The Best Cat Calming Aids to Help Soothe Your Feline Friend


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If your sweet feline struggles with anxiety, a cat calming aid may be just the thing to help your sensitive friend feel less stressed. While talking to your vet should always be your first step, cat calming aids can be a useful tool for managing everything from separation anxiety to stressful situations, like vet visits, loud thunderstorms or having company over.
That’s why we’ve rounded up the best calming aids for cats as rated and reviewed by Chewy pet parents like you. These best-selling and top-rated calming products have helped provide stress relief for cats who need a little extra help coping with their anxiety—so you both can enjoy less stress and more cuddles.
7 Best Cat Calming Aids
Best Overall Cat Calming Aid
Feliway MultiCat Calming Diffuser Refill for Cats, 30 day, 1 count

Best Cat Calming Supplement
Pet Honesty Dual Texture Chicken Flavored Calming Chews for Cats, 3.7-oz pouch

Best Calming Plug-in Diffuser
Feliway MultiCat Calming Diffuser Refill for Cats, 30 day, 1 count

Best Cat Calming Drops
NaturVet Quiet Moments Liquid Calming Supplement for Cats & Dogs, 2-fl oz bottle

Best Calming Cat Food
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Calm Dry Cat Food, 8.8-lb bag

How To Find the Best Cat Calming Aid
There are a variety of different types of cat calming aids on the market (see more on the types below). Kimberly Boudwin, VMD, chief medical officer at Providence Animal Center in Media, Pennsylvania, suggests following these important tips before buying a calming aid for cats.
- Consult your vet. Discuss your cat’s anxiety triggers and health history for tailored recommendations. Your vet may also be able to determine if the cause of anxiety is medically related.
- Ensure safety. Always choose products or remedies that are cat-safe and administer them as directed. This means buying well-reviewed, highly rated products that are formulated specifically for cats. Keep an eye on your cat after providing a calming aid to make sure there are no adverse side effects.
- Consider the type of aid. Calming aids for cats come in a variety of forms, including sprays, calming diffusers, chews and calming collars. You’ll want to choose an item based on the source of anxiety and your cat’s needs and preferences. For example, if your cat seems stressed while you’re away from home, then calming treats may not be as effective as a plug-in wall diffuser that helps them feel calm throughout the day.
Best Overall Cat Calming Aid

This drug-free option mimics a mother’s natural pheromones to bring relief to stressed cats. When used with the plug-in diffuser (purchased separately as part of a starter kit), it helps reduce common symptoms of stress, such as scratching, spraying and hiding. Reviewers say it’s effective in calming their cats down and is “a lifesaver.”
Best Cat Calming Supplement

These chewable calming supplements are formulated with L-theanine, thiamine and natural chamomile to help alleviate stress and anxiety. Reviewers report that their cats love chowing down on the chicken-flavored chews, which have a crunchy shell and soft, creamy filling.
Best Calming Plug-in Diffuser

The best overall cat calming aid is also the best cat calming diffuser. This refill mimics your cat’s natural calming pheromones (feline facial pheromone to be exact), which provide them with a sense of security and comfort. When placed in the plug-in pheromone diffuser (for purchase separately as part of a starter kit) it gets dispersed throughout the room. Chewy pet parents report that for certain cats, the cat pheromones in this cat calming aid helped reduce nervous behaviors like scratching and spraying.
Best Cat Calming Drops

Combining naturally-derived active ingredients such as L-tryptophan and chamomile, this liquid supplement for cats offers a calming effect to help reduce stress and tension. It’s also made with ginger to help settle a sensitive stomach (a common side effect of stress). Administer orally during stressful events like travel or thunderstorms, or daily to support cool cat calmness in their everyday life.
Best Calming Cat Food

This dry cat food, available with authorization from your vet, is scientifically formulated to not only help calm your cat, but also address side effects caused by stress, such as digestive upset, skin irritation (brought on by overgrooming, a common response to stress) and urinary sensitivities. Reviewers say it’s a hit even with picky eaters.
How We Chose These Calming Products
Every product selected in our roundup of the best cat calming aids is top-rated at Chewy, which means they’ve all received a 4-star review or higher. They’re also best-selling products, which means you can rest assured that everyday cat parents just like you have used the products and swear by them. We know how tough it is to find a product that works, and we’re happy to do the research for you!
Types of Cat Calming Aids
Just as there are all sorts of stressful situations for your favorite feline, there are many different types of calming aids to choose from. Now that you know what the best ones are, let’s dig a little deeper into some of the most common options pet parents use.
Supplements
Supplements, including calming chews and powders, are given to your pet orally. These chewable items are formulated with ingredients that bring relief from occasional anxiousness, such as the amino acid L-theanine, thiamine, L-tryptophan, melatonin, passionflower and more. While these supplements are formulated in flavors that cats should find appealing, some cats still may not like them. “If your cat will eat them readily, they are a great addition to your behavior treatment plan,” Dr. Boudwin says.
Plug-in Diffuser
A calming diffuser typically uses a synthetic pheromone that mimics the natural calming pheromones a mother cat produces. Simply plug them in to the wall socket and replenish as needed (about once a month). Dr. Boudwin says this is an excellent option and one she often recommends, as they are very safe, non-invasive, inexpensive and easy to use.
Food
Certain diets can help soothe a high-strung cat, so pet parents may want to consider switching up their cat’s meal plan. Calming cat foods are often formulated with ingredients that have a calming effect—such as chamomile, L-theanine, L-tryptophan and thiamine—which can help maintain calmness and alleviate certain stress-related cat behaviors. Some also target other problems brought on by stress, like hairballs and skin issues from over grooming.
Calming Drops
If your cat’s already settled with their diet and you don’t want to disrupt it, another option is to add calming drops to their meals or treats. Similar to the food, these are formulated with ingredients known for their calming benefits, such as L-tryptophan and chamomile. All you need to do is add the recommended dosage to their food to help bring them some much-needed comfort.
Litter
The litter box is a common source of cat stress, Dr. Boudwin says, particularly in multi-cat households or in situations where the location, cleanliness or litter type isn’t up to your pet’s standards. Simply keeping the litter box clean, putting it in an accessible location, and having one for every cat in the family (plus one additional box) can help immensely. As noted, there are also litters infused with calming scents, such as lavender, rose or chamomile, that you can use.
How To Calm Cats
A stressed cat is no fun for anyone, especially if the stress brings on destructive behavior, ongoing animal fights or potty problems. That said, stress is the hardest on your poor feline.
Signs of stress in cats include:
- Increased heart rate
- Open-mouth breathing
- Agitation
- Decreased appetite
“Some cats are really good at hiding their stress, and a lot of cats manifest their stress in ways that most people wouldn’t think were related to stress, such as urinating outside the litter box, drooling, excessive crying or hiding,” Dr. Boudwin says.
Finding them relief as soon as possible is important. Follow this advice from Dr. Boudwin on how to calm cats.
Step 1: Identify the Stress Trigger
Observe your cat’s behavior to pinpoint any potential anxiety triggers. Common stressors for cats are often related to unclean litter boxes (or not enough boxes for multi-cat households), other animals, changes in routine or their environment, and health issues. All triggers require a unique response to help soothe your cat’s anxiety. Again, your vet can help you find the best solution.
Step 2: Create a Safe, Stress-Free Environment
Creating a calm, quiet and safe space for your cat can potentially help reduce their anxiety levels. If it’s another pet who’s making them stressed, allowing them to isolate in this safe space is ideal. Make sure that the area has what they need, including a clean litter box and access to water and food. Also try to keep the area as quiet as you can with minimal movement.
Step 3: Use Calming Aids
In addition to addressing their environment, introducing calming cat aids like the ones discussed above help bring your kitty some much-needed relief. Select the best type of calming aid according to your cat’s triggers and preferences.
Step 4: Engage in Stimulating Activities
Cats benefit from a healthy dose of both mental and physical stimulation every day. This improves their mental well-being and can help lower stress levels. Both mental and physical stimulation can come from playing fun games with your cat. Let them chase after a laser toy, toss them catnip-filled toys or tease them with feather wands.
Talk to Your Veterinarian
Since all cats and scenarios are different, talk to a veterinarian for guidance about the best calming aid for your cat. It’s also important to see your vet if things aren’t getting better or the situation seems severe.
“Anytime your cat is exhibiting signs that are outside of their ‘normal,’ it’s worth going to your vet to have them checked out,” Dr. Boudwin says. “Sometimes it can be really hard to tell if a behavior is from stress or an underlying medical condition. In some cases, stress in cats can cause really significant health issues, such as urinary tract problems.”
Life can be stressful, but with the best cat calming aids, you can help your feline bestie navigate tough times with ease so you both can enjoy more quiet moments together. Looking for more tips and tricks to help reduce your cat’s anxiety in addition to these cat calming products? Check out our ultimate guide on reducing stress for your pet.
Cat Calming FAQs
What causes cat anxiety?
The most common causes of cat anxiety include interactions with other animals, new people or children in the house, and pain or health issues. “Another very common issue is anxiety around the litter box,” Dr. Boudwin says. “Cats can become stressed if it’s too small, dirty or [in] a new location. Competition between cats over the litter box can also cause significant stress in a cat’s life.”
Do calming aids work for cats?
Yes, calming aids can work for cats, but results are often mixed. The key to managing stress—and any resulting behavioral issues—is to take a multi-modal approach that encompasses behavior modification, adjusting the environment, and calming aids. Prescription medications from your vet may also be helpful.
What do vets recommend for cat anxiety?
Vets recommend identifying the source of anxiety in your cat and addressing it promptly. This may mean switching up the litter box situation, isolating your cat from other animals in the home, or eliminating stressful scenarios as best as you can (like loud noises or lots of movement). Adjustments in the environment and calming aids can help.
How can I calm my stressed cat naturally?
Naturally calming your cat involves addressing their environment and their potential stress triggers. Do your best to eliminate these stressful scenarios for quick improvement. From there, you can use calming aids administered as directed and provide them with mental and physical stimulation.
Attributions
Expert input provided by Kimberly Boudwin, VMD, chief medical officer at Providence Animal Center in Media, Pennsylvania.
This content was medically reviewed by Chewy vets.
