Cat anxiety can reveal itself in several different ways, and depending on how it manifests, you’ll be able to gain a basic understanding of how severely your feline is suffering from it.

As a general rule of thumb, your furry friend is likely to be suffering from anxiety if they have started to hide or pace around the room more. They also might have a decreased appetite, tremble more than usual, become hypervigilant, and even more excessively vocal.

However, here are some other tell-tell signs that could be indicative of mild, moderate or severe anxiety: 

If your cat is experiencing mild anxiety, they might display the following behaviors:

• Avoiding eye contact

• Holding their tail near their body

• Pupils partially dilated

• Shifting head or body away

• Slight flicking of their tail

If your cat is experiencing moderate anxiety, they might display the following behaviors:

• Inappropriate urination in the home (outside of their litter tray)

• Bigger pupil dilation

• Ears directed partially to their side

• Holding their tail tightly up against their body

• Intense staring at the stimulus

• Leaning away or crouching

• Quicker respiratory rate

If your cat is experiencing severe anxiety, they might display the following behaviors:

• Aggression

• Overgrooming which can result in loss of hair and sore skin

• Reduced appetite or not eating at all

• Completely freezing on the spot

• Fully pinning back their ears

• Hair standing on end

• Pupils fully dilated

• Trying to escape the room or the trigger of the anxiety

Cat anxiety can be caused by several factors. However, the main ones are as follows:

Possibly the most common cause of cat anxiety is living in a multi-cat household where felines have to share resources like litter trays, water bowls, and food and potentially deal with more domineering personalities or breeds.

If a cat is suffering from a physical condition or illness that is causing them significant discomfort or pain, then it can be a major trigger of your cat’s anxiety.

Some of these conditions could be aging-related, while others might be due to a natural decline in the nervous system, toxic living conditions, or infectious diseases. 

In some cases, cats who were deprived of positive environmental and social exposures during the first 7 to 12 weeks of their life (aka the socialization period) may become anxious or habitually fearful.

Additionally, this feeling can escalate if they can’t escape or hide away from the stimulus, e.g., when living with a pet that scares them or when loud noises like fireworks are let off.

Many cats (and dogs, for that matter) suffer from separation anxiety, which means that when you leave them on their own, they might exhibit excessive distress or anxiety behaviors.

Often, separation anxiety in cats occurs as a result of regular rehoming, living in a property with only one person, or in a household with many people.

Sadly, being abandoned can also be a big cause of this feeling in canines.

If a cat has been subjected to environmental changes, such as a new pet or child being introduced to the family or moving into a new home, it could cause them anxiety.

If you suspect your cat is suffering from anxiety, the best thing you can do is take them to your veterinarian, who will give them a thorough examination.

When doing this, the first thing they will want to do is make sure your cat is not suffering from any other conditions that might be affecting its behavior, such as thyroid disease or any other pain.

Typically, they will do this through a mix of urine and blood tests, and a physical exam. Although, depending on the results of these tests, they might do further tests.

Your vet will also want to gain a comprehensive understanding of your cat's history when making their diagnosis and, if possible, see some video of its at-home behavior.

As a general rule of thumb, the best calming cat treats contain ingredients like thiamine (Vitamin B1), L-tryptophan, α-casozepine, and L-theanine, which have been clinically proven to relax the central nervous system, most notably in a 2017 study that was published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

While specific clinical research on calming cat treats is rather limited, some studies, including one published in the Irish Veterinary Journal in 2018, have reported that they can be effective in reducing anxiety in cats.

In this particular study, it was found that Anxitane®, an oral calming supplement whose active ingredient is L-theanine, helped to lower stress behaviors in cats in just over two weeks.

It is worth pointing out that the effectiveness of cat-calming treats will depend very much on the type and concentration of active ingredients used to make them and the processes involved. So, it is a good idea to contact your vet for their expert opinion on which brand is most suitable for your particular breed of feline.

Overall, there are many different types of calming treats for cats available in pet stores and major retail outlets like Walmart, and most veterinarians will have a preferred type they recommend to cat moms and dads. It is worth talking to your vet to determine which type they believe would be most beneficial to your feline.

However, here are some popular brands they might suggest:

• I and Love and You Hearties Calming and Coat Support Grain-Free Cat Treats

• NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Cat Aid Supplement Plus Melatonin

• Pet Naturals Calming Cat Chews

• Shameless Pets Catnip n Chill Crunchy Cat Treats

• ThunderWunders Calming Cat Paw Gel

• Tomlyn Relax & Calm Chicken Flavored Soft Chews

• Vetriscience Composure Chicken Liver Flavor Soft Chews

• Paw Origins Happy-Furever™ CBD Chews

When deciding on the right brand for your cat, here are some factors you should consider:

• How easy is it to administer the calming cat treats?

• What effective active ingredients does it have? I(ideally, the ingredients will haveat has been backed by research evidence.)

• Is it free from toxins and, therefore, approved for use in cats?

• What type of anxiety is it for, chronic or situational? S(some are more suitable for a one-off dose, i.e., fireworks, while others are formulated for ongoing use.)

It is always a good idea to contact your vet for their advice when choosing a calming cat treat.

Cat calming treats can significantly help your feline to reduce their levels of anxiety. So, it is worth contacting your vet to determine which type, if any, would provide your kitty with the most benefit.

Overall, most of them offer an effective and convenient solution for helping felines of all ages and breeds to deal with their uneasiness.

As they are available without requiring a prescription and quite affordable for many pet parents, they can be an excellent way to manage your cat’s anxiety levels over the long term. 

Here are some answers to questions that are frequently asked about calming cat treats.

Yes, calming treats can be a useful tool for reducing anxiety within your feline if you give them an appropriate choice for their type of anxiety, i.e., situational or chronic.

You should have regular consultations with your vet to assess whether they are actually working, particularly in cases of chronic anxiety or if your cat’s anxiety is getting worse.

Some people suggest that hemp oil infused with naturally occurring CBD may work to relieve any discomfort and aches your cat is experiencing and help calm their nerves.

Before you give any to your cat, you should seek guidance from your vet as to the relative merits of doing so.