The Best Cat Calming Collars and Diffusers for Anxious Kitties

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

When it comes to cats, anxiety manifests in many ways. Telltale signs include vocalization, excessive grooming, hiding, urinating outside the litter box, and fighting among feline housemates. Anxiety is no fun for your cat—and if bad behavior ensues, it’s frustrating for you! 

Managing kitty nerves usually involves multiple strategies. If your vet has already ruled out a medical problem as the cause, you might see improvements with cat calming collars or pheromone diffusers. Studies have shown synthetic pheromones can reduce hostility between cats. They won’t work for every feline household, but a promising majority of cat parents report success using pheromone calming aids.

We’ve rounded up the best cat calming collars and pheromone diffusers—plus how to choose the right one for your kitty and your home.

Best Cat Calming Collars

• Best Collar for Kittens: Sentry Good Behavior Calming Collar
• Best Scented Collar: NutureCALM Scented Pheromone Collar
• Best Fragrance-Free Collar: ComfortZone Breakaway Calming Collar
• Longest-Lasting Collar: ErnerCal Cat Anxiety Collar

Best Cat Calming Pheromone Diffusers

• Best for Single-Cat Homes: Feliway Classic Diffuser Starter Kit
• Best for Multi-Cat Households: Feliway Multi-Cat Diffuser Starter Kit
• Best for Larger Homes: Comfort Zone Diffuser Value Pack

Best Cat Calming Pheromone Sprays

• Premium Pheromone Spray: bSerene Pheromone & Catnip Oil Spray
• Best Budget Pick: NaturVet Quiet Moments Pheromone Spray

How To Choose the Right Cat Calming Aid

Best Cat Calming Pheromone Collars

Calming collars provide a mobile and fast-acting way to get feline nerves under control (provided your kitty is into wearing one). Here are our top four.

Best Collar for Kittens: Sentry Good Behavior Calming Collar

Most pheromone collars are designed for adult cats, but this Sentry collar is safe for all life stages. Redesigned in 2020 with an improved “slip away” clasp, the collar releases with six pounds of pressure. Soothing lavender and chamomile scents are a plus if you and your cat find them pleasing.

You can purchase a single collar, which might be smart for testing the waters—or you can save money with a three-pack. If you’re using this for a kitten, Sentry recommends checking and adjusting the collar’s size as your kitten grows. 

What we like:

• Affordable price
• Safe for kittens
• Breakaway collar

What we don’t like:

• The scent may be off-putting to some cats and cat parents
• Some users report the collar loosens over time
  

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Best Scented Collar: NutureCALM Scented Pheromone Collar

With relaxing chamomile and lavender fragrances, NurtureCALM is regarded by many cat parents as a better-smelling collar than similarly scented brands. If your cat is on board with the smell, this collar could help tame their stress.

What we like:

• Includes scents of chamomile and lavender 
• Most affordable collar we found

What we don’t like:

• Some users complain about these collars slipping off cats
• The scent fades considerably after a week
• No breakaway clasp
  

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Best Fragrance-Free Collar: ComfortZone Breakaway Calming Collar

Cats have superior sniffers—and while plenty of them find scented products agreeable, other cats will be less enthused. If your cat finds a scented collar particularly offensive, wearing one could actually add to their feelings of anxiety. 

For a fragrance-free option, we suggest ComfortZone. This unscented collar is especially appreciated on longer car trips where passengers (feline and otherwise) are packed in close proximity. It costs a bit more than other brands, but if it works, we say it’s worth it.

What we like:

• Unscented
• Breakaway design
• Notches help hold it in place

What we don’t like:

• Slightly more expensive than other collars
  

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Longest-Lasting Collar: ErnerCal Cat Anxiety Collar

One of the downsides of calming collars is their short lifespans: most are only effective for 30 days. If you’d rather avoid the need to replace a collar so frequently, this EnerCal collar lasts up to 60 days. Reviews mention it has a more comfortable cloth-like feel (good news for cats who will be wearing it that long). And for the scent-averse cat, this collar is also fragrance-free. 

What we like:

• Lasts two times longer than most pheromone collars
• Cost-effective option
• Waterproof
• Appropriate for all life stages
  

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Best Cat Calming Pheromone Diffusers

Pheromone diffusers that plug into an outlet are a convenient alternative for cats who won’t wear a collar. They are sold for single-cat and multi-cat homes. 

Best for Single-Cat Homes: Feliway Classic Diffuser Starter Kit

Trusted brand Feliway offers a line of plug-in pheromone diffusers for cats. Their Classic diffuser is designed to help solo kitties manage stress. It does so by releasing a synthetic version of the feline facial hormone, which provides a comforting sense of safety. 

The Feliway Classic helps keep the peace across 700 square feet. Put it wherever your cat spends the most time (or where they experience the most anxiety). The starter kit comes with a diffuser head and one vial that lasts 30 days. Refills are available. 

What we like:

• Convenient, easy to use
• Odorless
• Feliway reports 92% customer satisfaction

What we don’t like:

• Calming effect is limited to one room
• May have an odor for the first 24 hours of use
• Can get hot to the touch
  

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Best for Multi-Cat Households: Feliway Multi-Cat Diffuser Starter Kit

Multi-cat homes will have better success with a diffuser that mimics a cat’s calming mammary pheromone. Used by mother cats to comfort their nursing kittens, these pheromones are said to release messages of harmony. The Feliway Multi-Cat diffuser replicates the cat-appeasing pheromone to help your feline housemates get along. 

What we like:

• Designed to restore harmony among feline housemates
• Odorless
• Single- and multi-cat refills can be used interchangeably with diffuser heads (useful if you’ve been using the Classic and adopt another cat)

What we don’t like:

• Won’t help with aggression towards humans (only among cats)
• Open windows can result in diffuser not lasting the full 30 days
• Some reviews mention an oily residue on walls
  

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Best for Larger Homes: Comfort Zone Diffuser Value Pack

Coverage-wise, most diffusers are pretty limited (700 square feet, usually). Establishing peace across a larger area will require multiple diffusers, which can get pricey. This Comfort Zone value pack offers three diffuser heads and six refills—extending pheromone range and saving you money. Multi-cat value packs are also available. 

What we like:

• Cost-effective option when you need peace in more than one room
• Diffuser head only needs to be replaced every 12 months (as opposed to six with other models)

What we don’t like:

• Some complaints of oil stains on walls
• Slightly less coverage per diffuser (650 square feet)
  

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Best Cat Calming Pheromone Sprays

Sprays make a good short-term solution for cat stress. They’ll need to be reapplied periodically for effects to last. 

Premium Pheromone Spray: bSerene Pheromone & Catnip Oil Spray

If you need to calm cat nerves on the go, a spray works best. This bSerene spray includes catnip oil to entice cats—a handy feature for encouraging cats to snuggle a blanket or toy that’s been sprayed. You can also spray your cat’s carrier, furniture, and walls. (Just don’t spray your cat!)

It’s not cheap—a two-ounce bottle will cost you more than most diffuser kits. But if you’re not using the spray continuously, it could save you money in the long run. Unlike a diffuser, the calming effect should kick in pretty fast. The company recommends using the spray 15 minutes before a stressful event. 

What we like:

• Contains catnip oil for added appeal
• Works for both single- AND multi-cat homes
• Fast-acting
• Higher pheromone concentration
• According to bSerene, it should last 45+ days

What we don’t like:

• On the pricey side
• Some reviews mention an unpleasant smell
  

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Best Budget Pick: NaturVet Quiet Moments Pheromone Spray

If you anticipate needing to use a spray quite often, NaturVet Quiet Moments is a smart choice. It’s affordable and comes with eight ounces, so it will last you a while. This spray includes rosemary oil and thyme for a pleasing smell. It should maintain harmony for eight to ten hours. 

What we like:

• Affordable
• Works quickly
• Reviewers find the smell pleasant

What we don’t like:

• Will get things wet

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Types of Cat Calming Aids—and How to Choose the Right One

The most popular types of cat pheromone products include collars, sprays, and plug-in diffusers. Each method achieves similar results, but certain features will appeal to different cat parents. 

Since a collar goes wherever your cat goes, they make the most sense for cats who need continuous calm. Pheromone collars are an affordable way to give your cat non-stop stress relief.

That said, not all cats will tolerate the additional neckwear (these things tend to be stiff). And there’s the pheromone-containing white powder to contend with: it’s completely safe, but a bit of a nuisance if it gets on your hands or clothes.

For cats who won’t wear a collar, plug-in diffusers offer a convenient option for ongoing peacefulness indoors. Typically, they diffuse pheromones across 700 square feet—plenty of coverage for smaller spaces, but if tensions run high throughout your entire home, you might need a few.

Like collars, diffusers need to be replaced every 30 days. A potential downside voiced by some users is that diffusers can spill or leave oil stains on walls if they’re jostled.

Lastly, portable pheromone sprays are best suited for traveling with cats. Just spritz your kitty’s carrier or blanket for calmer trips to the vet or groomer. Sprays are also useful for addressing specific high-stress areas, like a feeding mat or litter box.

How We Chose

The collars and diffusers featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a deep dive into customer reviews across several retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts.

We prioritized pheromone products from reputable pet companies, taking into account the various needs of different cat parents. We considered each product’s cost, their practicality of use, and of course, the reported results of real cat parents. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated cats, who are never stingy with their feedback.

Further Reading:

• Can Cat Calming Collars and Pheromone Diffusers Calm an Anxious Kitty?
• What to Do About Your Cat’s Anxiety: Signs and Treatments
• What Separation Anxiety in Cats Looks Like and How to Prevent It
• Cat ThunderShirts: How Pressure Wraps Can Calm Cat Anxiety
• How to Keep Your Cat Calm (and Safe) During Fireworks
• Why Does My Cat Meow? Is My Cat Meowing Too Much?
• Why Do Cats Rub Against You?