While there are many things we can do to minize stress in cats, there are times when we want to throw up our hands and call for help. Fortunately, there are several commercial products, both OTC and by prescription, that can help alleviate stress in cats.

• Rescue Remedy: Rescue Remedy is a Bach Flower Essence, which are tinctures of flowers in an alcohol or other base. It is named for Dr. Edward Bach, a British physician, who developed his flower essences in the early 1930s. Rescue Remedy is developed from five flowers, and is extremely effective in the relief of stress or trauma, both in humans and in animals. Two or three drops in a bowl of water often provide quick relief. If your cat does not like the taste (the alcohol content is almost negligible after dilution), you can rub one or two drops behind the cat's ear. The Cats Forum members who have tried Rescue Remedy on their cats, swear by its effectiveness.
• Feliway Comfort Zone for Cats: Feliway is a "friendly pheromone, developed by Farnam, Inc. It mimics the facial pheremones cats use to mark territory. Feliway was originally developed to discourage urine marking by cats, since it is believed cats will not "spray" areas they have previously marked with facial pheromones. It is also believed to be effective in reducing other stress-related behaviors. Comfort Zone, with Feliway, is a wall plug-in which diffuses the pheromone throughout a room.
• Homeopathic Remedies: There are a number of commercially prepared homeopathic remedies available, said to relieve stress in pets. Ideally, if you have a homeopathic practitioner in your area, a preparation should be individualized to your own cat's needs.

Recommended Reading:

The following are some books that include information that will help you reduce stress in your cats. I have included links to my reviews of these books, where applicable.

• The Cat Who Cried for Help, by Dr. Nicholas Dodman
• Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs, by Donald Hamilton
• The New Natural Cat, by Anitra Frazier
• The Nature of Animal Healing, by Martin Goldstein
• Raising Cats Naturally, by Michelle T. Bernard. Gives a full chapter with a very good explanation of homeopathic remedies.

Remember, that one of the most important things you can do to minimize stress in your cat is to keep your own stress level down. A hot cup of herbal tea, a glass of wine, or maybe a drop or two of Rescue Remedy in a glass of water might be just the thing you need on some of those days when you find yourself "telegraphing" your own stress to your cat.