Cat Anxiety Medication and Treatment

Cat anxiety isn’t all that different from human anxiety. It causes the same intense feelings and can range from a bit challenging to completely debilitating. The difference is that you have to recognize the signs and step in to act as your cat’s “therapist” to help them through it.

That’s not as hard as you might think. Yes, it takes time, patience, and dedication. But it’s doable.

We’re going to talk you through the common types of feline anxiety, the signs you might see, and even prescription and behavioral treatments and tactics you can try.

And you’re not alone. Your veterinary team is a wonderful (and vital) resource. You can also reach out to a feline behavior consultant or feline veterinary behaviorist for support. We’ve got your back, too, here at Preventive Vet.

Let’s talk about cat anxiety.

What Is Cat Anxiety?

Feline anxiety is a state of stress, fear, or general nervousness. It can be acute, coming on suddenly, based on a specific trigger, and resolve when the trigger is removed. That trigger can be a one-time thing, like reacting to the crash of a pot you dropped in the kitchen, or a recurring thing, like reacting every time someone knocks on the door.

Anxiety can also be a chronic condition that continues at varying degrees pretty much all the time.

If it’s a one-time reaction to a one-time trigger, that’s not a problem. It’s your cat’s instinctual response to a potential danger. As long as they recover relatively quickly and get back to normal behavior, you don’t need to worry.

On the other hand, recurring anxiety triggers and chronic anxiety can have a serious impact on your cat’s quality of life, leading to things like:

• Skittish, fearful behavior
• Avoiding play and attention
• Changes in eating, drinking, and litter box habits
• Aggression toward other pets and people
• Worsening of existing health conditions (i.e., high blood pressure or kidney disease) or onset of new conditions (i.e., feline cystitis or feline lower urinary tract disease)
• And more

That’s why it’s so important to address your cat’s anxiety and help them move through it in healthy and supported ways.

Types and Symptoms of Cat Anxiety

Noise Anxiety

This is exactly what it sounds like (no pun intended). It is anxiety triggered by sound.

Often, noise anxiety starts with something scary happening (even just once) that your cat associates with the sounds they were hearing at the time. For example, there was a big knock at the door, followed by a loud group of people coming inside, and 3 days of construction on your kitchen. From that point on, knocking brings on the stress or fear that your cat felt during that time.

It could be any loud sound, like a baby crying or a motorcycle driving by. In this case, it’s less about a past negative experience and more about a perceived threat.

It could be new sounds that they’re not familiar with, again due to the potential danger they worry about when they hear those new noises. They don’t have a positive history with that sound to reference.

When they hear a sound that triggers anxiety, they may get scared and hide for extended periods, beyond what would be a reasonable reaction to a scary sound. They may be unwilling to come out from hiding for things they love, like treats or play.

On the extreme end, they may not even come out for meals or to use the litter box. Or they could get aggressive if you try to interact with them while they’re so scared. They’re also likely to move nervously around the home for a while after hiding.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is when that stress kicks in when someone leaves. It could be when a specific person leaves, even if someone else is still home. Or it could be when they’re left completely alone.

Some cats will get anxious anytime their person leaves. Other cats may be OK for day-to-day alone time, but get really stressed by signs you’re leaving for extended periods, like getting out your suitcases.

This type of anxiety can result from a variety of things, like:

• Lack of socialization (we see this often with kittens adopted during the COVID shutdown because they weren’t left alone much at all)

• Negative things happening in the past, or currently, when that person leaves (a not-so-friendly pet sitter or roommate, for example)

• General feelings of insecurity or lack of safety

• A very long period of being alone in the past (days, weeks, or more) without adequate care and enrichment

A cat with separation anxiety may get nervous as soon as you start preparing to leave. They could get clingy, vocal, or even aggressive. They may vocalize a lot while you’re gone. More extreme cases may include not eating unless you’re there, house soiling when alone, and being more aggressive with other pets when alone.

Generalized Anxiety

This is what many people experience, too. It’s that ongoing state of uneasiness. Your cat may not feel they’re safe enough to let their guard down. This can lead to skittish behavior. They may be easily startled, hide often, slink around the home, staying low to the ground, avoid playing, eating, and doing other pleasant or necessary activities.

Generalized anxiety can be influenced by genetics, your cat’s history (especially during the important kitten socialization period), physical health, and other factors.

Socialization is the term we use for exposing kittens and cats to new things and experiences in a positive way, in an effort to eliminate fear.

The most critical socialization period for kittens is around 2 to 8 weeks old. That doesn’t mean older kittens and cats can’t be socialized. It may just be a bit more work.

Specific Fears and Phobias

Cats can develop fear around specific things, whether it’s a person, sound, location, item, etc., ranging from mild to debilitating. This is often caused by a negative experience in the past.

For some cats, having no history with the thing can make it scary … at least until it’s proven otherwise.

If your cat has a specific fear, they may be fine most of the time but show extreme anxiety when that person, sound, situation, etc., presents itself.

Again, there’s a difference between something that is a little scary, causing a reasonable fear response that your cat gets over in the expected timeframe, and something that causes debilitating fear that is having a negative impact on your cat’s quality of life.

In either case, there are things you can do to lessen your cat’s reaction to that trigger. Here, we’re focusing more on the severe end of the spectrum, where they have a hard time functioning and recovering after being triggered.

Compulsive Disorder

Compulsive disorder in cats just means that their anxiety is causing a repetitive behavior that isn’t necessarily healthy. It becomes a way of trying to manage that internal conflict they’re feeling.

Some compulsive behaviors often seen in cats include:

• Overgrooming (licking the same spot to the point of hair loss, raw skin, and even scabbing and infection)
• Chewing regularly on the same part of the body, like the tail or flank
• Sucking on fabric
• Persistent vocalizing
• Eating non-food items (Pica)

Be careful with self-diagnosing your cat’s compulsive disorder. There are a few important things to consider.

For this diagnosis, the behavior is:

• Frequent – it happens often … on a regular basis.

• Out of context – meaning it doesn’t fit the situation. For example, seemingly obsessive grooming of the same spot every day is different than seemingly obsessive grooming for an hour on the foot that just stepped in water.

• Hard to interrupt – your cat acts like they MUST do this. You’ll have a hard time stopping them and redirecting them to a different activity.

Redirecting simply means you interrupt the unwanted behavior, like overgrooming, and then redirect your cat’s attention to a different activity. An anxious cat may go right back to overgrooming if you interrupt them and that’s it. But if you get them focused on a play session, treat hunt, food puzzle, etc., after that interruption you’re not only keeping them occupied but also helping to burn off that anxious energy.

Medical issues can often cause behavior that appears compulsive when, in fact, it has a clear trigger. When the trigger is resolved, the behavior stops. For example:

• Overgrooming and chewing on the skin can be triggered by a skin condition or pain under the skin.
• Constant vocalizing can be caused by things like pain, neurological disorders, or changes in hearing.
• Eating non-food items can be triggered by extreme hunger.

Your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist can help diagnose your cat’s compulsive disorder.

Cat Anxiety Treatment

A layered approach often works best for treating your cat’s anxiety, whether it’s mild or severe. Medication and behavior work go hand-in-hand.

Medication

Medication can be an extremely helpful tool. Many of my clients worry about trying this. They don’t want to “drug up” their cat. That’s a completely valid concern. Understanding a few things may help:

• The goal isn’t to knock your cat out or change their personality. If the medication does that, the dosage may be too high, or it may not be the right med for their physiology. Instead, the idea is just to take the edge off and help them let their guard down so they can relax and enjoy life a little more. In severe cases, it’s the medication and that little drop in their defenses that actually allows the behavior work to take a better hold.

• Anxiety meds may not be needed forever. They can help in the short term while you work on things from the behavior perspective. Then you may be able (with your vet’s guidance) to ween them off.

• Often, just the idea of having to medicate a cat is too much. I’ve seen cats develop anxiety because of the traumatic experience of being medicated. It doesn’t have to be like that. You can train your cat to be comfortable getting meds. Your vet can help you feel comfortable giving them. Don’t let the medicating process be the deterrent to helping your cat feel better.

We’ll talk more about medication later in the article.

Behavior Work

Behavior work is really anything other than medical treatment that can influence your cat’s mental and emotional state. This can include a number of things.

Stress Reduction

Any anxious cat can benefit from stress reduction. The good news is that there are tons of ways to reduce stress. Here are some of my favorites:

• Meeting instinctual needs better. Changes to things like litter box setup, feeding schedules, how resources are spread through the home, etc., can make a huge difference.

• Play and enrichment. These are two of the best ways to reduce stress. Provide lots of play, including play that replicates hunting, and mental enrichment that allows your cat to exercise all their skills, like sniffing out treats, working food puzzles, and learning things.

• Improve relationships with other pets and people. If your cat doesn’t get along well with your other cat, dog, or even roommate, you can reduce stress dramatically by trying to help them get along.
  
  

Building Confidence

Some cats feel more like predators — confident, powerful, secure, agile. Others feel more like prey — skittish, fearful, at risk. You can increase your cat’s confidence by doing things like:

• Play that replicates hunting. In this case, you’re literally waking up their predator side.

• Rewarding brave behavior. Provide treats, a play session, or whatever your cat loves for coming out after hiding, jumping, but not hiding, investigating things, even if they’re nervous.

• Making good things happen while scary things are happening. Even if your cat is hiding when, for example, fireworks are going off, go to their hiding spot and give them something to feel good about — pets, treats, catnip, play, etc.

• Pairing new things/experiences with positive things (rewards). Cats instinctually tend to run first, ask questions later. If they don’t know something is safe, they’re more likely to stay alive by assuming it’s not. Instead, show that the new stuff means they get the good stuff! 

Addressing Specific Triggers

• Removing triggers. There may be specific things causing your cat’s stress, like being able to see your neighbor’s cat out the window. Blocking their view removes, or at least lessens, that stressor.

• Working on triggers that can’t be removed. This is where a feline behavior consultant can be very helpful. Your cat may be suffering because they’re scared of things you can’t just get rid of, like your dog, a new baby, or a loud street. In that case, there are training techniques you can use to help your cat get comfortable with those triggers in a positive way. Systematic desensitization, counter conditioning, and positive reinforcement when those scary things are happening are amazing tools that can make a massive difference.
  
  

Positive Reinforcement

Reward the behaviors you want to see more of. Just like we talked about rewarding brave behavior above, you can reward your cat for choosing to interact with things that make them nervous. You can reward them for going from a more on-alert, nervous posture to a more relaxed posture. There are lots of ways to reward your cat for positive interactions with, and responses to, things that cause anxiety. Just make sure it’s always their choice to interact. Never force it.

Prescription Medication for Cat Anxiety

Anti-anxiety medications are not a quick fix, and they need to be combined with behavior modification and environmental changes to be effective.

You may be hesitant to use anxiety medications, worried about the stress of giving the meds, side effects, or cost. But the positive impact they can have on your cat’s quality of life really is incredible.

Short-acting Versus Long-acting Anxiety Medication for Cats

Anxiety medication can be short-acting or long-acting.

• Short-acting meds are used for trigger events, like travel or a vet visit. These are individual situations where helping your cat relax in the short term is helpful.
  
  
• Long-acting meds are given daily to address chronic anxiety that needs ongoing support.

Commonly Prescribed Anxiety Medication for Cats

• Acepromazine
• Benzodiazepines (Alprazolam, Lorazepam, Oxazepam)
• Clonidine
• Gabapentin
• Trazadone
  
  

• Amitriptyline (Elavil®, Levate®): Prescribed for anxiety, urine spraying, lower urinary tract disease, excessive grooming, and pica

• Selegiline (Anipryl): Prescribed to slow the progression of cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS)

• Buspirone (BuSpar®, Bustab®): Prescribed for mild anxieties, psychogenic alopecia, and stress-related urine marking

• Clomipramine (Clomicalm®, Anafranil®): Prescribed for certain types of aggression (like bullying), behavioral problems (such as urine spraying), and compulsive behaviors (like excessive grooming)

• Fluoxetine (Reconcile®, Prozac®, Sarafem®): Prescribed for anxiety and compulsive disorders

• Paroxetine(Paxil®, Brisdelle®): Prescribed for general anxiety, urine spraying, inappropriate urination, aggression, compulsive behaviors, and other behavior issues

• Sertraline(brand names: Zoloft®, Altruline®, Anilar®, Aremis®, Atenix®, Besitran®, Bicromil®, Gladem®, Insertec®, Irradial®, Lustral®, Novativ®, Sealdin®, Serad®, Sercerin®, Serlain®, Serta®, Tatig®, Tolrest®, Tresleen®): Prescribed for anxiety, aggression, and compulsive behavior

Potential Benefits of Anxiety Medication for Cats

• Help to ease anxiety chemically while you also work on behavior modification (stress reduction, desensitization, etc.) and environmental changes to improve their anxiety naturally.

• Can “nudge open the door” for cats who are too anxious, in their current state, to use behavior modification tactics. The addition of anxiety medication can reduce stress enough that they’ll be more responsive to things like desensitization work.

• Enhance your cat’s quality of life by reducing their fear and the feelings of constant potential danger, so they’re not always in “fight or flight” mode. They can let their guard down.

• Helps improve relationships with people and other pets, potentially reducing aggression, reactivity, and avoidance due to fear.

• Helps decrease and manage destructive or unwanted behaviors often triggered by anxiety, like soiling, spraying, and overgrooming.

• Supports physical health, allowing for faster recovery from medical issues and helping to limit the onset of stress-related illness, like feline idiopathic cystitis.

Potential Risks of Anxiety Medication for Cats

• Potential side effects. These vary with the type of medication, dosage, length of treatment, and the cat's overall sensitivity. Side effects can include sedation, lethargy, change in appetite, restlessness, stomach upset, constipation, urine retention, increased thirst and urination, increased respiratory and heart rate, irritability, assertive social interactions, and can worsen existing aggression. If your cat experiences any of these symptoms, talk with your vet. A change in dosage or medication type may be all you need to ease the symptoms.

• Potential interactions with other medications and supplements. Your veterinarian will help limit this possibility.

• Poor response to the medication. This can lead to delays in improvement. Your cat may need to be weaned off slowly, with a "washout" period to ensure it is fully out of their system before trying a new medication.

• Development of dependency with prolonged use. When long-acting (and some short-acting) medications are used, cats can develop withdrawal symptoms when dosages are lowered or stopped.

Warning: Long-acting medications cannot be abruptly stopped, or they may cause a rebound of anxiety or worsening of behavioral problems. Fortunately, the same doesn't apply to short-acting medications.

A Note About Acepromazine ("Ace")

Acepromazine is a medication previously widely used to help treat many fears and phobias in pets. However, it is slowly going out of favor.

Acepromazine is a phenothiazine-derived psychotropic drug. It’s used for cats as a sedative/tranquilizer, typically prior to anesthesia to help the cat relax. Think of it as a "chemical straitjacket." It’s a dissociative sedative, meaning it makes cats easier to handle but does nothing to address their underlying fear.

In fact, it can worsen their fears since it scrambles or alters their perception of what is happening and heightens their sensitivity to noise or other anxiety-inducing stimuli. This combination can make the entire situation worse.

For anxiety or behavioral issues in cats, it should not be used as a sole treatment, or frankly, ever.

How to Know If a Prescription Anxiety Medication Is Working for Your Cat?

Veterinarians like cats to stay on long-acting medications for at least 4 weeks before evaluating how well they’re working. Re-evaluating after at least 2 months is also recommended. In some cases, cats can be weaned off these medications, but some may require lifelong treatment.

Once you and your veterinarian have made the decision to start your cat on anti-anxiety medication, it will be important to monitor your cat diligently, especially in the early stages, and communicate frequently with your veterinarian about what you observe.

Keep a daily journal. Document how your cat appears to be feeling. Consider things like eating and drinking habits, litter box use, how they’re responding to affection, interest in play, changes in nervousness, among other things. Monitor closely for any of the side effects associated with the medication and contact your veterinarian if you notice any.

I’ve worked with many clients who start anxiety medication, feel their cat has a negative reaction, and just stop the meds assuming they aren’t going to work.

Instead, talk with your vet. A change in dosage or type of medication may be all you need to get your cat on the right track.

Establish a scale so you can map improvements in your cat's anxiety levels or reactivity to a trigger. Over time, this will help you and your veterinarian determine if the medication is improving their anxiety or not.

Examinations and routine lab work (such as complete blood work, chemistry panel, and urinalysis) are important while your cat is on anti-anxiety medications, especially if they have other medical issues.

NOTE: For cats over 10 years of age who are on long-term anxiety medication, veterinary visits at least twice yearly are recommended.

If your cat needs to transition from one medication to another (perhaps because the first was ineffective or caused side effects), they need to be weaned off, followed by a “washout” period where neither medication is given. It’s then safer to start the new medication. Follow your veterinarian's instructions for the transition.

What Is Polytherapy

When a single medication is insufficient, your cat may get a ‘drug cocktail’ to fill the gaps. This approach can provide support more efficiently and quickly.

For example, your vet may prescribe a short-acting (event med) to help lessen anxiety or behavioral issues until the new long-acting medication starts working. Some long-acting meds can take as long as 6 weeks to show results.

In other cases, your cat may already be on a long-standing medication. But a rare, high-stress event could push them past the point of that medication being helpful. For example, a cat on anxiety medication, who has a serious illness requiring a hospital stay, may need additional support due to the added stress. Your veterinarian may prescribe a short-acting medication on top of the long-acting medication to help your cat stay in their “happy place.”

Supplements for Cat Anxiety

There are lots (and lots) of supplements available over the counter. They’re often called calming aids.

Warning About Cat Calming Aids 

Before trying them, there are some things you should be aware of. After reading this list, you may think you should skip anxiety supplements. Not at all. There are products worth trying. We just want you to be informed so you can make the right decision with your veterinarian’s guidance.

• Supplements are not well-regulated. Since they’re considered animal dietary supplements, the FDA classifies them under pet food. Therefore, there is no need for pre-market approval from the FDA. Over time, as more information emerges and if the product is proven unsafe or ineffective, the FDA will pull it.

• The purity, quality, efficacy, and amount of active ingredient in the product can vary A LOT among manufacturers. It’s critical to only use reputable products made from high-quality ingredients. Product labels can be inaccurate and don’t always contain the concentration of the ingredients. We have a list of reputable products below. Your veterinarian is also an important resource in choosing supplements.

• There are minimal studies proving the effectiveness of supplements for anxiety. This means that, even if the products are effective, the dosages required for effectiveness are not truly known. And finding the accurate dose for your cat may take time. Your veterinarian should be involved in this process.

• If your cat is on certain medications, anxiety supplements may interact with them and cause side effects.

• Not all cats react the same way to every supplement, and they don’t work for all types of anxiety.

• They work best in the early stages of anxiety development, when the symptoms are mild to moderate.

Potential Benefits of Anxiety Supplements

• They do not require a veterinary prescription. (However, you should always check with your vet before starting any supplement to ensure it won’t interact with current medications or treatments, the ingredients are safe, and the company is reputable.)

• They come in chews, treats, and food additives, which makes them easier to give to most cats.

• Many are made with natural, high-quality ingredients.

• They have minimal or no side effects. Always read labels to be sure the product is specifically meant for cats and doesn’t contain unsafe ingredients for cats.

• Most are safe for long-term use.
  
  

Top Veterinarian-Recommended Anxiety Supplements

• VetriScience Composure Calming Formula for Cats

• VetriScience Composure Pro - Calming Supplement for Cats 

• Nutramax Solliquin

• Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements Calming Care Cat 

• Vetoquinol Zylkene Calming Support Supplement for Cats

• Fera Pet Organics Calming Goat Milk
  
  

Active Ingredients to Look for in Anxiety and Calming Supplements for Cats

• Alpha-casozepine: Found to have positive effects in the management of anxiety disorders.

• Ashwagandha: Found to have strong anti-stress effects as well as anti-inflammatory properties when given to cats under different types of stress.

• CBD: When properly dosed, it has been found to reduce anxiety and ease pain. NOTE: Regulation of CBD for cats is minimal, so it's important to do your due diligence and consult with your vet before trying this out with your cat. Additionally, the dosing regimen can vary among products, as can the purity of the product. So use caution and read labels.

• GABA: Found to improve emotional state, slow down the brain, relax the nervous system, and reduce anxiety. GABA is a significant neurotransmitter in a cat's brain. It decreases or inhibits the activity of nerve cells, allowing the nervous system to relax. Effective in the management of social phobias in cats, such as fear of people or other pets.

• L-arginine: Found to ease anxiety, especially associated with cognitive dysfunction disorder. Also has adaptogenic activity, which helps the body adapt to external stress.

• L-theanine: Found to reduce stress-related behavior.

• L-tryptophan: Found to help cats cope with stress.

• Lemon balm: Found to help treat and reduce anxiety and stress.

• Magnolia Officinalis: Found to have anti-anxiety effects and may help ease fear and anxiety associated with noise. It binds to selective targets in the central nervous system that are linked to stress.

• Melatonin: Found to help increase a cat's comfort during vet evaluation. Dose is dependent on the intended use.

• Passiflora incarnata (passion flower): Found to cause relaxation by strengthening the effectiveness of GABA brain receptors and decreasing tension.

• Phellodendron Amurense: Found to protect the brain from the negative effects of stress and help with mood disorders. It may help reduce anxiety and fear-related signs associated with thunderstorms

• Skullcap: Found to calm and relax pets experiencing anxiety due to new environments or separation, without affecting alertness and coordination.

• Valerian root: Found to help pets sleep. May ease anxiety and cause relaxation.
  
  

Additional Supplements and Products with Calming Effects

• Probiotics: As more studies are conducted, there appears to be a link between gut flora and emotions. Research done at the Purina Institute showed that certain probiotics modify the gut microbiome, decrease anxiety, and impact behavior.
  
  
• Pheromones: Pheromones are chemical messengers that, when released, have an impact on a pet’s behavior and emotional state. They can help cats feel more secure and comfortable. Studies have found it to have a positive impact on cats with anxiety and behavioral problems.
  
  A popular cat-appeasing pheromone brand is Feliway, available as a diffuser or spray. They have a multi-cat formula, as well.

• tPEMF treatment: Uses targeted pulsed electromagnetic field (tPEMF) signals to help an anxious brain return to a balanced emotional state.
  
  
• Flower essences: Rescue Remedy® Pet was developed to help ease the anxiety associated with separation, travel, noise, and stressful events. It contains a blend of five flower essences (rock rose, impatiens, clematis, star of Bethlehem, and cherry plum). While there is limited scientific data on its effectiveness for cats, it is very popular with many pet owners.
  
  
  

Alternative Treatments for Cat Anxiety

Beyond behavior modification, environmental changes, and prescription medication, there are other things you can incorporate into your cat’s healing journey. We call some of these "may help, can't hurt" treatments.

Some may be supported by extensive research studies. Others may have limited quality studies or may not be regulated. So, be sure to talk with your veterinarian before trying them out.

• Acupuncture: With regular treatments, it has been found to help cats with anxiety by helping to release feel-good endorphins and serotonin.

• Massage: Massage helps reduce heart rate and blood pressure, eases pain and tension, and calms the nervous system.

• Calming music: Musical therapy has been found to lessen stress and anxiety. Though each cat can exhibit distinct preferences, you can find cat-specific music designed to reduce stress. Classical music is also shown to be effective.

• Aromatherapy: Your cat has an acute sense of smell. Their nose has 200 million odor-sensitive cells, which allow them to smell 14 times better than humans. The olfactory bulb is linked to the limbic system, which is responsible for memory and emotions. A sense of well-being and calm can be encouraged by essential oils used in aromatherapy. When the appropriate pure, medical-grade essential oils are used properly, they can have a natural calming and anti-anxiety effect on your cat. Check out our list of safe essential oil recipes to use around your cat.

• Reiki: This is science-based energy medicine that can help ease a cat’s anxiety and stress by creating a profound state of relaxation.

• Calming wraps or wearables: Pressure clothing or wraps, such as the Thundershirt or Calm and Cozy Cat Wraps, are meant to make your cat feel like they are being hugged, and they apply pressure to trigger points meant to ease fear or phobias. While the studies evaluating these products are generally inconclusive, many pet parents feel the vests have a beneficial effect.
  
  Be sure the pressure clothing fits properly. It should not be restrictive. Do not leave your cat unsupervised wearing it. Some cats may find pressure clothing uncomfortable or fear-provoking. Monitor your cat closely for signs of stress, like trying to look small, not moving, fidgeting, airplane ears, chewing, or scratching at the clothing, etc. Never force them to continue wearing it if they seem uncomfortable.

• Other calming aids: Think of these as your cat's "security blanket." It may be a literal blanket, or perhaps a favorite toy or bed. The Snuggle Kitty is a popular calming aid that kittens find comforting when they leave their littermates. It may help your cat feel better, even as an adult. You can also look at calming beds, designed to be extra cozy and nest-like for a calming effect.