This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Feliway. All opinions are 100% mine.
Cat anxiety may sound like an oxymoron to you, but it's a real thing. When we think about cats, anxiety isn't the first thing our mind's flash to. It's probably more like a vision of a heavy lidded cat lying in the sun and basking in all their catness. BUT... cat anxiety is totally a thing. Some cats are on edge every day of their lives and some are only freaked out over certain things, but it is a real, actual thing.
Cat Anxiety is the Real Deal
Aside from the fact that it's sad for the kitty to be so out of sorts, can anxiety is also horrible because cats aren't like dogs. If you've ever seen an anxiety filled dog, you know that a lot of the time, they'll go to their favorite person to be comforted. Which means that they can get a bit of relief from the anxiety. This is especially important on vet trips.
Cats are the absolute polar opposite. One of the biggest side effects of cat anxiety is what I like to call the "tornado of death". Remember the Looney Toons? Remember the Tazmanian Devil animation? It's a little whirlwind with random arms and legs popping out. Add teeth and claws to that scenario and couple it with the difficulty of catching a greased pig, and you've got a cat freaking out. It's dangerous!
My Cat's Anxiety
My cat is generally a chill kitty, but when vet time rolls around, things gets real. He is where my "tornado of death" term came from. When I take out that carrier, he knows exactly what's up, and he absolutely flips. I've tried all kinds of ways to make it easier on him. I even kept it open in the house so he could use it as a bed - which he did - but somehow, he always picked up on when it was vet time.
How I Handle Cat Anxiety
I used to address my cat's anxiety with a towel and hope, but not these days. I've been using Feliway®. It's a synthetic replica of the Feline Facial Hormone which is naturally produced when cats are happy and comfortable with their environment. The idea is that Feliway® gives the cat a feeling of calmness and well-being, and it does.
Feliway® comes in a diffuser, a spray, and wipes. I've been using a combination of all three to help address cat anxiety in my kitty for vet visits. I make sure that his carrier gets a good blast of Feliway® spray a few hours before the vet visit and then another spray a few minutes before we leave. I also plug the diffuser in the night before, so he can get a good 24 hours of Feliway® pheromone goodness in him before the appointment.
After that, he gets some quality one on one time with mom and gets a nice scratch/rub down with the wipes. It has worked wonders on his cat anxiety.
Your Cat can be #FearFree
Feliway® is helping my cat be #FearFree, and it can help your cat, too. It's hormone formula helps soothe cat anxiety with no drugs, and it really works. Find out more on the Feliway® website. Check them out on Facebook too!
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