This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Feliway® for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

No one likes to see their cat upset. Your cat may be upset due to dealing with anxiety. Some signs of a cat who is dealing with anxiety might include licking and biting oneself. Overly anxious cats may also meow excessively, hide, or even tremble. The holidays are always a stressful time for our cats. The dogs get super excited, new people are in and out of the home and there are strange noises and decorations all around. Here are a few tips that we used during the holidays and continue to use year round to ensure our cats stay anxiety free.

Removing the Stimulus

It can be hard to note exactly what is causing your cat anxiety, but if you do know, it only makes sense to remove the stimulus. Some people have other pets that cause their cat anxiety. You may need to keep your other pet away from your cat. You’ll know your cat is doing better if it stops expressing itself in anxious way. It may take a few tries to get your cat to understand that you’ve removed the stimulus.

Establish a Daily Routine

Cats need a routine? Well, it’s not like you need to give your cat a bath and put it to bed. However, cats do need some sort of routine. Feeding them at the same time every day is a great way to establish a routine. Going to bed at the same time and allowing them to sleep on your bed is also another way cats can be in a routine. Cats adjust to their owner’s routine, so if you have had a different schedule lately, that could be the cause of stress on your cat. To avoid an anxious cat, make sure you try to stick to as normal of a routine as you can.

Play with Your Cat

Cats need love and attention and if they’re not getting that then it could cause anxiety. Spend time playing with your cat each and every day. You don’t have to spend your whole day doing it, but a little playfulness here and there can help their anxiety. It’s truly amazing how much cats love their owners, so feeling “loved” can help to melt their anxiety away. What better way to show your cat that you love them, then by playing with them?

Make Their Environment Fun

Cats love toys and playing, so why not make their environment a little more fun? There are tons of toys made specifically for cats. Pick out a spot in your home and make a little room for your cat. Knowing that they have a place in the house can really help them feel less anxious. They know they are wanted and allowed in this area and this may help their stress level remain low.

Feliway
Feliway® is a synthetic replica of the "Feline Facial Pheromone." Have you ever seen your cat rubbing up against people or objects with their cheeks? That is because the feline facial pheromone is a substance that cats excrete from their face when they are calm and happy. Feliway® helps to replicate this pheromone to stimulate a relaxing and anxiety free environment for cats who may be feeling anxious in certain circumstances.

I put the diffuser near the cats' favorite chair, put their kitty blanket on the chair and wiped it down with some of the Feliway® wipes. It wasn't long before they came along to check it out, and now it is their safe place to go when they feel stressed.

In fact, many pet clinics use Feliway® in their exam rooms to help calm cats during what is normally a stressful experience for them. By helping to calm and soothe your cat with Feliway® Wipes, Spray or Diffuser, you are making them feel secure and comfortable when there are changes to their environment whether it be during the holidays or any other time of the year. There is even a Diffuser for multiple cats, that is meant to cut down on quarreling in multi-cat households.

Find out more on the Feliway® website, or check them out on Facebook for the latest news and tips!
Reducing anxiety in your cat can make the whole family feel whole again. What tips do you have for reducing anxiety in your cat? I’d love to hear your tips.