety under control is important for establishing and maintaining a positive pet and human relationship. Humans are not the only ones that deal with anxiety issues cats can suffer from anxiety, too. Reviewed for accuracy on August 29, 2018 by Katie Grzyb, DVM