Just for Cats Calming Spray

HIGHLY recommend for anxious cats. Helps FAR more to relax during stressy times, incl. estrus cycles in pre-spay days or adapting to new things/places/ppl/animals, than all else I’ve tried. Mine was feral so you can imagine how freaked out she was to suddenly be trapped inside (+I have 3 dogs). You don’t need to spray much, just in areas where cat will be, but *DON’T* spray ON the cat. I’m sure cats will be affected differently but for my girl, this was TOP THREE, if not *THE* most effective tool for her transition to indoor life. I still use 6mo’s later and have on Autoship. It’s AMAZING for tough times (like a recent spay.) I bought before I got her indoors & sprayed areas I knew she’d use in quiet room I’d sectioned off for her. During estrus I sprayed rugs/floor and after mist settled I’d drag string toy or throw ball in that area. She’d settle to rest within 20mins to hour. On vet trips I spray carrier 10mins before putting in-she won’t sleep as she hates feeling trapped, but it helps to large degree. I prefer pheromone sprays to other calming aids because they’re very safe and she’s immunocompromised (leukemia) so am extra cautious. She was maybe 7mos old when I took her in—no mom around and lived in yard of neighbors recently vacated home. As situation wasn’t urgent (she was safe) and wasn’t sure I could keep her, for months I only fed from distance & built trust. Pls excuse my length but the amount of homeless, needy animals is legit agonizing to me so I try to help where I can, so if ever you’d like to help a stray/ feral/ ANY nervous animal, I’ll offer up my BEST TIPS: 1. Use calming, VERY soft, melodic voice at ALL times and speak often to them when feeding as they build trust. Give them a name and use it often. 2. CLEVER TRICK I used to condition my feral to come so I didn’t leave ant or animal-attracting food down long: Clink a butter knife on rim of drinking glass right before feeding. I did this in front of her at first. Initially confused her but made sure to do EACH TIME I fed. Within weeks, when I wanted to feed but couldn’t find her, I’d clink glass LOUDLY many times and she’d appear. ALSO helps later if they get out and worked when she escaped twice 1st month indoors. 3. Never reach out or approach if they don’t seem ok with it. Avoid lots of eye contact. If not urgent or you aren’t sure you can adopt or just don’t want to trap, start to put food&water down when you see them, then leave. Over period of days or weeks, once they seem comfortable enough, start sitting 20 ft away while they eat. Gradually narrow distance each time but never make sudden movements or be loud. PATIENCE IS KEY, esp. with ferals or anxious animals. Always gage comfort level/mood and let *them* decide. When they want to get closer, they will (unless urgent- ie, they’re in danger, hurt, or ill—in which case borrow humane trap from a shelter and bring to vet. Most states have cities with a low cost vet option.) 4. Wet food is a great trust builder, Wet and dry even better, if you can afford. Try to leave just enough they’ll eat and clean area after to avoid ants. You can crush some flea treatments / other needed meds/supplements in wet food (Capstar’s very safe for cats over 2lbs, but be cautious abt meds &dewormers, esp. for young cats or pups, as cheapest isn’t always safe. Google safest products for specific need, (ie. Dewormer) for age/weight range and you’ll find info to choose,) A stray Tom cat had a bad limp so I crushed Cosequin hip &joint treats for cats, (glucosamine supplement, costs abt $10 for months worth and is beneficial for most cats &dogs) into his wet food and DRAMATICALLY helped his mobility &pain. 5.ANOTHER CLEVER TRICK with ferals under 1yr old, (or older, it’s worth a shot? ) : Use long string or cord to stimulate interest in play and build trust. (If it works, this will ALSO become useful later to guide them places- I did this to get feral to nap on towels I’d placed in sheltered spots during hot or wet weather.) I used long nylon cord and from distance of abt 15ft, I’d toss and drag near cat. First 5x or so she was uninterested, but ultimately all young cats want play so eventually she couldn’t resist. I now know that while she played it cool, so addicted she became to string time that she began to crave play. It prob had as much to do with gaining trust as food or all else. Just be sure to keep distance and use slow movements. 6. For very young kittens or pups, PLEASE make sure there’s no mom around for many hours before taking in. Moms frequently leave to find food and a baby’s survival chance is far greater with their mom. If under a month or 2 old, even formula may not save a kitten, so if you find one you’re POSITIVE was abandoned, which is often not the case, their best chance is for you to keep formula on hand and try to find another nursing cat. Mama cats often nurse kittens who aren’t their own and gives them a better shot than formula. 7.Be mindful abt when/where you feed and any other animals around. Don’t leave it near spots where animal sleeps or shelters, as food attract predators or animal fights & may endanger them. Make sure ants aren’t swarming and keep food/water area as clean & shaded as possible. 8. In fair weather, you can put blankets/towels,etc. in shaded spots, but if cold, never use cloth—it’ll get damp and animals can freeze to death on it. Pine straw, as far as I know, is only safe option for cats in cold weather, (not even hay, I’m told). Google “cold weather feral shelter diy” tips for using plastic bins &pine straw. If very hot, put frozen water bottle/jug out and they may rub against to cool down, tho my cat didn’t. I sprayed yard with hose in summer to bring down temps, which worked best for extreme heat. 9.If you’ve built up trust with stray and want to bring indoors, set up a calm, quiet, comfy room where they can have their own space and feel safe while adapting to new home. For feral cat, provide good “hiding” spots and anything cave-like, such as blanket forts and narrow spaces they can retreat to when overwhelmed or spooked. Often they may hang there for several days or weeks at first, until they feel it’s safe to come out more. If in yard, start leaving door open for periods when they’re near it or use a toy to lure them in. Slowly, while they’re away from door, close it. They may panic. In my case, she’d been sleeping all nights & many days on my porch and had already come inside a few times for a bit while door was open, so when the day came to close the door, I knew letting her back out wouldn’t deter her return. First time closing, it was so hot that when I shut door she just ate and napped, relieved to be out of heat, ..but then woke and desperately wanted out so I let her go. Next few times she immediately panicked. I let her back out each time for a week so that she’d trust I meant no harm. HOWEVER, if you’ve trapped a cat to bring in, aren’t sure they’ll return, or they're no longer safe outside, DON’T open the door again. Just make sure they have a quiet place, preferably with windows, give food, water, etc, and leave them alone for a while. I closed off our sunroom and put down food, water, litter box, some towels to rest on, toys, & made a blanket fort that served as a hideaway tent, and used pheromone spray a few times daily. Later I played soft music or YouTube’s CatTV squirrel vids on TV for her. First few weeks she stayed under blanket fort most of time, occasionally at window. She wouldn’t let me touch her for at least a week, and then only barely for a month. A few months in, was roaming all over, and now at 6 mo’s indoors she mimics a lifelong house cat and loves to cuddle and play. You’d never guess she’d been feral. With dogs also, or any nervous animal, #1 TIP once you’ve taken in is to give them a “safe space” that’s comfy and low stress while they learn their new home is safe. As their mood allows, give them attention, cuddles, and praise often. BEST ADVICE on dealing with ANY animal at all, and a good way to sum it all up, is simply : Imagine how you’d feel if in their position, then act accordingly. Sorry for length but hope it helps an animal! :) Ps-mine’s now solely indoor cat, btw, and is now happy to be. I don’t agree with letting pets roam freely in populated areas or anywhere unless it’s completely safe, like a farm or country yard. It’s dangerous for them, other nearby pets, greatly increases homeless & sick animal populations, endangers wildlife, and selfishly puts out animal rescuers, who oft wind up caring for someone else’s pet at added expense, many of whom are already in debt due to vet bills and food costs of actual homeless animals, without also feeding homed ones, but how can they know the difference? If you take in a stray, please think twice before letting them roam. They’ll almost surely adapt to indoor life if given the chance and are well cared for :)