Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Paola Cuevas
Veterinarian, MVZ
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Paola Cuevas
Veterinarian, MVZ
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Cats love routine and love everything to be just the way that they want it. While this is perfectly doable for most cat owners, there are times where your cat may need to go to the vet, there is a new pet in the home, or something like a thunderstorm frightens them. In these cases, it can be difficult to keep a stressed kitty calm, and this can quickly result in clawing, scratching, and damaged furniture.
Calming sprays can be useful during these stressful times for your cat. These sprays work by releasing calming herbal scents and pheromones into the air, helping your cat calm down and feel more relaxed.
There are many cat calming sprays available on the market today, some better than others, and it can be challenging to find the right one for your feline. We narrowed the options to 10 of our favorites, complete with in-depth reviews, to help you find the best match for your cat. Let’s dive in!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Feliway Calming Spray
Vet recommended
Lasts for up to 5 hours
Enough for 50 applications
Check Price
Best Value
Nature’s Miracle Calming Spray
Made with herbal and plant flower extracts
Safe to use on multiple surfaces
Fast-acting
Check Price
Premium Choice
Pet Remedy Calming Spray
pH neutral
Water-based formula
Easy-to-use trigger-spray head
Check Price
Best for Kittens
Comfort Zone Calming Cat Spray
Clinically proven formula
Vet recommended
Mimics natural calming pheromones
Check Price
NaturVet Feline Calming Spray
Contains rosemary, chamomile, and thyme
Suitable for cats 3 months and older
Non-sedating
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The 10 Best Cat Calming Sprays
Feliway Classic Calming Spray for Cats mimics the natural scent and facial pheromones left behind when cats rub themselves up against furniture and is our top choice of calming spray for cats overall. This natural scent helps create a feeling of familiarity and security, which helps cats cope with stressful situations. It is vet recommended to help relax cats and lasts for up to 4–5 hours after spraying. You’ll need around eight sprays per use, and the bottle is good for roughly 50 applications. Of course, cats will be cats, and a handful of customers reported that this spray didn’t help much to calm their cats.
Size: 60 ml
Key ingredients: Synthetic feline facial pheromone
Check Price on Chewy
Pros
Mimics natural facial pheromones
Vet recommended
Lasts for up to 5 hours
Enough for 50 applications
Cons
May not work for all cats
Nature’s Miracle Just For Cats Calming Spray is the best cat calming spray for the money. It’s made with natural herbal and plant flower extracts to help calm your kitty during thunderstorms, vet visits, or while traveling, and it can be sprayed on almost any surface. The formula is pet-safe and non-sedating, so you can have peace of mind when using it on your cat. The spray is fast-acting and long-lasting and effective at promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
Mimics natural facial pheromones
Vet recommended
Lasts for up to 5 hours
Enough for 50 applications
- Mimics natural facial pheromones
- Vet recommended
- Lasts for up to 5 hours
- Enough for 50 applications
May not work for all cats
- May not work for all cats
Size: 60 ml
Key ingredients: Herbal blend
The only drawbacks of this spray are the ingredients. It contains a few parabens, essential oils, and artificial ingredients, which is disappointing.
Pros
Inexpensive
Made with herbal and plant flower extracts
Safe to use on multiple surfaces
Fast-acting
Long-lasting
Cons
Contains parabens and artificial ingredients
If you’re looking for a premium calming spray for your cat, look no further than the D-Stress Natural Calming Spray for Cats from Pet Remedy. Pet Remedy has a formula packed with calming essential oils that include valerian, vetiver, sweet basil, and sage, which are reported to enhance the production of a neurotransmitter that helps calm nerves in cats. These oils are in a pH-neutral, water-based formula that is perfectly cat-safe. This product comes in an easy-to-use spray bottle with a convenient trigger-spray head.
Inexpensive
Made with herbal and plant flower extracts
Safe to use on multiple surfaces
Fast-acting
Long-lasting
- Inexpensive
- Made with herbal and plant flower extracts
- Safe to use on multiple surfaces
- Fast-acting
- Long-lasting
Contains parabens and artificial ingredients
- Contains parabens and artificial ingredients
Size: 200 ml
Key ingredients: Valerian, basil, sage
While many customers reported that this spray was highly effective, it does have a rather pungent odor that is almost not worth the great results!
Pros
Contains calming essential oils
Includes valerian, vetiver, sweet basil, and sage
pH neutral
Water-based formula
Easy-to-use trigger-spray head
Cons
Expensive
Pungent odor
Comfort Zone Spray & Scratch Control Calming Spray for Cats is an easy-to-use spray with a clinically proven and veterinarian-recommended formula that mimics the natural pheromones of your cat. These pheromones indicate safety and comfort to cats, helping them calm down in stressful environments and reduce the chances of stress while traveling. The spray is odorless and won’t affect any other pets in your home. It is safe to use on furniture, doors, beds, and bedding without staining.
Contains calming essential oils
Includes valerian, vetiver, sweet basil, and sage
pH neutral
Water-based formula
Easy-to-use trigger-spray head
- Contains calming essential oils
- Includes valerian, vetiver, sweet basil, and sage
- pH neutral
- Water-based formula
- Easy-to-use trigger-spray head
Expensive
Pungent odor
- Expensive
- Pungent odor
Size: 118 ml
Key ingredients: Synthetic feline pheromone
This product has mixed reviews as to its effectiveness. Many customers also report that the spray nozzle is of poor quality and stops working after only a few uses.
Pros
Clinically proven formula
Vet recommended
Mimics natural calming pheromones
Odorless
Non-staining
Cons
May not work for some cats
Poor-quality spray nozzle
NaturVet Quiet Moments Feline Pheromone Calming Spray for Cats uses simulated feline pheromones to help calm and relax your kitty in stressful situations and is effective for 8–10 hours. It is non-staining and safe to use on any surface and contains calming rosemary and thyme that make it smell great too. The spray is suitable for cats 3 months and older and is non-sedative, so it won’t make your cat sleepy.
Clinically proven formula
Vet recommended
Mimics natural calming pheromones
Odorless
Non-staining
- Clinically proven formula
- Vet recommended
- Mimics natural calming pheromones
- Odorless
- Non-staining
May not work for some cats
Poor-quality spray nozzle
- May not work for some cats
- Poor-quality spray nozzle
Size: 236 ml
Key ingredients: Simulated feline pheromones, rosemary
Several customers reported that this spray was not effective on their cats, and it has a strong odor that is overwhelming rather than relaxing.
Pros
Inexpensive
Made with simulated feline pheromones
Contains rosemary, and thyme
Suitable for cats 3 months and older
Non-sedating
Cons
May not be effective with some cats
Strong odor
bSerene Pheromone & Catnip Oil Calming Spray for Cats mimics the natural pheromones that cats produce, making your cat feel calm in stressful environments. It also contains catnip oil, which will help boost your cat’s mood and reduce stress-induced behaviors like scratching, biting, or hiding. The spray contains safe, natural ingredients that won’t harm your cat or stain your furniture, and it gets to work within 15 minutes after spraying.
Inexpensive
Made with simulated feline pheromones
Contains rosemary, and thyme
Suitable for cats 3 months and older
Non-sedating
- Inexpensive
- Made with simulated feline pheromones
- Contains rosemary, and thyme
- Suitable for cats 3 months and older
- Non-sedating
May not be effective with some cats
Strong odor
- May not be effective with some cats
- Strong odor
Size: 60 ml
Key ingredients: Synthetic pheromone, catnip
Pros
Mimics natural cat pheromones
Added catnip oil
Safe, natural ingredients
Works within 15 minutes
Cons
Catnip smell may attract other cats
Sentry Good Behavior Calming Spray for Cats contains a patented pheromone that mimics the natural neonatal pheromone produced by female cats to help reduce anxiety and stress. The formula is clinically proven to reduce elevated heart rates and anxiety caused by stressful situations, and it can also help with inappropriate marking, scratching, and vocalizing. It contains soothing lavender and chamomile fragrances that can help reduce stress while smelling great too.
Mimics natural cat pheromones
Added catnip oil
Safe, natural ingredients
Works within 15 minutes
- Mimics natural cat pheromones
- Added catnip oil
- Safe, natural ingredients
- Works within 15 minutes
Catnip smell may attract other cats
- Catnip smell may attract other cats
Size: 30 ml
Key ingredients: Synthetic feline pheromone
This is a small bottle for the money at only 30 ml, so it will not last long — a few applications at most. Also, several customers reported that the spray nozzle does not work that well.
Pros
Mimics natural neonatal pheromones
Clinically proven
Contains soothing lavender and chamomile
Cons
Expensive
Small bottle
Poor-quality spray nozzle
Mimicking a mother cat’s pheromones while providing soothing and relaxing fragrances of chamomile and lavender, ThunderEase Calming Spray for Cats is a great way to alleviate stress and anxiety in your cat. The spray is drug-free and easy to use, and it’s great for urine marking, scratching, vet trips, and other potentially stressful situations. The formula is slow releasing and will last for several hours after spraying, providing extended relief for your feline.
Mimics natural neonatal pheromones
Clinically proven
Contains soothing lavender and chamomile
- Mimics natural neonatal pheromones
- Clinically proven
- Contains soothing lavender and chamomile
Expensive
Small bottle
Poor-quality spray nozzle
- Expensive
- Small bottle
- Poor-quality spray nozzle
Size: 60 ml
Key ingredients: Synthetic feline pheromone
This spray may not be effective for all cats and is comparatively expensive.
Pros
Mimics a mother cat’s pheromones
Contains soothing chamomile and lavender scents
Drug-free
Lasts for several hours after spraying
Cons
Not effective for all cats
Expensive
- Relaxivet Pheromone Calming Spray for Cats
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Size: 60 ml
Key ingredients: Catnip, rosemary
Relaxivet Pheromone Calming Spray for Cats is made with natural ingredients, like rosemary, catnip, and geranium, and it has a soothing lavender scent that helps relax your feline. The spray works within 15 minutes of use and lasts for up to 6 hours. It is great for vet visits, thunderstorms, and other stressful scenarios.
Mimics a mother cat’s pheromones
Contains soothing chamomile and lavender scents
Drug-free
Lasts for several hours after spraying
- Mimics a mother cat’s pheromones
- Contains soothing chamomile and lavender scents
- Drug-free
- Lasts for several hours after spraying
Not effective for all cats
Expensive
- Not effective for all cats
- Expensive
Check Latest Price
Size: 60 ml
Key ingredients: Catnip, rosemary
Do note, though, that this spray may be harmful if your pet ingests it, as it contains geranium. Also, the formula is oil-based, meaning it can stain when used on some furniture, so we highly recommend spot testing before use.
Pros
Made with natural ingredients
Works within 15 minutes
Lasts for up to 6 hours
Cons
Can be harmful if ingested
May stain furniture
Size: 240 ml
Key ingredients: Synthetic feline pheromone, passionflower, jasmine
The Cool Kitty Calming Spray from Pet Mastermind is a safe herbal formula that contains calming synthetic cat pheromones and soothing jasmine and passionflower to help alleviate stress in your feline. It is free from parabens and synthetic preservatives and is ideal for vet visits, travel, and meeting new pets or visitors.
Made with natural ingredients
Works within 15 minutes
Lasts for up to 6 hours
- Made with natural ingredients
- Works within 15 minutes
- Lasts for up to 6 hours
Can be harmful if ingested
May stain furniture
- Can be harmful if ingested
- May stain furniture
The nozzle on this spray bottle is poor quality, and most of the product dribbles out while spraying, which is a waste. Also, several customers reported that it stained wood furniture and was effective for only a short time, if at all.
Pros
Herbal formula
Contains calming synthetic cat pheromones
Added soothing jasmine and passionflower
Free from parabens and synthetic preservatives
Cons
Nozzle leaks easily
May stain some surfaces
Only effective for a short period at best
Herbal formula
Contains calming synthetic cat pheromones
Added soothing jasmine and passionflower
Free from parabens and synthetic preservatives
- Herbal formula
- Contains calming synthetic cat pheromones
- Added soothing jasmine and passionflower
- Free from parabens and synthetic preservatives
Nozzle leaks easily
May stain some surfaces
Only effective for a short period at best
- Nozzle leaks easily
- May stain some surfaces
- Only effective for a short period at best
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing The Best Cat Calming Spray
Cat calming sprays come in various formulas, with varying ingredients that work for some cats and not for others. It’s important to note that while calming sprays may work for some cats, they do not address the underlying behavioral issues causing the behavior, so they are not alternatives to good training and upbringing.
What are cat calming sprays used for?
Despite your best efforts at training, some cats react badly to stressful situations, and the anxiety that causes scratching, biting, and clawing can be difficult to relieve. This is where cat calming sprays can be useful, as they can help calm cats effectively during stressful situations. Situations where these sprays can be useful include:
Moving to a new home
Introducing new pets to the home
Traveling
Going to the vet
During thunderstorms
Stopping urine marking
Things to Consider When Choosing Cat Calming Sprays Ingredients
The most important factors to consider when choosing a cat calming spray are the ingredients. Ideally, they should be natural and safe for your cat, quick to take effect, and long-lasting. Typically, these sprays contain synthetic cat pheromones that mimic the natural soothing pheromones given off by mother cats, herbal ingredients to calm and relax your cat, or a combination of both. Sprays with pheromones only are usually odorless, while herbal sprays have calming, relaxing fragrances like lavender. Some also include catnip, which may relax cats and will also attract them.
- Moving to a new home
- Introducing new pets to the home
- Traveling
- Going to the vet
- During thunderstorms
- Stopping urine marking
Ingredients to stay away from include:
Citrus
Pennyroyal
Eucalyptus
Peppermint
Clove oil
Geranium
Non-staining
Since these sprays are made to be used on furniture, blankets, and carriers, they should ideally be water-based and non-staining. Some formulas contain essential oils or synthetic ingredients that can leave stains on certain surfaces, so it’s important to spot test before using them.
Citrus
Pennyroyal
Eucalyptus
Peppermint
Clove oil
Geranium
- Citrus
- Pennyroyal
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Clove oil
- Geranium
Size
Most of these sprays will only last 6–8 hours before you’ll need to respray. This means you may need to use the spray multiple times a day, so make sure you have enough for your needs. If you have a multi-cat household or have a very stressed cat, you probably need a decent-sized bottle. However, if you’re trying out a new spray or only need it for an occasional vet visit, a small bottle should be fine.
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Conclusion
Cat calming sprays have varying degrees of effectiveness, so you’ll want the one that you choose to be likely to work. That’s why the Feliway Classic Calming Spray for Cats is our top choice overall, as it mimics the natural scent and facial pheromones of cats and is vet-recommended for effectiveness.
Nature’s Miracle Just For Cats Calming Spray is the best cat calming spray for the money because it’s affordable, made with natural herbal and plant flower extracts, is pet-safe and non-sedating, and is fast-acting and long-lasting.
If you’re on the lookout for a premium calming spray for your cat, the D-Stress Natural Calming Spray for Cats from Pet Remedy is packed with calming essential oils, is PH neutral, and comes in a non-staining water-based formula.
A stressed-out, anxious cat can quickly cause their owner to feel the same way! Luckily, there are several solutions, and a cat calming spray can be a good option to help calm your kitty during stressful situations. Hopefully, our in-depth reviews have shed a bit of light on these products and helped you find the best cat calming spray to suit your needs!
Featured Image Credit: Elnur, Shutterstock
