Last Updated on August 14, 2020 by Ellen Christian
I am being compensated by Sergeant’s for my participation in this campaign. I am part of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network.
Posts may be sponsored. This post contains affiliate links, which means I will make a commission at no extra cost to you should you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Does your cat scratch at your furniture, meow excessively or mark on your furniture? These behaviors can be a result of stress. We have three cats and each has their own distinct personality and moments where they have behaviors that we don’t appreciate.
Helping a Stressed Cat
Scout is very attached to my husband and when he’s not home, or is behind a closed door, Scout meows and cries for him. He also has a tendency to scratch our living room furniture. Heather is the sweetest cat and very laid back but she scratches not only our furniture but our walls. Colors has always have a very close relationship with our daughter. Since my daughter is twenty-one now, she’s not at home as often as when she was younger. When Sarah isn’t home, Colors wanders around the house and meows for her.
Of course, stress can be caused by many things so it’s best to talk to your veterinarian to understand what the cause might be. There are a few things that you can do at home when helping a stressed cat.
- If you have a multiple cat household, make sure that each cat has their own special place to go for quiet time.
- Have at least one litter box per cat.
- Offer food in separate bowls so each cat can eat in privacy.
- If you have a dog, make sure that the cats have somewhere they can go that the dog cannot.
- Make sure that the cats have toys and places to play and scratch (that aren’t the furniture).
- If you are going on vacation, make sure that you have a pet sitter who stops by to interact with and care for your cats so they don’t get lonely.
- Consider a calming collar for cats like Sergeant’s Vetscription Calming Collar.
Sergeant’s Vetscription Calming Collar for Cats uses pheromone technology that is proven to modify stress-related behavior like excessive meowing, scratching, and inappropriate marking. The Vetscription Calming Collar for Cats mimics the pheromone that the mother cat produces to reassure her kittens. Cats recognize these pheromones throughout life. It mimics the natural way to help cats cope with new and fearful situations. The collar is scented with lavender and chamomile to provide a soothing fragrance.
The collar is adjustable and will fit kittens and cats who have up to a 15″ neck. I love that this is a breakaway collar for the safety of our cats. The collar will release pheromones for up to 30 days and can be used without long term side effects. The packaging suggests that improvement in behavior can take two to four weeks to be seen. Changes in behavior will depend on the cat, the nature, duration and severity of the problem and behavior modification used by the owner.
I appreciate that this collar can be used all the time safely. This is useful for behavior like scratching that we want to stop permanently. It can also be used for shorter stress related times like thunder storms or when you travel. This will be helpful for Colors when Sarah is gone for a few days with friends. It can also be used during trips to the vet’s office. If your cats are like ours, they hate going to the vet’s office. The scent is very mild and none of the cats mind wearing the calming collar at all. So far it has helped some with the meowing and we are hopeful it will help with the scratching as well.
Related articles
Cat Care Tips for Multi-Cat Families
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
74 thoughts on “Helping a Stressed Cat”