Last Updated on August 14, 2020 by Ellen Christian
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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.
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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.
Aww, cute cats! We have a ragdoll and she went through a phase of being stressed out. She would practically go bald around her neck area. The vet never could figure out why but luckily she hasn’t had the issue anymore since we moved.
I’m so glad she is doing better now!
My dog is very high strung and seriously needs 2 or 3 of these in a dog version!
Sounds like a great idea!
What great tips. Just goes to show how much time you’ve spent to really get to know your kitties.
Thanks, Marina! I try!
I took in a stray cat and she is stressed out easily so I can use this!
Wonderful and how nice of you!
Aww, I never knew kitties could be stressed. These are great ways to de-stress!
Thanks, Nancy. Some cats really do get stressed.
I have a cat who is attached to me and cries constantly. I do use the collar. The first day it goes on my cat is so upset because I have put a new one on. It has helped somewhat. My cat was spraying all the time too and he has been neutered. My vet suggested Prozac which he is now on. He still is attached to me but will act a little independent. He has stopped spraying which is a bonus too. I try everyday for him to learn to calm himself down instead of me having to do it. We also use the feliway in the outlets too.
I haven’t heard of feliway Thanks. I will check that out! I’m glad the collar is working for you.
What a great idea! I have never heard of such a thing but I think it’s great that is calms them, just like people animals get stressed out too.
That’s it exactly!
Great tips for helping your furry friends. So important, since they can’t speak for themselves.
That is so true, Sarah!
You cat is really cute. We used to have this one cat that stayed stressed all the time. Poor thing.
Thanks, Dawn. Some cats do seem to be more stressed than others.
My daughter was dealing with this not too long ago with her cat. She tried calming hormones and different things, but her cat was losing weight and getting sickly. It was because of another cat in the house that had just been introduced, so he had to find a new home.
Oh that is so hard. Some cats don’t want to have another cat in the house.
I wish that I had known about products like this a long time ago. We had a cat that couldn’t handle being indoors, it was too hard on him and he ended up being an outside cat! 🙁
That must have been hard. Thankfully our three are all inside.
I know a few cats that could use something like this.
Seems like some cats are more high strung than others.
I don’t know anything about cats – and think it is really cool there is a collar that can help de-stress them. I just love your Colors cat. My kids would take her in a heartbeat! She is so pretty.
Thanks, Nicole. She is my daughter’s baby!
Those are all great tips to help kitty cats feel more at peace! While I’ve never owned a cat, I’ve heard that they have their quarks like any other animal. One day I hope to be able to be the “owner” to a cat 🙂
We have always had a cat for as far back as I remember once I was on my own. When I was a child we had a dog. I love all animals and they do have their own little special things about them.
I need one of those collars for my kids! LOL. Just kidding. Sort of.
LOL now wouldn’t it be cool if they made one of those!
I love your kitties! So cute! I love these tips, such great ideas.. I am also so happy to find out about this collar. I need to get one asap!
Thanks, Dawn. We think they are adorable too!
oh, our kittens like to meow like there’s no tomorrow. they carry on and on if they can’t get into the basement. but when they get down there? they meow to come back out.
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now we need to look into these collars.
Ours do that too! silly cats!
I’m so glad I only have 1 cat! BUT these tips are also helpful if you have a dog and cat. Our cat still needs his special “my own” space to calm down. At the moment he does well; but we are moving soon and I’m nervous how he will take to the new house. We may need one of these collars as we all adjust to the new home.
New homes can be very stressful for cats. Ours hid behind the stove for almost a day when we moved.
We only have a couple barn cats here, and they never really seem stressed out unless the dog decides to chase them:-)
Yikes. Dogs can do that!
Wow, good to know! I have to my sister cause her cat is very uneasy alone. 🙁
Some cats just need other people around!
very neat idea! I am sharing this post with my Mom who has a very stressed out cat!
I hope it will work for her!
Did not know they had producs like this for pets, thaks for sharing. Passing on to my grandma.
Thanks for sharing, Sandra!
I never owned a cat before so I had no idea that they even got stressed out. Most cats look like they are the most relaxed creatures ever.
They do until they are not behaving well 🙁
As a cat lover, I have tons of experience dealing with stressed cats! I have to say yours are absolutely gorgeous and such lovely pictures!!!
Thanks so much, Kristen!
We use these on our cat, and our daughter uses one for her cat as well. They’re both rescues who have some lingering issues from their lives before us. We use all of your tips, and they help a lot…but the calming collar takes the edge off their cat anxiety.
That is so great that it’s working for you!
I also have 3 cats and 1 dog who thinks he’s a cat sometimes (15 lbs.) as well as a dog. They’ve been super stressed for several years because I haven’t been following most of the tips you offered. I will now and I will try the calming collars especially for my 3 cats. My mom just repaired my couch during her “vacation” visit to us and taught me a lot about what cats NEED, but I’m still searching for products that work.
The scented sprays that contain essential oils must be CONSTANTLY applied to furniture. I’d rather have something that stays with my cats.
Thank you SO MUCH for this!! Your timing is perfect.
Let me know how it works for you, Melissa!
Great tips! Didn’t know they had these collars. Will have to shop for some before our next vet visit. One of our cats always gets very anxious.
The vet’s office can certainly do that!
I have a very stressed dog. I’m wondering if something like this would be helpful for him.
I’m sure that some of the tips would help, Angela!
I didn’t realize they had these types of collars. I hope that the collar works for your cat along with your other tips.
It does seem to be helping so far, Stacey.
This is really interesting. I will pass this post onto my friens who own cats.
Thanks, Amanda!
We don’t have cats but I love anything without nasty side effects! Great idea
I agree, Clair! No side effects is definitely a plus!
That sounds neat. We don’t have any cats but if I did and saw they were stressed I would give this a go for sure!
Definitely worth it, Kelsey!
How unique! I love lavender scented things and it calms me down, so I like that they make them for animals now too!
Lavender helps me too!
Seems like a pretty good list. We don’t have any cats. But I am wondering if these would help a stressed dog as well.
I’m sure that some of them would!
Great tips, especially on giving them a space of their own. I found this so true when we had kids, peace and quiet is needed from time to time!!
Definitely for cats and for people!
We’ll have to pick up one of these collars. They sound great.
They really are helpful for stress!
Oh ! All the girls at Offtract love kitties- thanks for this post!
Kitties are so cute you cannot help but love them!