How To Calm A Nervous Cat

Next, we’ll tell you how to calm a nervous cat without getting a scratch or a bite.

Generally, pet cats are very quiet animals, never as effusive as a dog. But when there is a stressful situation for them, they may react differently than usual. An upset or agitated feline can be dangerous because it will try to attack whoever gets in front of it. Fear overlaps and this creates difficulties.

Why is a cat nervous?

A cat can become stressed when faced with a new stimulus that disturbs him. A noise, a place, a smell, or a specific object can panic him and cause him to react differently. The first step is knowing how to recognize a nervous cat.

There are some behaviors or attitudes that can help us to identify you:

• The cat doesn’t want you to stroke its head or touch it (your self-protective instinct kicks in even more);
• he will hide anywhere (he will run away from where he is stressed);

• walks low (will act with caution to avoid being hurt by those who stress you);
• grunts and tries to scratch (aggressive self-protection behavior);
• lifts tail and lifts torso;
• petting too much (to release excess stress, the cat starts petting itself more than usual);
• he has dilated pupils and ears flat against his head (it’s the cat’s way of showing stress.

Even so, it is essential to understand the reasons why the animal feels this way. The reasons can be many, but the most common are usually:

• Traumatic experiences
• Strong sounds (eg fireworks or storms)
• car travel
• Changes
• Distrust for a new place or person
• Meeting with other cats or animals

How to calm a nervous cat

Once you’ve determined what situation got on your cat’s nerves, you need to act accordingly to help him get out of that state and calm down. Here are the steps you should take if you want to calm a nervous cat:

1. Get close only if necessary

You must think about safety, both yours and the animal’s. In most cases, cats prefer to be left alone until they settle down on their own. If you try to pet him or pick him up in your arms, he can get aggressive. To get close, you need to be very careful, go slow and  quiet.

2. Use a calm tone of voice to call him and draw him to you

For example, if the cat is nervous because he can’t get down from a tree, or he’s been stuck in the garden and you need to get close anyway to help him, talk to him calmly. You can even sing a quiet song. Don’t yell at all, as it will scare you even more.

3. Lure him with food

Through food, cats can release tension and calm the nerves. Always have a moist food on hand, because the aroma will attract you even more. Put the plate halfway between you and him, so he will make an effort to get close.

4. Be patient. Stay calm

The cats are very special beings that can recognize the feelings and emotions of their owners. If you’re nervous, so will he. So if you calm down and show her that there’s nothing to worry about, things will go back to normal without a hitch.

5. Give him his favorite toy. Do not play! be gentle

As with food, you can lure him in with his favorite object. Toys work very well in this case because it is something they consider their own and relate to play. There’s no need to take it to him, you can leave him a few meters away for him to pick up.

Other options to consider

If the above options don’t work, you can try the ones shown below:

• Isolate him: If your cat is excessively nervous or distressed by something that happens in a room in the house or even outside, a good way to calm him down is to isolate him. The bathroom could be perfect. Also the closet. Don’t forget that cats feel protected in small places. When the stress subsides or disappears, you can open the door and let it out on its own.

• Use pheromones: Another technique to calm a nervous cat is to use the same chemical he uses to communicate with other cats. The pheromones are released through the legs, the tail, the face and back and have calming effect. In some pet stores, it is possible to get this substance in a diffuser, spray or necklace.
• Consider Medications: If your cat is continually stressed, there are some medications that can help you get over these times. The veterinarian will know the proper sedative and dose. But you should only give medication when strictly necessary, and as a means of prevention, not cure.