Pet Behaviour, Stress & Anxiety Hub: Expert Tips, Calming Products and Solutions to Stress & Anxiety for Cats and Dogs

Just like us, our pets can experience stress or anxiety. Sometimes it’s easy to identify the source of our cat or dog’s stress, such as fireworks and loud noises, vet visits or being left at home alone. But other times our pets can simply suffer from everyday general anxiety.

Pets express their stress through their behaviour, usually scratching, urine spraying/marking, chewing, or vocalisation (yowling or barking). While a completely normal response, this behaviour is often frustrating and stressful for owners.

Alongside causing distress to owners, long-term stress in cats and dogs can occasionally lead to clinical illness.

Recent European studies show that stress and anxiety are common among pets, with over 70% of dogs¹ and more than half of cats² showing signs of stress-related behaviours. This highlights the increasing need for pets and their owners to have increased knowledge about the signs of stress and anxiety and how to help reduce it.

Stress and anxiety in cats and dogs can be triggered by many things. Sometimes the cause is obvious, such as vet visits, but others can be less obvious, like rearranging your furniture.

Some causes of stress in cats and dogs are:

• Loud noises, such as fireworks, thunderstorms or the vacuum cleaner
• Changes in the environment, such as moving house, redecorating or rearranging your home or buying new furniture
• Travelling in the car, visiting the vet or staying away from home in kennels or catteries
• Visitors to your home, such as celebration for a birthday party, Christmas, new year, Halloween or bonfire night
• Family changes, such as the loss of a family member, or a new baby or pet coming home 
• Training or learning periods, such as puppy or obedience classes
• Tension in multi-pet households – particularly for cats, who may struggle if there are not enough litter trays, beds, places to hide etc.
• Separation anxiety and spending time alone, particularly for dogs
• Boredom or lack of mental stimulation

If your pet is feeling stressed, anxious or unsettled, they will usually display this through their behaviour. Often this is referred to as ‘problem’ behaviour, which includes:

• Scratching
• Spraying or urine marking
• Chewing furniture or objects
• Vocalisation (i.e. constant meowing or barking)

While this type of behaviour is distressing and a ‘problem’ for owners, it is actually completely normal behaviour for our pets. When cats and dogs display this type of ‘stress-related behaviour, they are not intentionally being naughty. They are simply trying to tell you that something is making them feel unsettled, anxious or stressed.

Other signs of stress include:

• Hiding away
• Restlessness
• Eating/drinking less

Not only is seeing our cats and dogs stressed and anxious upsetting for us as owners, but long-term stress can also occasionally lead to clinical illness. Therefore, it is important that we do all we can to help their reduce stress and anxiety.

Check out some of our key blogs covering different causes of stress and how to calm your pet:

Fireworks and bonfire night - a step-by-step plan for your pet – 43% of pet owners  named fireworks as the top cause of stress for their pet, help your cat or dog get prepared for bonfire night with our step-by-step guide

Stress-free travel for cats, dogs and rabbits – a handy guide to keeping your pet as clam as possible when travelling in the car

A guide to leaving your pet home alone – help reduce your pet’s separation anxiety with this handy guide

Causes of stress in cats and dogs – whether it’s a stressful situation at home or on-the-go, our bumper guide has got you covered 

One of the easiest ways to help support your pet during stressful situations is to use calming and behaviour products. These products can be invaluable to helping pets, whether it is a short-term stressful situation or long-term anxiety.

There are two popular types of calming products:

• Calming products that use herbal ingredients
• Calming products that use pheromone technology

The core difference between herbal calming and pheromone calming is how they are perceived and affect our pets.

Herbal calming products use different herbs and scents that are well-known for their calming properties. Many of the herbs used in pet calming products are also used in human healthcare for stress and anxiety, and have a long history of success for pets as well.  Herbal calming is a more natural approach to calming.

Pheromone calming is a more scientific approach. Pheromones are naturally produced chemical substances that are instantly recognisable to animals of the same species and trigger specific, instinctive responses. Pheromone calming products utilise a copy of pheromones that trigger calming and relaxation responses, which can help pets feel calmer during times of stress.

Herbal calming products have been trusted by cat and dog owners for many years. Our popular herbal range; Beaphar StressLess uses some of the most popular and commonly used herbal calming ingredients, including:

• Valerian: Herbal supplement noted for its calming and stress-relieving properties.
• Lavender & Lavandin: Lavender is often used in human healthcare to manage stress, known for its calming scent and properties. Lavandin has a lavender-like scent, traditionally used for its comforting aroma.
• Melissa: Also known as Lemon Balm, is recognised for its calming, soothing and muscle-relaxing properties.
• Rosemary: Known to relieve stress and anxiety by improving the state of well-being.
• Limetree Blossom: Known for its soothing and muscle-relaxing properties, which can reduce anxiety and nervousness.
• Hop Flowers: Known for its calming and soothing effects, and for promoting relaxation.

Suitable for both cats and dogs, the range is ideal for owners of multi-pet households.

Pheromones are known to be clinically proven to help reduce stress and anxiety in cats and dogs, making pheromone calming a popular choice for pet owners.

The main pheromones associated with calming are:

• Appeasing pheromones (Dog Appeasing Pheromones and Cat Maternal Appeasing Pheromones)
• Feline Facial Pheromones (cat only)

Dog Appeasing Pheromones can be recognised by dogs only, while cats recognise Cat Maternal Appeasing Pheromones and Feline Facial Pheromones. These pheromones trigger instinctive calming responses in cats and dogs. Therefore, using pheromone technology in calming products is an effective way to help reduce stress and anxiety in pets.

Beaphar CatComfort® and Beaphar CaniComfort® utilise all three of these pheromones across the range, and are available in a variety of formats so you can find a product to suit your pet and your needs.

Learn more about cat pheromones and dog pheromones in our blogs.

There are many different types of products available, and it can be confusing choosing the correct one. Whether you looking for a natural herbal approach or a more scientific pheromone calming method, the Beaphar Calming Range has a product to suit. Available in a variety of formats for both cats and dogs, the range has also been split into three sections, helping you easily identify the product that works best for you and your pet.

If you have a long-term stressful events coming up, such as a busy Christmas period or moving house, your pet suffers from ongoing general anxiety or gets stressed during training or walks, a long-lasting calming product is the way forward. Choose from:

Ideal for use at home, whether it’s to support your pet with ongoing general anxiety or fur use during a specific long-term stressful situation. The handy refills mean it’s easy to keep your home a calm, relaxed environment for your pet.

Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Diffuser & Refill Effective for up to 4 weeks Contains Valerian and Lavandin Calms both cats and dogs – ideal for multi-pet households

Beaphar CatComfort® Excellence Pheromone Calming Diffuser & Refill Effective for up to 30 days Contains FFP and MAP Ideal for multi-cat households

Beaphar CaniComfort® Pheromone Calming Diffuser & Refill Effective for up to 30 days Contains DAP

Calm you pet wherever they go with a calming collar. Ideal for pets that need long-term reassurance both at home and on-the-go.

Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Collars Effective for up to 6 weeks Contains Valerian and Lavendar Available for both cats and dogs

Beaphar CaniComfort® Pheromone Calming Collars Effective for up to 6 weeks Contains DAP Available for puppies and dogs

Sometimes life throws us something unexpected that might make our pets anxious, such as a thunderstorm or an unexpected vet visit. For these types of events or short-term stressful situations, a fasting-acting calming product is the best choice. Choose from:

A spot of calm when they need it most; ideal for short to medium-term stressful situations.

Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Spot-Ons Begins calming your pet around 1 hour after application Effective for up to 1 week Contains Valerian Available for both cats and dogs

Beaphar CatComfort® Pheromone Calming Spot-On Begins calming your cat around 15 minutes after application Effective for up to 1 week Contains MAP

Easy-to-give tablets that calm without sedating, ideal for use on-the-go.

Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Tablets Begins calming your pet around 1.5 hours after ingestion Contains Melissa, Rosemary, Limetree blossom and Hop flowers Suitable for cats and dogs

One of the great things about calming products is they can often be used in combination with each other. The following Beaphar Calming products are great to use as additional calming support alongside other products.

Ideal for helping pets feel more comfortable in their surroundings. Can be sprayed on furniture and around the home, great for using alongside a calming diffuser to help reduce stress-related behaviour.

Can also be used on blankets, inside cat carriers and dog crates and in cars, and used alongside a calming spot-on or calming tablet to help reduce stress and anxiety when travelling.

Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Spray Contains Valerian Helps cats and dogs feel more comfortable in the environment – ideal for multi-pet households

Beaphar CatComfort® Pheromone Calming Spray Contains FFP Helps cats feel more comfortable in the environment

Beaphar CaniComfort® Pheromone Calming Spray Contains DAP Helps cats feel more comfortable in the environment

Treats are often used to help cats create positive associations. Using a specific calming treat to support during a stressful situation can be a great additional support, or you can use them for ongoing calming support.

Use in combination with a calming collar when introducing your cat to a new pet in the home. They can also be used when tempting your cat inside a cat carrier for trips to the vet – use in combination with a calming spot-on.

Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Treats for Cats Versatile usage For ongoing calming support: 2 treats can be given daily For short-term stressful situation: use up to 6 treats a day

 

Yes, long-term stress in pets can lead to clinical illness. In cats, is can lead to stress-related cystitis, urinary issues and digestive problems. In dogs, long-term stress can worsen other conditions, such as increasing fear/aggression behaviour and digestive issues. If have any concerns about your pet’s health, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

While behaviour is often an indication of stress, it can be a sign of another underlying issue. Examples are:

• poor or inconsistent training leading to destructive behaviour
• lack of house training or underlying medical problem leading to urinating indoors or in inappropriate places
• skin condition or irritation from external parasites causing excessive licking, biting or scratching

If you think your pet’s behaviour is due to a medical problem rather than stress, book an appointment with your vet to treat the underlying issue. If your dog is displaying aggressive behaviour towards other dogs, pets or people, calming products will not be effective and you should consult a vet or dog behaviourist as a priority.

As pet owners, all we want to do when our pets are unsettled is try to help them. In some situations, it can be best not to intervene. For example, if your pet has hidden themselves away, don’t try to remove them; they’ve taken themselves there because they feel scared and want to try and feel safe again.

Other things to avoid are:

• Over stimulation, such as loud noises or bright lights, if your pet is already stressed.
• Sudden changes without preparation – this isn’t always possible, such as with a house move. For things like bringing home a new baby you can start leaving out the extra furniture or toys for your pet to get used to them, and playing videos of babies crying to get them used to this new sound.
• Punishing your pet for their behaviour – while it may be frustrating, this could increase their fear or anxiety, leading to further stress-related problems

Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the application of specific calming or flea medication. Beaphar StressLess Herbal Calming Spot-On is applied on the top of the head between the ears, while flea treatments (including Beaphar FIPROtec® Spot-On and Beaphar FIPROtec® COMBO) are usually applied between the shoulder blades. As they are applied in different places and have no known contraindications, yes, they can applied at the same time. However, it can be advisable to wait 48 hours between products in case of adverse reactions, particularly if you haven’t used one of the products on your pet before.

When it comes to choosing between a pheromone and herbal calming product, one is not considered ‘better’ than the other. The success of a calming product will be based on your pet, you and your lifestyle, the reason you need the calming a product and whether it is being used correctly.

If you are particularly forgetful and need on-going calming support for your pet, a calming collar, which is long-lasting may be a better choice. However, calming collars need to be fitted correctly and not overlap another collar so if your already wears another collar then a calming spot-on or calming diffuser may be a better option.

Or you can read our blogs:

Choosing the right product for cats

Choosing the right product for dogs

Yes, generally speaking you can absolutely use a herbal calming solution at the same time as a pheromone calming product. In some cases, multiple calming products would be recommended. If you’re moving house for example, we’d recommend fitting a calming collar to you cat or dog a week or so before moving, applying a calming spray to blankets and the inside of a carrier/crate and car 15 minutes before travelling, and then plugging in a calming diffuser at your new house as soon as you arrive, to help support your pet through house move.

You can find further guidance for which calming products to use for moving house and other stressful situations in our Causes of stress blog.

References

1 - Salonen M. et al. (2020). Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety. Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

2 - Ellis S.L.H. et al. (2016). Environmental enrichment for cats: preventing stress-related behaviour problems. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery