How to Reduce Cat Anxiety?

Cats have an affinity to stress because, like us, they experience a plethora of emotions; anxiety is a big one (and I mean Big). We are worlds away from building a perfect home, free of fear and stress, but we can always try to ease them up. Easing these triggers starts with knowing what they are:

What Are the Most Common Causes of Stress in Cats?

Ever had a friend over and seen your cat bolt under the sofa? I have because cats and change go together like water and oil. Here are some major ones that trigger them:

• Environmental changes

• Barren environment

• Poor human-cat relationship 

• Inter-cat conflict

Cat math in a nutshell: visitors invading their personal space? Horrifying. Changes in routine? Unthinkable. A visit to the vet? That’s a new level of terror. 

Mia and Romy took almost a year to get used to each other.

Fact (not fun): Stress may persist with our pets for years (like that one bad haircut in the photos), the greater it is at that time, the more likely they will respond negatively to the same situation.

How Can You Tell If Your Cat Is Feeling Stressed or Anxious?

Cats' primary response to stress and anxiety is behavioral. There are a few telltale indicators, ranging from sulking at the darkest crevices of the room to overgrooming. While some may change dramatically into clingy furballs, others will morph into little spitfires of aggression. In fact, stress can be so overwhelming that meals might get snubbed, or, worse, they lose their appetite. 

Take moving into a new home or welcoming a new pet. It may seem minor to us, but to a cat, it's a life-changing event...

Studies tell us cats often hide more when anxious in new environments. You might even notice their breathing change and their tense body, as they're always on high alert. Giving them time to adjust might lessen all these.

If you take a cat from his territory; I guarantee there will be excessive vocalization and overgrooming. Things like vet visits or kennel overstays will leave some claw marks on the furniture, that’s for sure!

Lack of appetite and staying out of sight are also very common ways our cats will tell us they are anxious.

The same frustrations show when you’ve gone and taken a vacation without your cat knowing. Contrary to popular belief, your cat can feel Separation anxiety (read on here). In cat logic, if you’ve been gone too long (an hour or two), you’ve probably been preyed on somewhere in the wild. As they’re stuck at home, they’ll show their frustrations sometimes by shredding (your favorite) furniture or eliminating outside the litter box.

Building a Sturdy Routine Can Help Your Anxious Cat

Routine can help anxious cats because it provides predictability and security. Cats thrive when they know when they'll be fed, played with, or even taken out on walks.

One of the best ways to prevent a cat from door dashing is taking them out always at the same time, following the same routine. With Mia, I ask her to come and then sit. While she's sitting I put her Houdini Harness on. I ask her to sit before opening the door and only when I'm ready, I give her a go to go outside. This routine prevents her for thinking that every time there's a door open, it's time to go outside.

Sudden changes can cause behavioral issues like aggression, excessive meowing, or even litter box avoidance. To establish a good routine, keep feeding times, play sessions, and interactions consistent daily. Remember that for cats, weekends are not a thing so try to create a routine that you can keep 7 days a week.

Mia and I have the following routine:

• 7:00 am - Mia wakes me up
  
• 7:30 am - Mia gets fed
• 7:45 am - I make coffee and have breakfast
• 8:30 am - Mia and I go on a walk (weather permitting) or play
  
• Noon - I feed Mia
  
• 6:00 pm - I feed Mia
• 6:30 pm - Play session
• 11:00 pm - I feed Mia
• 11:30 pm- Play session
• Midnight - Bedtime

What Are the Best Ways to Calm a Stressed Cat Naturally?

Know that you can, for the most part, do something about the situation. It will take time before your ways help, but your cats will recognize your care, trust you deeply, and return the love tenfold.

What Role Does a Cat’s Routine Play in Preventing Stress?

Our cats' wild ancestors hunted, slept, and ate in a certain way to survive. This study tells us that routine is hardwired into cats' DNA.

Routine prevents them from stress by providing predictability. Their internal clock helps them feel safe and in control of their home.

Life happens, of course, and big changes are unavoidable. Gradually Exposing your cat to new situations early and often helps them adjust. Pair it with positive reinforcement (treats work wonders) and keep smaller routines intact to soften the blow. This can help cats be resilient and reduce their anxiety in unfamiliar setups.

The key is balance: predictability to feel safe but enough variety to keep things interesting. Think of it like a cozy bedtime routine but with a new book or a blanket now and then.

Outdoor time can boost happiness and reduce stress, works for us and our cats. Taking them for leash walks using a harness will stimulate them mentally and encourage positive behavior. Getting them into a harness is a challenge (add the dramatic flopping as if gravity has tripled); the trick is to go their pace, keep the experience positive, and reward progress with treats (of course, the answer is food). Here’s our guide on how to teach your cat to walk on a leash.

Calming cat treats is a saving grace for most of us and my favorite way of relieving a nervous cat. Off to the vet? Treats. Fireworks? Treats. It took some heavy-duty research to find what I should look for in these calming cat treats. These are the common (scientifically validated) ingredients that can help take the edge off:

• L-theanine

• Casozepine 

• Tryptophan 

Studies suggest these natural compounds promote relaxation and support serotonin production or the “feel-good” brain chemical. So, when shopping for the right calming treats, I recommend these.

Should You Use Pheromone Diffusers or Other Anti-Stress Products?

These pheromones according to Feliway work by "mimicking the natural pheromones that send calming messages to cats." Because "the feline facial pheromone is a comforting pheromone that provides a sense of reassurance for cats in their environment."

Some studies are funded by the same companies that sell the product, other studies have no control groups (meaning that they are not really able to know for sure that the improvements are linked to the product and not something else or even a placebo effect).

All and all, research on Feliway and other pheromone products shows mixed results.

Should you use pheromones?

If you are already using the product and you believe it's working on your cat, as long as you can comfortably pay the cost of these gadgets and refills, please, don't stop now.

If on the contrary, you are not convinced the products are working, consider stopping using them for a bit to see if anything changes in your cats' behavior (for better or worse). Then, you can decide what to do based on this little test.

I believe that trying to identify the source of the anxiety and build desensitization is the best way forward.

When Should You See a Vet About Your Cat’s Stress Levels?

When you’ve exhausted all possible natural methods and your cat’s stress symptoms are severe, that’s when you know you need to go see your vet. Some situations will call for pills, like Gabapentin (I understand that the thought is scary), but this can actually help reduce stress and might even make a difference in long-term health.

Giving your cat challenges and pushing their boundaries will help their enrichment (and your freedom) but anxiety is a powerful enemy that is better fought when anticipated.

Train your cat, build habituation, and give them the best winning chance!

Albert & Mia

Citations:

Amat M, Camps T, Manteca X. Stress in owned cats: behavioural changes and welfare implications. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2016;18(8):577-586. doi:10.1177/1098612X15590867

McGrath, A. P., Horschler, D. J., & Hancock, L. (2024). Feline Cognition and the Role of Nutrition: An Evolutionary Perspective and Historical Review. Animals, 14(13), 1967. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14131967

Castañeda, I., Forin-Wiart, M.-A., Pisanu, B., & de Bouillane de Lacoste, N. (2023). Spatiotemporal and Individual Patterns of Domestic Cat (Felis catus) Hunting Behaviour in France. Animals, 13(22), 3507. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13223507

Overall, K. L., Rodan, I., Beaver, B. V., Carney, H., Crowell-Davis, S., Hird, N., ... & Wexler-Mitchel, E. (2005). Feline behavior guidelines from the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 227(1), 70-84.

DePorter TL, Bledsoe DL, Beck A, Ollivier E. 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. 2019;21(4):293-305. doi:10.1177/1098612X18774437