Table of Contents
1. Use ongoing calming medicine
2. Try calming treats for specific stressful moments
3. Play soothing music or sounds for your cat
4. Provide a safe space
5. Spend quality time with your pet
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How to calm a cat down in 5 simple steps
- By Ellie
-
- April 14, 2026
- 3 MIN READ
Cats are sensitive and intelligent creatures, who can be spooked by many different things. From change of environment to loud noises like fireworks, cats can quickly become anxious and hide away. It’s helpful to know how to ease your cat’s nerves when stressful moments occur. Scroll to find out our top 5 tips to keep your kitty calm and signs of anxious behaviours to look out for.
1. Use ongoing calming medicine
If your cat is often unsettled or is highly anxious, it’s worth trying a calming medicine. Over the counter or vet-prescribed calming treatments can help your kitty relax, it just depends on your pet and how the medication works for them. We’d suggest starting off with easy-to-buy treatment that is tailored to calm your cat, but doesn’t require an expensive vet prescription, like a calming pheromone diffuser.
How does a Pheromone Diffuser work?
Pheromone diffusers plug into your wall socket at home and release synthetic pheromones that relax and chill out your cat. The feline facial pheromone produced by cats provides a sense of comfort, safety and reassurance - So when cats detect this pheromone from your diffuser they recognise it and reduce their stress levels.
If you are worried about your cat’s anxiety or they are showing other physical symptoms, it’s best to contact your vet to get a better understanding of what’s going on.
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2. Try calming treats for specific stressful moments
For those kitties that only get worried in specific moments, which you tend to already know about, explore a more natural approach with calming treats. Lots of brands sell functional treats that aren’t just tasting but they help your cat slow down and relax, like the Itch Calm Treats for Cats. Made with ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients, our calming treats help cats in those particular stressful moments to chill out.
Here are some common ingredients many calming treats contain to help relax your cat:
Common ingredients found in these treats include:
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Camomile helps reduce inflammation and restore zen-like vibes in your cat.
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L-tryptophan is a natural amino acid that helps increase your kitty’s serotonin level so they are less stressed and aggressive.
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Passionflower has natural calming properties, so it is a safe ingredient for all pets with anxiety.
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Valerian root is a flowering herb with mild sedative properties to help treat anxiety and improve sleep.
3. Play soothing music or sounds for your cat
With hearing that is 3 times better than ours, cats respond well to soft and soothing sounds. You can opt for music like classical, or try white noise to calm down your cat. Test out both to see which your cat prefers. In loud, noisy environments, playing calming sounds can also help distract your pet and relax them this way too.
4. Provide a safe space
Cats tend to hide or squeeze into small spaces when they are scared. To help keep them safe and regulate their anxiety, build a den or dedicated space for your cat to sneak off to when they need it. Cats enjoy being high up so opt for a cat tree or shelf to create their den on.
5. Spend quality time with your pet
It might seem simple but spending time with your pet can help them feel reassured and safer. You can comfort them by petting them, brushing their fur, or simply being near them. Mental stimulation can also help exhaust your pet, so they are sleepy and less panicked - Try playing with cat toys or give them a lick mat with treat paste.
It’s important to recognise that when your cat is feeling anxious, don’t pick them up or not give them space. Cats particularly want to feel in control and by over-cuddling them, their worries can exacerbate.
Whether you use need to use calming medicine or music therapy, be confident in knowing that you have the resources to calm your cat consistently, or just in those stressful moments when they need it the most.
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