I have never known a cat that was not upset by the sound of fireworks, thunder, or similar loud noises.
I have also never met a kitty that liked to go to the veterinarian.
These are situations that cause anxiety in almost all cats. If we can help them deal with this upset, that would be a good thing to do.
There are some cats that feel stressed almost every day because of such things as conflict with other pets, or memories of an abusive former home, or recollections of life in a shelter or in the woods. This may call for continuing assistance from you.
We were always looking for ways to reduce any stress in our cats, so most of what I mention here is based on actual experience.
If you recognize that your pet needs some help to be calm, then I have a few suggestions for you.
Composure(TM) Max Liquid
This is a product developed by VetriSCIENCE Laboratories.
The three active ingredients are:
1. L-Theanine
This is an amino acid that I have used in the past with our rescue cats. I used it in powder form and sprinkled a measured dose on their cat food. It did seem to calm our feral rescues pretty well.
One of our cats would turn down the food that had this or any supplement added to it. Some cats will do that. If you run into this, you might add a taste enhancer such as the oil from a can of salmon.
Additionally, I have been using a human dose of L-Theanine myself for several years and I swear by it. But you need not take my word for it…..
The scientific journal Nutrients published a report on the National Library of Medicine website that informs that administration of L-Theanine to humans resulted in a decrease in anxiety levels.
2. Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
As a 79 year old guy who has been something of a health nut for over 40 years, I have always read that the B vitamins are great for maintaining a relaxed sense of well-being. And again, there is science….
An article by on the website of the National Library of Medicine by Integrative Medicine Insights tells us that Thiamine was successful in offering relief to humans suffering with anxiety disorders.
3. Colostrum Calming Complex(R) Biopeptide Blend
This is a complex of multiple ingredients about which VetriSCIENCE Laboratories states “C3 is a safe and effective calming agent countering the effects of environmental stressors in companion animals”.
You can read more about C3 by clicking here.
For more information about Composure(TM) Max, visit the VetriSCIENCE Laboratories website.
The dose for an animal under 25 pounds is 1/2 teaspoon, so this 8 ounce bottle has 48 doses.
I suggest adding 1/2 teaspoon to their canned food. Make this meal serving a little less than usual so that hopefully they will eat all of it and get the full dose.
Since you might find it difficult to pour out 1/2 teaspoon of liquid, I found this product for you. You can get more information about it on the ACU-LIFE website:
CD of Music for Cats Album Two
I have always thought that our cats were positively affected by music, and we would often play some classical music when our kitties seemed to be upset about something. I do not know whether they were just curious and distracted by the music, or if this was something to do with their instincts.
A study carried out by researchers at the prestigious University of Wisconsin-Madison, and published in the scientific journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, indicated that “cats showed a significant preference for and interest in species-appropriate music.”
Another study, this one at the prestigious Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, and subsequently published in the scientific Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, offers: “….We conclude that cat-specific music may benefit cats by decreasing the stress levels and increasing the quality of care in veterinary clinical settings. ….”
The background as to how this music was produced is quite impressive.
David Teie, a musician with the National Symphony Orchestra, and Charles Snowden, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, worked together to create sounds intended to soothe the minds of animals.
Mr Teie then produced an album of those sounds he titled Music for Cats.
Mr. Teie’s music is available on CD or download. You can find more information and play samples of his music at his website musicforcats
If you think that your kitty might like a nice cat bed to hang out in while listening to the music, my blog post How to Choose a Cat Bed will help you find something your kitty may like.
Feliway Optimum Diffuser
Pheromones are organic chemicals given off by animals and are intended to create a certain behavioral response in other animals of the same species. Some pheromones are believed to have a calming effect.
The Feliway company developed synthetic pheromones that are distributed into the air of a home by means of a diffuser that plugs into a wall electrical receptacle.
This is a product in very wide usage, with a lot of testimonials and anecdotal reports of it doing a good job of creating a calming effect on cats.
This product is designed to cover an area up to 700 square feet. To give you an idea as to how big a room that would be, a space 24′ X 30′ is 720 square feet.
We tried using the diffuser on a much bigger area and I observed minimal effect. That was my fault for not following the manufacturers recommendations. I do believe that scientifically chosen pheromones, whether they be synthetic or natural, can have a calming effect on animals.
Visit the Feliway website for more information.
Additional Things That May Help Your Cat Relax
Another strategy that can help your cat enjoy life is your creating a relaxing and exciting environment for them. There are things you can add to their life, and I list some of them here with links to my blog posts that provide more information on the subject:
- a cat tree for them to climb on – How to Choose a Cat Tree
- a water fountain to encourage more hydration – How to Choose a Cat Water Fountain
- the right litter box will make them very happy – 7 Tips to Choose a Litter Box
- toys for them to play the hunter cat – How to Choose Cat Toys
You will find more great information on how to choose stuff that your cat will love you for when you visit my blog post How to Make Your Cat Happy
Are “Calming Chews” Okay for Cats?
There are several cat calming formulations on the market that put the ingredients into what is referred to as a “chew”. I do not see anything wrong with this basic concept as long as the “chew” is of a size that can be safely swallowed by your cat.
The reason I say this is because the structure of a cat’s jaw and teeth do not give it the capability to chew food the way we humans do.
Dry cat food, also referred to as kibble, consists of hard pellets. When a cat eats this kind of food, many of the pellets do not get chewed and are swallowed whole.
If you have a “calming chew” that is noticeably larger than a typical cat food pellet, then the kitty that tries to swallow that “chew” whole runs the risk of getting it lodged in their throat and choking.
If you feed your kitty a “chew” that you think is bigger than it ought to be, consider cutting it into smaller pieces or crushing it and sprinkling it on some canned food.
To learn more about cat chewing challenges, look in on my blog post How Do Cats Chew Food?