The 9 Best Calming Aids for Cats of 2024

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Feliway Classic Calming Spray for Cats

The Spruce Pets / Amelia Manley

Just like people, cats can get stressed out from time to time. Boredom, overstimulation (too much noise and/or excessive touching), and changes in their environment are all potential stressors. While the causes of your cat’s stress should be your first target, calming aids can help soothe them through unavoidable changes to their environment.

According to Dr. Zay Satchu, DVM, co-founder and Chief Veterinary Officer of Bond Vet, there are several different types of products available for relieving stress and anxiety in cats, including treats, collars, sprays and plug-ins.

“Sprays and plug-ins work by releasing calming pheromones into the air that are calming and help kitty relax,” Dr. Satchu told The Spruce Pets. “Treats use a blend of calming and relaxing herbs, similar to how some teas work for people.”

So, what should you look for? The best calming aids contain pheromones, rosemary, chamomile, and/or tryptophan, says Satchu. Because cats are individuals, and no product will be effective with 100 percent of cats, you may need to try several categories of calming aid to find the one that works for your feline.

We recommend starting with the Feliway Optimum Enhanced Calming Plug-In Diffuser. This plug-in releases the same pheromones your cat naturally produces, which research suggests reduces stress by indicating that the local environment is a familiar and safe place.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Feliway Enhanced Calming Plug-In Diffuser

Feliway Optimum Enhanced Calming Plug-In Diffuser

Amazon

What We Like
  • Easily, plug-in delivery

  • Covers up to 700 square feet

  • No unwanted side effects

What We Don't Like
  • Can take 1-4 weeks to show improved behavior

  • Canisters need replaced monthly

  • Plug-in can get hot if left in after the canister is drained

The Feliway Optimum Enhanced Calming diffuser can help calm your cat in stressful situations like moving, the introduction of a new baby or pet, and during disruptive events like thunderstorms and fireworks.

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. Feliway diffusers recreate these naturally-produced pheromones to reduce stress and anxiety. Feliway diffusers 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 relation 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 the 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.

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: Diffusion | Quantity: 1.6 fluid ounces

Best Treats

VetriScience Composure Calming Treats for Cats

Vetriscience Composure Calming Treats for Cats

Amazon

What We Like
  • Starts working in 20 to 30 minutes

  • Allows for flexible dosing, such as by breaking up treats

  • Contains three active ingredients

What We Don't Like
  • Smells a little medicinal

  • Safe for all ages and weights

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.

The dosage, or amount of chews you give, depends on your cat’s weight but if you’re not getting the results you want, you can double the amount with no adverse effects. You can also break a treat into pieces if a smaller bite is more appealing to your cat or you want to offer them a smaller dose. We found that they’re easiest to feed them to your cat by adding them to their first meal of the day.

If you have a cat with an anxious personality, you can give these daily or you can administer them as needed during particularly stressful times.

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

Best Supplement

Purina Calming Care Veterinary Supplements

What We Like
  • Uses cutting edge probiotics

  • Easy to administer with food

  • Available in 30 and 90-count packages

What We Don't Like
  • Can take up to six weeks to see effects

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. While most probiotics are targeted at 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.

While using beneficial bacteria to alter hormonal chemistry is a cutting edge field, Purina claims to have found improvements in anxious behaviors, while further promoting play and sociability. The supplements can be used long-term for especially anxious cats, or used for a few weeks or months after a major change, such as moving to a new home. So far, probiotic calming for pets looks very promising, with institutions like the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine monitoring the field’s progress.

Delivered in a powdered form that tastes like liver, Calming Care Veterinary Supplements come in individual sachets that you can sprinkle over your cat’s food, or mix into wet food. It’s available in 30 and 90-count packs.

Ingredients: Bifidobacterium longum BL999, liver flavor, vitamin E, maltodextrin | Delivery Method: individual sachet powder packets added to food | Quantity: 30 and 90-count

Best for Road Trips

NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin

NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin

Amazon

What We Like
  • Budget-friendly price

  • Includes melatonin and tryptophan to encourage sleepiness

  • Includes ginger for anti-nausea

What We Don't Like
  • Not safe for kittens

  • Not recommended for use with pregnant cats

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. It too has been proven to increase sleepiness. These chews 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 all makes NaturVet Soft Chews especially useful for road trips.

Salmon flavored and made in the United States, NaturVet chews also include brewers 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 no more than four chews in a 12-hour period.

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

Best Spray

Feliway Classic Calming Spray

What We Like
  • Helps prevent scratching and urine spraying

  • May draw out cats who like to hide

  • Good for spraying in carriers

What We Don't Like
  • Can be an eye irritant if misused

  • Requires daily re-application

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’s particularly useful for spraying travel carriers and other high-stress environments.

Ingredients: Synthetic analogue of the F3 fraction of feline facial pheromone | Delivery Method: Spray on areas marked by cat | Quantity: 60 milliliters

Best Litter

Fresh Step Calm Cat Litter

What We Like
  • Relaxing rose, chamomile, and hemp seed oil scents

  • Dust-free

  • Includes activated charcoal for odor absorption

  • Box has a built-in handle

What We Don't Like
  • Limited availability in 2023, due to cybersecurity incident

We’ve tested more than 20 popular and bestselling cat litters, both in our New York testing lab and in the homes of dozens of volunteer cat owners. Fresh Step Clean Paws Calm Clumping Cat Litter was one of the highest rated litters in our latest round of tests.

A clumping clay litter, Fresh Step also incorporates activated charcoal for extra odor absorbing. But what separates Fresh Step’s Calm formula from other cat litters 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. 

Worth noting: while Fresh Step is usually widely stocked online and at major retailers, an August 2023 cybersecurity attack is likely to affect availability in the short term.

Ingredients: Clay, activated charcoal | Quantity: 22.5-pound box

Best Drops

Richard's Organics Pet Calm

Richard’s Organic Pet Calm

Chewy

What We Like
  • Organic ingredients

  • Great travel size

  • Drops can be applied to food or treats

What We Don't Like
  • Not all cats go for its flavor

Richard’s Organics Pet Calm combines four relaxation-inducing herbs—valerian, chamomile, passionflower, and skullcap extract—that may help alleviate stress, anxiety, 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

Best for Multi-cat Households

ThunderEase Multicat Calming Pheromone Diffuser

ThunderEase Multicat Calming Pheromone Diffuser

Amazon

What We Like
  • Covers up to 700 square feet

  • Easy to use

What We Don't Like
  • Needs a refill every 30 days

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.

Delivery Method: Diffusion | Key Ingredients: Natural nursing pheromones

Best Calming Apparel

ThunderShirt Anxiety Vest for Cats

ThunderShirt Anxiety Vest for Cats

Amazon

What We Like
  • Available in three sizes

  • Can be embroidered with your cat’s name

  • Nothing needs to go over your cat’s head

  • Machine washable

  • Reduces problem meowing

What We Don't Like
  • Not always easy to get your cat to wear anything

  • Velcro may scare cat

Cats seek out petting because it feels pleasantly like grooming for them. The pressure on their skin contributes to a sense of comfort and security. A similar idea is behind the ThunderShirt for Cats, which wraps your cat in a gentle, calming pressure. While introducing the Thundershirt to your cat has a bit of a learning curve, many cats quickly adapt to wearing it, exhibiting reduced meowing and calmer behavior. It’s especially useful for veterinary visits, road trips, and when trimming their nails.

The ThunderShirt can be embroidered with your cat’s name and is available in there sizes. It’s even machine washable.

Sizes: Small (under 9 pounds), medium (9-13 pounds), large (over 13 pounds)

Final Verdict

Our favorite calming aid for cats is the Feliway Optimum Enhanced Calming Plug-In Diffuser, which releases pheromones indicating to your cat that the area is safe for them. For journeying outside the home, check out NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin, which uses two proven ingredients to help your cat zonk out during a stressful road trip.

What to Look for in Calming Aids in Cats

Delivery Method

One of the major things to consider when choosing the best calming aid for your cat is the delivery method. There are four major types: treats, collars, sprays, and plug-ins. You know your cat best, so the best one for you may not be the best for someone else. But if you want an expert opinion, Dr. Zay Satchu, DVM, co-founder and Chief Veterinary Officer of Bond Vet, says, “I have confidence in the abilities of the Feliway plug-ins and sprays, but have heard mixed reviews from cat parents that have tried the collars and treats. Some cats will [also] be annoyed just by having a collar on and that will defeat the purpose.” 

Ingredients

Another big factor is the ingredients. Satchu says that pheromones, rosemary, chamomile, and tryptophan are some of the top ingredients to look for, but other products contain additional calming aids like passionflower, colostrum, L-theanine, and jasmine. If you want to try calming treats, you’ll want to look for additional ingredients like chicken or liver so your cat will want to eat them.

Portability

Whether or not portability is important depends on how you need to use the calming aid. If your cat is stressed when at home, a plug-in diffuser is probably your best bet, but if you’re trying to figure out a way to calm your cat when visiting the vet or traveling, you’ll want to try a wipe, spray, or treats.

FAQ
  • Are CBD products safe for cats?

    CBD is spending some serious time in the spotlight—for humans and dogs—but there’s not enough research that’s been done on the effects in cats. Because of this, we do not recommend the use of CBD oil as a calming aid for your cat unless you’re under strict supervision by your own veterinarian.

  • Is lavender essential oil safe for cats?

    Lavender essential oils may be a good calming aid for humans, but it should not be used near or on your cat. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, lavender contains two components, linalool and linalyl acetate, that are toxic to cats.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Steven Asarch, a freelance writer for The Spruce Pets. He has firsthand experience working with different feline products and taking care of two rambunctious felines.

A previous version of this article was written by Lindsay Boyers, a feline-obsessed cat mom of three. She has personally tried Feliway products with great success, but also consulted with a qualified veterinarian to get recommendations for the most effective calming products for cats.

For additional information on cat calming aids, we spoke to Dr. Zay Satchu, DVM, co-founder and Chief Veterinary Officer of Bond Vet.

The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Stress, security, and scent: The influence of chemical signals on the social lives of domestic cats and implications for applied settings. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2017;187:69-76. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2016.11.011

  2. Mills DS, Redgate SE, Landsberg GM. “A meta-analysis of studies of treatments for feline urine spraying.” PLoS One. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0018448

  3. Dramard, V., Kern, L., Hofmans, J. et al. Effect of l-theanine tablets in reducing stress-related emotional signs in cats: an open-label field study. Ir Vet J 71, 21 (2018).

  4. Hartmann E. Effects of L-tryptophan on sleepiness and on sleep. J Psychiatr Res. 1982-1983;17(2):107-13. doi: 10.1016/0022-3956(82)90012-7. PMID: 6764927.

  5. Srivastava JK, Shankar E, Gupta S. Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright futureMol Med Report. 2010;3(6):895-901.

  6. DePorter, Theresa L, et al. “Evaluation of the efficacy of an appeasing pheromone diffuser product vs placebo for management of feline aggression in multi-cat households: a pilot study.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. DOI: 10.1177/1098612X18774437

  7. Lavender.American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

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