Cats have a reputation for being cool, composed creatures, but just like the rest of us, they can have wobbly moments too. A new home, a new family member, building work next door or even a change to their usual routine can all be enough to send an anxious cat into hiding under the bed. If you've noticed your cat behaving out of character lately, you're certainly not alone, and there's plenty you can do to help them feel steadier again.
Signs of Anxiety in Cats
Anxiety can show up differently from cat to cat, but common signs include hiding more than usual, excessive grooming, reduced appetite, increased vocalisation, or avoiding the litter tray. Some cats become clingy, while others withdraw almost entirely. Getting to know what's normal for your own cat makes it much easier to spot when something's off.
Potential Signs Of Cat Anxiety Include:
- Hiding for long periods of time
- Trembling
- Increased aggression
- Excessive meowing
- Litter tray regression
- Vomiting
Create a Safe, Predictable Space
Making your cat feel safe is priority number one. A cosy, enclosed spot such as a hooded bed can work wonders, giving them somewhere to retreat and feel protected when the world feels a bit much.
Have a look through our cat bedding collection for hooded and enclosed options that give a nervous cat somewhere properly private to retreat to.
Routine matters just as much as physical space. Cats are creatures of habit, and keeping feeding, play and quiet time at consistent points in the day gives them a reassuring sense of predictability, especially during a period of change.
How To Calm A Cat Down At Night
As owners of any type of pet will tell you, knowing how to calm your furry friend down at night is the key to getting a good night’s rest yourself. When it comes to cats, a combination of stress and the fact that felines are hardwired to be most active at dusk, twilight and dawn, means navigating bedtime and calming your cat at night can be tricky.
The best way to ensure a calmer nighttime kitty is to improve your cat’s daytime enrichment options. This is to say, you should try to play and interact with your cat during the day, meaning they will have less energy to be active at night. Providing food-dispensing puzzle toys for cats to play with alone in the evening, and using pet calming sprays and diffusers are also good ways of raising a chilled cat.
How To Calm A Cat In A New Home
Moving house can be a traumatic experience for cats. This is because these pets love routine and familiarity, and a new home, with all the upheaval that comes with it, can upset their lifestyle.
Although it may be tempting to treat your cat to a new bed, cat tree or other toys following a house move, this is not advised. Your new home will have a new, unfamiliar smell for your cat, which can cause stress. Items such as beds and toys brought from your old home will smell familiar to you kitty, helping to calm their anxieties and gently ease them into a new home. It can also be a good idea to designate a space in your new home that your cat can call their own ‘safe space’. This location should be filled with all their favourite items from their former home. They should be allowed to gradually explore the entire new home at their own pace too.
Try Natural Calming Products
Sometimes a safe space alone isn't quite enough, and that's where natural calming products for cats come in. Brands like Pet Remedy and Feliway have developed all-natural sprays and plug-in diffusers designed to help ease anxiety without any sedative effect.
Feliway diffusers mimic the natural facial pheromones cats produce when they rub against furniture or their favourite person, helping to reassure them that home is a safe space. Pet Remedy's calming range uses a gentle blend of natural oils, including Valerian and Vetiver, and comes in sprays, wipes and plug-in diffusers depending on what suits your household best.
Most calming diffusers take up to 14 days to show their full effect, so give any new product a fair trial before deciding whether it's working. Every cat responds a little differently, so it may take some trial and error to find what suits yours.
Enrichment and Play
Catnip toys can be a brilliantly simple way to help an anxious cat relax and engage in a bit of healthy play, both of which can ease stress levels. Try sprinkling a little dried catnip on a scratch post or favourite bed to encourage some gentle exploration.
Interactive toys and puzzle feeders also give your cat a positive outlet for nervous energy. Our cat toy collection is a good place to find something that suits your cat's play style, whether that's a quiet solo puzzle or something more interactive with you.
What Not to Do
It can be tempting to scoop up an anxious cat for a cuddle, but this often makes things worse. Let your cat set the pace, and be available without being intrusive. Forcing physical contact when a cat is already on edge tends to raise stress levels rather than lower them, however well-meaning the gesture.
When to Speak to Your Vet
If your cat's anxiety feels severe, persistent, or comes on suddenly and out of nowhere, it's worth having a chat with your vet. Anxiety can occasionally be linked to an underlying health issue, and a vet can help rule this out as well as advise on further options if calming products and environmental changes aren't quite enough on their own. In more complex or long-standing cases, your vet may also suggest a referral to a qualified feline behaviourist, who can look at the fuller picture of your cat's history and home environment.
Common Triggers Worth Knowing About
Understanding what's behind your cat's anxiety can make it much easier to help them. Some of the most common triggers we hear about from customers include:
- Moving house or rearranging furniture within the home
- Fireworks, thunderstorms or other loud, unpredictable noises
- A new pet or baby joining the household
- Building work or visitors disrupting the usual routine
- Separation anxiety when left alone for long stretches
Not every cat will react to the same triggers in the same way, and some cats seem entirely unbothered by things that would send another cat straight under the bed. Getting to know your own cat's particular sensitivities is genuinely one of the most useful things you can do as a pet parent, and keeping a loose mental note of what precedes an anxious episode can help you spot patterns over time, whether that's a particular visitor, a certain noise outside, or simply a change to their normal routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do calming plug-ins actually work for cats?
Many pet parents find them genuinely helpful, particularly for mild to moderate anxiety, and they carry little to no risk of side effects. That said, they work gradually rather than instantly, so patience is key.
Can I use more than one calming product at once?
Generally yes, a diffuser alongside a spray for particularly stressful moments is a common combination, but it's worth checking with your vet if you're introducing several new products at once.
How long does cat anxiety usually last?
It depends entirely on the cause. Anxiety linked to a specific event, such as moving house, often eases within a few weeks as your cat settles in. Ongoing or recurring anxiety is worth discussing with your vet.
Is it normal for a confident cat to suddenly become anxious?
It can happen, often triggered by a change at home or a stressful experience outdoors. A sudden change in temperament is always worth monitoring closely and mentioning to your vet if it persists.
