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| Situation | Best Option (Amazon Affiliate links, and we may make a small commission at no cost to you if you use them) |
| Traveling | Pheromone spray |
| Moving house | Feliway diffuser |
| Fireworks or thunderstorms | Pheromone spray and safe hiding space |
| Multi-cat tension | Feliway Friends diffuser |
| Mild occasional stress | Rescue Remedy (mixed evidence) |
| Young kittens needing comfort | Catstages Purr Pillow |
| Severe anxiety | Speak to your veterinarian |
You can’t buy over-the-counter sedatives for cats in the US or the UK. For heavy-duty sedatives, you’ll have to see a veterinarian. This is because sedatives do more than make a cat sleepy; they can affect coordination, awareness and reflexes. They can also affect breathing, blood pressure and heart rate, so they’re not something that should be given out without any consideration of the cat’s medical history.
That being said, there are over-the-counter cat-calming products you can try.
These can be really helpful if you’re Moving House with Cats, Traveling by Car, Traveling by Plane or looking for ways to reduce low-level stress and anxiety in your cats.
In this guide, we’ll explain when a calming product is likely to be enough, when you should speak to your vet about prescribing sedative medication, and which over-the-counter products are worth considering (with links to products you can buy).
🐈⬛ Veterinary Advice at a Glance
| If your cat is injuring itself trying to escape, not eating, becoming aggressive, displaying clear and long-lasting signs of anxiety, urinating outside the litter box, or hasn’t responded well to cat-calming products or to changes in their environment, then it’s a good idea to talk to your vet about other options. In some circumstances, this may involve using sedatives. Vets have access to your cat’s medical records, including underlying medical conditions or health concerns. They can choose the most appropriate medication and dosage for your cat’s age, weight, medical history, and situation. Vets may prescribe sedatives for long journeys, new homes, grooming or medical procedures. Some owners will suggest using Benadryl or other antihistamines aimed at humans. These can work, but they should only be used when recommended by a professional, as they can cause side effects or interact badly with other medications. |
🐈⬛ When does a Cat Actually Need Sedation?
Cats are creatures of habit, so often when owners are considering sedation, it’s because there’s been a change in the environment.
Owners often want calming products when they’re traveling with their cat, whether that’s a road trip, an international flight, or anything in between. Some cats love flying or being in the car. Others act feral at the mere sight of their carrier. Sometimes a cat can become so anxious that sedation is the kindest and safest option.
Fireworks can also trigger panic in cats, especially if they’ve been traumatised by loud noises in the past.
Vet visit? Say no more. Who would be happy getting boxed up inside a carrier and examined by a stranger?
House moves are another major cause of anxiety for some cats. And it’s not just traveling from point A to B, either. It’s the build-up to moving: the packing of boxes, the emptying of rooms, changes in routines, new sights and smells, exposure to unusual people, etc. It can be overwhelming, even to cats who’ve never displayed anxiety before.
Grooming isn’t always something that cats enjoy, especially if it’s something more invasive like dematting. But whether sedation is necessary or not is going to depend on how extreme a cat’s reaction is to certain stressors.
🐈⬛ Do Most Cats Actually Need Sedation?
Not always.
Some owners think they have to sedate their cat during travel. Perhaps the cat has had a bad experience previously, and the owner doesn’t want to unduly stress the cat out again.
But there are lots of things an owner can do to prepare a cat for travel, in particular.
We’ve written several articles about how to help make traveling with cats easier, and I’ll add them at the end of the article, but suffice it to say that you can introduce your cat to some of the sights, smells, and sounds of travelling long before you pull off your driveway. Ideally, you should do this when your cat is young, but it’s something older cats can adapt to, too, given enough time.
You can start gradually desensitising your cat using methods like carrier training (getting your cat comfortable with being in their carrier using treats and exposure), using familiar bedding and blankets to create a safe-smelling space inside the carrier and car, and introducing them to the car slowly before setting off on short journeys accompanied by treats and sprays to create a pleasant experience. If you’re moving into a new home, you can make sure your cat has a safe space to retreat to with treats, toys and bedding. Do the same in your new home, too. Keep the cat’s things to hand when you first step into your new home, so you can accommodate them quickly.
🐈⬛ Things to Never Use Without Veterinary Advice:
Human medications
Melatoninn
Diazepam
Xanex
Benedryl (unless specifically advised)
CBD products
🐈⬛ Cat-Calming Products You Can Buy: Synthetic Pheromones
Cats use chemical markers called pheromones to feel safe and familiar in their environment. It’s why they rub their heads and cheeks against people and places, because they’re essentially marking these areas as ‘safe’. Humans can’t smell pheromones, but cats can.
You can buy cat calming sprays, diffusers, and collars that mimic this process. They won’t sedate your cat, but they can help cats feel calmer even in new or relatively unfamiliar environments.
The two biggest brands are Feliway and Comfort Zone. Availability depends on whether you’re in the UK or the US, so we’ve included both below.
How it works: Spray this inside your cat’s carrier and on any bedding, toys, or areas where your cat hangs out. If you’re traveling, make sure you spray it about 15 minutes before putting your cat inside the carrier or car so that it has enough time to start working.
Worth noting: This is useful for travel or short-term situations, so if you’re looking for a longer-term option (just moved house, for example), then you’re probably better off looking at the diffuser.
This product has loads of great reviews; both Feliway and Comfort Zone are well-established brands backed by several clinical studies. Having said that, there’s no guarantee with pheromone products; some cats have a very immediate and clear response with a dramatic improvement, while others see a small or negligible difference. It’s different for every cat, but it’s worth a shot, especially as they are low-risk with a strong safety profile, so it’s a great starting point.
Best for: Traveling, vet or groomer visits, new environments.
Not ideal for: cats that require genuine sedation, severe anxiety or aggression, or medical procedures.
These are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
🐱 Check price on Amazon: Comfort Zone Cat Calming Pheromone Spray 4oz for US buyers – Check price on Amazon
🐱 Check price on Amazon: Feliway Classic Cat Calming Spray 20ml for UK buyers – Check price on Amazon
🐈⬛ Cat Calming Diffusers
How it works: diffusers use the same pheromones, but rather than in a spray, they’re in a plug-in for the wall that releases pheromones throughout the day. But don’t worry, you won’t smell anything!
Worth noting: Diffusers cover a specific square footage of the house, so you may need to buy more than one depending on how big your house is. You should also try to plug them in 24-48 hours before moving your cat in so that they have time to work. Feliway is a well-established brand, and it’s easy to pick up the refills.
You can buy a diffuser specifically designed to help cool tensions in multi-cat households, ideal if there’s tension between your cats.
Best for: new houses, cats anxious about the other cats they live with.
Not ideal for: travelling, cats that require genuine sedation, cats with severe anxiety or aggression, medical procedures
🐱 Check price on Amazon: Feliway Optimum Cat Calming Diffuser Kit for US buyers
🐱 Check price on Amazon: Feliway Happy Cats Diffuser for Multi-Cat Households for US buyers
🐱 Check price on Amazon: Feliway Optimum Cat Calming Diffuser Kit for UK buyers
🐱 Check price on Amazon: Feliway Happy Cats Diffuser for Multi-Cat Households for UK buyers
🐈⬛ Cat Calming Collars
This calming collar uses pheromones similar to the sprays and diffusers, only this is in a collar form.
How it works: It releases synthetic pheromones, which remain in close proximity to the cat throughout the day, rather than spraying on or diffusing a specific area.
Worth noting: Not all cats enjoy wearing collars, and if your cat is already anxious or nervous, it’s probably not the best time to force them if they’re already anxious. If your cat is happy to wear one, make sure it’s a comfortable fit with enough room to slide two fingers underneath.
🐱Check price on Amazon: Comfort Zone Cat Calming Collar for US buyers
🐱 Check price on Amazon: Comfort Zone Cat Calming Collar for UK buyers
🐈⬛ Zylkene
Zylkene is a calming supplement made from alpha-casozepine, a natural milk protein derived from casein. It is thought to promote relaxation without causing drowsiness. It’s not a sedative, but there is research suggesting it can impact anxiety in pets.
How it works: you can open the capsule and sprinkle it over food (which may be easier) or give the cat a capsule directly.
Worth noting: the dosage will depend on your cat’s weight. You should start giving the supplement to the cat several days beforehand if moving or travelling. Results do vary, but it does have research to back it up.
🐱 Check price on Amazon: Zylkene for UK buyers
🐈⬛ Rescue Remedy for Pets
How it works: These are sedative-free daytime drops made with natural flower essences and can be added to food and water or straight into the mouth.
Worth noting: This is specially formulated for safe use in pets, but be aware that many essential oils can be toxic to cats, so if you do opt for another brand other than the one we’ve suggested here, make sure it’s been specially formulated for cats. This is a homoeopathic product, so while many cat owners report positive results, scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness is limited. Individual reports between cats can vary, but given its low-risk profile, it’s probably worth a try.
Best for: travelling, visits to the vet or groomer, during thunderstorms or fireworks, and other temporarily stressful situations.
Not ideal for: cats with severe anxiety or aggression, medical procedures
🐱 Check price on Amazon: Bach’s Rescue Remedy for US buyers
🐱 Check price on Amazon: Bach’s Rescue Remedy for UK buyers
🐈⬛ Cat Toys
There are some cat toys designed to reduce anxiety, especially in kittens.
How it works: The Catstages purr-activated pillow is a soft toy with a touch-activated purring mechanism. It vibrates gently and mimics the purring of another cat, which can help if you have a cat that doesn’t like being alone. Activate the purring function and put the toy in your cat’s favourite spot, like its carrier or resting area.
Worth noting: if you’re a cat owner, then you probably already know there’s no rhyme or reason as to whether a cat will like and play with a toy or not. Maybe they’ll love it. Maybe they’ll ignore it. If your cat likes toys, then there’s no real harm in giving these sorts of things a try. As a stand-alone product, they might not make the biggest impact long-term, but combined with other methods or helping very young cats feel secure in a new environment, they may work well.
Best for: kittens adjusting to a new home, cats that enjoy cuddling or kneading soft toys, cats that are nervous being left alone.
Not ideal for: severe separation anxiety, cats that are wary of electronic toys, cats suffering from high stress levels.
🐱 Check price on Amazon: Catstages Purr Pillow Cat Toy for US buyers
🐱 Check price on Amazon: All for Paws Cat Toy for UK buyers
🐈⬛ Suggested Product RECAP
| Feliway / Comfort Zone Spray or Diffuser | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best evidence it works |
| Zylkene (UK availability) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Best supplement |
| Calming Collar | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ Helps some cats but less consistant than sprays or diffusers |
| Rescue Remedy | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ Low risk but limited scientific evidence |
| Purr Pillow | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ Probably more of an enrichment toy than an anxiety treatment but could help kittens |
🐈⬛ Should You Use Benadryl?
Benadryl is a brand-name antihistamine prescribed for humans, and the active ingredient is diphenhydramine. It isn’t approved by the FDA for veterinary use, but some owners give it to their cats in small doses as it causes drowsiness. We wouldn’t recommend using it unless you’ve been advised to do so by a veterinary professional, and it should be completely avoided if your cat has liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, hypertension, glaucoma or hyperthyroidism.
In some cats, Benadryl can actually make them more excited and awake rather than sleepy, which is probably the exact opposite of what you’d hope for.
🐈⬛ Bottom line
If you think your cat requires sedation, then make an appointment with a vet.
If your cat has mild anxiety or you’re worried about how they’ll react to any upcoming travel, appointments, house moves, or meeting a new furry addition to your family, then cat-calming products could help, especially when combined with behavioural and environmental support.
Synthetic pheromones are a good place to start. They’re the ones with the most research. You can also take a look at the hundreds and sometimes thousands of reviews to give you an idea of the genuine experience of other cat owners.
🐈⬛ Additional Articles
Moving House with an Indoor Cat
Pheromone Plug-Ins: Where to Put Them
What’s the Best Cat Carrier for Scared Cats?
Why is My Cat Meowing a Lot After Moving?