5 Vet‑Recommended Products to Improve Your Cat’s Emotional Wellbeing (From a Veterinarian)
5 Vet‑Recommended Products to Improve Your Cat’s Emotional Wellbeing (From a Veterinarian)
Written by Alessandro Didiano (doctor in veterinary medicine, MRCVS)
Disclaimer: This article is personally written by me, a licensed veterinarian with more than a decade of clinical experience. It’s for general information only and not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult a vet for health concerns or emergencies.
This is the second article in my two-part series on emotional wellbeing in pets. Last week, we discussed the 5 Vet-Recommended Products to Improve Your Dog’s Emotional Wellbeing.
Today, we’re turning our attention to cats.
A few months ago, a sweet 6-year-old tabby named Bella came into my clinic. Her owner was concerned, because Bella had started hiding for most of the day, barely touched her food, and hissed when approached. At first, nothing seemed obviously wrong. I performed a very complete physical, orthopedic and neurological examination, and everything looked pretty normal. No pain, no signs of infection, no weight loss. Blood work was perfect too.
But something wasn’t clearly right.
As I chatted more with the owner, I found out that they just had a baby two months earlier. The house was suddenly filled with a crying newborn and a completely different rhythm. Bella had gone from being the center of attention to...someone to feed twice daily. She wasn’t sick, but rather stressed, anxious and emotionally overwhelmed by the changes around her.
This is something I see more often than people realize. Cats are incredibly sensitive creatures, and emotional wellbeing plays a huge role in their physical health and behavior.
Before I discuss the products, I want to be clear: there’s no quick fix, and no product alone can magically solve these issues. It takes time, patience, and collaboration between the owner and the veterinarian. That said, the right products can play a valuable supporting role as part of a comprehensive behavioural approach.
Here are five products I often recommend to clients like Bella’s family, products designed to comfort, stimulate, and support your cat emotionally, especially during periods of stress, change, or anxiety.
1. Feliway Classic Diffuser
If I had to recommend just one product to help ease emotional stress in cats, it would be this.
Feliway Classic mimics the natural feline facial pheromones cats use to mark territory as safe and familiar. Plugging in a Feliway diffuser in your cat’s main living area can help reduce the most common signs of stress.
In Bella’s case, her owner placed a Feliway diffuser in the room where she spent most of her time in. After a couple of weeks, Bella started going out again, eating more regularly, and lying next to her owner on the couch, as she used to.
It’s an excellent option for any cat facing a change (new home, new pet, visitors, a baby, etc).
Shop Feliway Classic Diffuser here
2. Feliway Optimum Diffuser (Advanced Emotional Support)
While Feliway Clssic mimics the calming facial pheromones cats use to mark their territory as safe, Feliway Optimum contains a new and more advanced pheromone complex that’s been shown to help with a broader range of stress-related behaviours. This includes not just general anxiety, but also tension between cats, fear-based reactions, and stress-related urination. I especially recommend it in multi-cat households or for cats showing behaviours like hissing, fighting, or toileting outside the litter box.
Shop Feliway Optimum Diffuser here
3. Cozy Cat Calming Bed
In case you haven't noticed, cats are comfort seekers. A warm and enclosed space can do wonders for a cat’s stress levels, especially in multi-cat households or noisy environments.
Cats Calming Beds are soft, supportive, and shaped to provide a sense of security. Cats love curling up into its plush edges, which mimic the comforting pressure they’d feel when nestled next to a littermate or companion.
4. Lick Mats & Lickable Treats
Just like dogs, cats benefit from licking as a soothing activity. Lick mats aren’t just for enrichment, they can help redirect anxious grooming behaviors and provide a calm focus during stressful moments (for example, when guests come over)
Just spread a thin layer of wet food or pureed meat, and let your cat enjoy it. Licking is known to release calming endorphins, and it keeps their mind occupied.
It can be especially helpful for cats who lick themselves raw when anxious.
5. Interactive Cat Puzzle Toys
Mental stimulation is a powerful stress reducer for cats. When cats are bored, they’re more likely to become anxious or develop unwanted behaviors like overgrooming or aggression. Puzzle toys allow them to express their natural problem-solving and hunting instincts.
They work by challenging your cat to paw out dry food or treats.
Not only they help reduce anxiety by keeping their mind active, but they good for managing weight by slowing down eating.
Final Thoughts
Cats may not show their emotions in the way dogs do, but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel deeply. Emotional wellbeing impacts everything from appetite and sleep to playfulness and long-term physical health. As a veterinarian, I believe supporting our cats emotionally is just as important as their diet, vaccines, or physical checkups.
If you haven’t tried these products, I highly encourage you to start with one or two. With the right behavioural modifications and the right tools you can help your cat feel safe, secure, and more like themselves again.