The 10 Best Calming Aids for Managing Your Cat’s Stress

Chemical signals are important for cats, who mark their environments (such as by rubbing their faces everywhere) to indicate areas where they can feel secure. The Feliway Optimum Enhanced Calming diffuser recreate these naturally produced pheromones to reduce stress and anxiety. They are regularly recommended by veterinarians, including Dr. Satchu and several veterinarians who care for Spruce Pets’ staff cats.

The diffuser works by heating a wick inside of a canister of liquid, dispersing the pheromone as the heat evaporates the formula. The only downside we found to this system is that the diffuser can get hot when left plugged in after all of the liquid in the canister has evaporated. This starter kit, which includes one diffuser and one refill, lasts for four weeks, but you can purchase additional refills separately.

Does Feliway Work?

While the relationship between chemical signals in the environment and your cat’s stress levels is not well understood, some small studies have shown promising results. A primary pheromone found in Feliway diffusers significantly reduces urine spraying, which can be a strong indicator of stress.

It’s worth disclosing that some studies have been funded by Feliway’s manufacturer, Ceva Santé Animale. More research into the uses of synthetic pheromones is welcome, but for now, there is good reason to believe that a Feliway diffuser can be an effective stress reliever for many cats.

I use Feliway in a small apartment with two cats, and while it’s hard to prove whether or not Feliway made a difference, we noticed that our very nervous cats seemed to adjust faster to changes in the room where our Feliway is plugged in. There’s also been less fighting (though they still wrestle for fun all the time).

Feliway Optimum vs. Classic

If your cats are already acclimated to the Feliway Classic, and you’ve noticed results, then we recommend sticking with what works. But for anyone new to Feliway pheromone treatment, we would suggest Feliway Optimum. Feliway Classic was first released in 1996 and primarily contains a single pheromone, called feline facial pheromone F3. Research gains have been made since then, and in 2020 Ceva announced the Optimum formula, which uses newly discovered pheromones.

Ceva claims this pheromone complex “provides an enhanced message of social confidence and safety in the cat’s environment,” citing internal research finding that the Optimum formula helps “with more stress-related signs faster than existing pheromones.” While there isn’t yet independent research into the specific pheromone formula found in the Feliway Optimum Enhanced Calm diffuser, we’re inclined toward the product that most reflects the gains in our understanding of cat chemical communication since Feliway was first introduced in the ’90s.

_{Ingredients: Feline facial pheromone | Delivery Method: Plug-in | Quantity: 1.6 fluid ounces}

Vetriscience offers chicken or trout treats that combine three active ingredients: colostrum, L-theanine, and thiamine (a B vitamin). L-theanine, which is derived from tea leaves, has been demonstrated to reduce cat behaviors associated with stress. This formula can calm your cat down in just 20-30 minutes.

While the dosage is based on your cat’s weight, you can double the amount with no adverse effects or break a treat into pieces for a smaller dosage, or if a smaller bite is more appealing to your cat. You can also give these daily if your cat has an anxious personality or just administer them as needed during particularly stressful times. We’ve found that they’re easiest to feed to your cat by adding them to their first meal of the day.

_{Ingredients: Colostrum calming complex biopeptide blend, L-theanine, thiamine (vitamin B1) | Delivery Method: Treats | Quantity: 30 chews per pack}

Just like people, cats produce a chemical called melatonin that’s associated with the regulation of sleep-wake cycles. Safe for cats over the age of 12 weeks, NaturVet Quiet Moments Cat Soft Chews combines the sleep-inducing effects of melatonin with tryptophan, an amino acid the brain uses in the production of soothing serotonin, which has also been proven to increase sleepiness. They also include chamomile and ginger, which isn’t a calming aid, but has been used as an anti-nausea herbal supplement for thousands of years (scientific studies have found that ginger was effective for relieving mild nausea during human pregnancy). This makes NaturVet Soft Chews especially useful for road trips.

Salmon-flavored and made in the United States, NaturVet chews also include brewer yeast, flaxseed, tapioca starch, rosemary extract, and other ingredients that should appeal to your cat’s palate. It’s recommended that your cat take two chews approximately 30 minutes before a stressful event. Cats should not be given more than four chews in 12 hours.

_{Ingredients: Thiamine, L-tryptophan, ginger, melatonin | Delivery Method: Chews | Quantity: 50 soft chews bag, 60 soft chews tub}

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements are some of our favorite probiotics (for dogs too), and their Calming Care formula opens up a new and exciting realm in the use of beneficial bacteria to improve anxious behaviors while promoting play and sociability. Unlike most probiotics that target digestion issues by supplementing your pet’s gut flora, Purina Pro Plan’s Calming Care uses a unique strain of Bifidobacterium longum called BL999, which reduces the effects of cortisol—a hormone connected to stress.

Available in 30- and 90-count sachets, the liver-flavored powder can be sprinkled over or mixed into your cat’s food and used long-term for especially anxious cats, or a few weeks or months after a major change, such as moving to a new home.

_{Ingredients: Bifidobacterium longum BL999, liver flavor, vitamin E, maltodextrin | Delivery Method: Powdered supplement | Quantity: 30- and 90-count}

Stressful situations, like a new home or environment, can lead a cat to engage in unwanted behavior. Feliway’s calming spray uses the same feline pheromones cats spread in a secure environment to indicate to your cat that they’re in a safe space where they can relax. This may reduce scratching and urine-spraying behavior since your cat won’t feel the need to compete for control of an area.

To use Feliway Classic Calming Spray, first clean the area’s surface, then spritz it with the easy-to-use spray bottle. For consistent results, you’ll need to apply daily, but each 60-milliliter bottle of Feliway spray has 50 spritzes. It can be also particularly useful for spraying travel carriers and other high-stress environments.

_{Ingredients: Synthetic analog of the F3 fraction of feline facial pheromone | Delivery Method: Spray | Quantity: 60 milliliters}

Richard’s Organics Pet Calm combines four relaxation-inducing herbs—valerian, chamomile, passionflower, and skullcap extract—that may help alleviate stress, anxiety, and excitability and improve your cat’s sleep. Because it’s a liquid drop, administration can be a challenge, especially since there are no added flavors to entice your cat to consume it. We recommend dropping it onto your cat’s paw and letting him or her lick it off.

_{Ingredients: Valerian, chamomile, passionflower, skullcap extract | Delivery Method: Liquid drops | Quantity: 2-ounce bottle}

Another diffuser option, this kit from ThunderEase can help calm down all of the cats in a multi-cat household. This particular diffuser mimics the natural pheromones that are given off by a mother cat as she’s nursing, which helps reduce fighting among cats in the same household, decrease stress and anxiety, and boost resilience, helping your cat better adapt to any changes. Like the Feliway diffuser, this kit covers up to 700 square feet of space but requires refills. You can purchase the 30-day supply, or opt for 60 or 90 days of coverage.

_{Ingredients: Natural nursing pheromones | Delivery Method: Plug-in | Quantity: 30, 60, and 90-day supply}

What separates Fresh Step’s Calm formula from other cat litter is the scent, which combines hemp seed oil, chamomile, and rose. Our tester described it as similar to fresh potpourri and reported that it was pleasant without being overwhelming. Most importantly, it was a scent that didn’t turn into a weird smell when combined with a whiff of cat poop.

While there is some evidence for chamomile’s calming properties in humans, more study is needed to determine how much cats may benefit from the same effects. Similarly, while hemp seed oil is a good source of omega fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients, there’s no evidence demonstrating that the scent alone will have a proven calming effect on cats. But while there’s little reason to believe that Fresh Step Calm will have a significant effect on your cat’s mood or behavior, its scent can still make your litter box area a more soothing space for you. 

_{Ingredients: Clay, activated charcoal | Delivery Method: Cat litter | Quantity: 22.5-pound box}

These baking soda crystals are excellent at covering up smells and dissolve slowly over time for more thorough deodorizing than sprays or powders. Three different scents—derived from essential oils—are available, including a “Calming” lavender & vanilla combo. The Arm & Hammer Deodorizing Crystals come packaged in a round container with a lid similar to detergent, with a measuring cup built-in for easy sprinkling. 

While we appreciate the long-lasting deodorizing capacities of these sprinkle-able crystals, their calming effect isn’t likely to be very dramatic. There is some evidence to suggest that lavender’s reputation for calming has some real chemical basis. But while lavender does contain terpenes, camphor, and other compounds with known pharmacological effects, its calming powers are, for now, more anecdotal than scientific.

_{Ingredients: Baking soda, essential oils | Delivery Method: Deodorizing crystals | Quantity: 15 ounces}