There's a good chance you've heard the phrase "nervous as a cat" or something similar used at some point in your life. This is a saying that's been passed down for centuries because people realized early on that cats tend to get anxious at times. While cats are great at self-soothing, they may require your help from time to time to reduce their stress levels. 

Whether you're a new or experienced cat owner, you've come to the right place if you're looking for techniques and tips to help calm your anxious cat. We'll look at 10 of the best ways to keep your cat calm as well as how to relax them if they're already at maximum stress levels. 

1. 10 Ways to Calm an Anxious Cat
2. Be Present but Not Smothering 
3. Let Your Cat Go at Their Pace 
4. Determine the Cause of Your Cats Anxiety 
5. Provide a Safe Space for Your Cat 
6. Don't Freak Out With Them 
7. Try Soothing Music or Movies 
8. Make Sure Your Cat has Access to Toys and Food
9. Spend Quality Time With Your Cat 
10. Maintain a Routine
11. Consider Medications and Natural Supplements
12.  

10 Ways to Calm an Anxious Cat 

In general, cats are highly intelligent creatures that are much smarter and more intuitive than most people realize. However, it's partially their intelligence that makes them so susceptible to stress and anxiety. Cats are masters of sensing when something isn't right or when a predator is near, which often leads to their anxiety. When this happens, here are 10 tips for helping to reduce it. 

Be Present but Not Smothering 

Cats are introverted by nature, which means they need their alone time, which is when they de-stress. If they aren't getting enough alone time, it can lead to higher stress levels. Therefore, it's important for you to remain somewhere nearby in case your cat wants to be by you, but never to hover over or smother them. Your cat will soon go out of its way to avoid you, which could damage your relationship. 

Let Your Cat Go at Their Pace 

If you think that your cat is stressed or anxious, it's important to be readily available but to let them go at their own pace. Trying to force your cat to feel calm will lead to higher stress levels and increased anxiety. Instead, let your cat set the pace and terms for de-stressing. Don't try to pick them up and cuddle with them if they obviously don't want to. Once again, the goal is to be readily available without being too intrusive. 

Determine the Cause of Your Cats Anxiety 

If your kitty's stress is a chronic condition that they struggle with frequently, it's important to determine the cause of their stress and anxiety. This may require a visit to the vet, where you can also confirm whether or not stress is the problem or if there's another issue to blame. Your vet can also help you determine what's causing the stress and recommend additional tips and tricks to help your cat. 

Provide a Safe Space for Your Cat 

As we said before, cats are introverted by nature. As introverts, they need a safe, quiet space to call their own when they're feeling stressed and anxious. This space could be a spare bedroom, the basement, or a nook or cranny within your home. Do your best to set this space up comfortably for your cat so that they know it belongs to them. It will soon become their safe space during times of trouble.  

Don't Freak Out With Them 

In the same way that it's important to remain calm if someone is having a panic attack, you want to remain calm if your cat is feeling anxious. Cats are very intuitive and will sense if you're feeling nervous or worried. This, in turn, will lead to more anxiety on their part and make the problem worse. 

Try Soothing Music or Movies 

While it doesn't always work, many cat experts recommend soothing music or movies for a nervous cat. Soothing music, such as smooth jazz, classical music, instrumentals, or other calming tunes, will help your cat feel more at ease. They have an incredible sense of hearing, and the soothing tones of calm music could help. 

Make Sure Your Cat has Access to Toys and Food

If you have a new cat or have recently moved to a new location, it's possible that your cat's stress is linked to food insecurity. They haven't gotten into a food routine yet and might be worried that their food won't be there when they're hungry. To overcome this issue, make sure that your cat has access to everything they need to survive and stay comfortable. This includes food, water, toys, and anything else your cat sees as its own. 

Spend Quality Time With Your Cat 

There's also a chance that your cat is stressed because they have abandonment issues. This can happen if you're gone for large portions of the day or come and go without warning. While most cats don't have an issue with this and tend to like the alone time, others will develop abandonment issues. When this happens, the best thing you can do is spend quality time with your cat. 

Belly rubs, playing with toys, and playing games with your cat will help with their abandonment issues. Playing with cats also gives them more confidence in themselves, which is crucial for overcoming feelings of anxiety or fear. 

Maintain a Routine

While your cat might not care if you're always close to them or at home, most do prefer when you have a consistent routine. Cats are very habitual creatures and will often keep their own internal schedule. Therefore, they'll pick up on it when you get home late, leave frequently, and don't maintain a consistent schedule. This could lead to feelings of insecurity and fear that you'll abandon them or forget about them. 

Consider Medications and Natural Supplements

Medications, natural supplements, and essential oils are growing rapidly in popularity in the pet world. Just as with people, some cases of anxiety and nervousness are severe enough that they require medications and supplements to relieve them. Your vet can prescribe anxiety medication to your cat, or you can first try essential oils and natural supplements. 

CBD, for example, is becoming a very popular option for pet owners. The calming effects that it offers can only be matched by prescription medication, and CBD is often cheaper and more readily available. 

By using one or more of these tips and tricks, you should have no trouble calming your anxious cat. However, getting to the root of their anxiety is crucial if you hope to come up with a long-term fix.