Diagnosing anxiety in cats is often a matter of ruling out alternative explanations for symptoms. Other health problems, including thyroid conditions, kidney disorder, and cancer, can mimic the symptoms of anxiety. Therefore, your vet will conduct a physical exam and may order blood and urine tests to rule out these causes.

If no other cause is present and the symptoms stem from anxiety, the next step is determining a course of treatment. Several options are available. 

Modify the Environment to Remove the Trigger

For situational anxiety, the most obvious solution is to remove the trigger or allow your cat to remove himself from it. Providing safe spaces, plentiful exits, comfortable bedding, and calming music are among the easiest environmental modifications to make.

However, completely removing triggers is often not possible. Families move, expand, and adopt new pets. Neighbors will set off fireworks. Cats must go to the vet, and they are invariably left alone for stretches of time each day.

Simply put, protecting your cat from all anxiety triggers is nearly impossible. Plus, some cats suffer from generalized anxiety with no obvious triggers. Other treatment options are, therefore, necessary. 

Behavioral Training

Behavioral training is one option. Working with a therapist or trainer, you may be able to decrease your cat’s anxiety using exposure therapy and positive reinforcement, including treats, playtime, praise, and attention. 

Prescription Medications

Certain prescription medications can also be used to treat anxiety in cats. However, these come with side effects, including sleepiness and stomach upset. Their long-term health consequences may also be uncertain. These factors, combined with the ongoing cost of prescription medications and the fact that they simply don’t work for some cats, make such options less than ideal.

Alternative Remedies and Supplements

Some owners try other remedies, including massage and acupuncture, to manage their cats’ anxiety. Although studies of these methods’ effectiveness are limited and they can be costly, they don’t bring any negative health effects. So it’s up to individual owners to decide what methods are worth trying.

Herbal diffusers and treats that contain l-theanine, chamomile, and catnip can also help some cats.

Increasingly, however, pet owners seeking safe alternatives to prescription medications are choosing CBD. In fact, CBD may be among the most effective options for your cat.  CBD addresses anxiety at its source, and it does so naturally. 

Cats — and humans — experience anxiety when their brains receive and overreact to stress signals. When anxiety triggers are more than your cat’s natural endocannabinoid system can regulate, the compounds in CBD can help. Cannabinoid therapy works by increasing levels of CBD and THC and, thus, enhancing your cat’s natural stress response. 

Choosing the right product and dose for your pet is important. The most effective CBD products are minimally processed 100% full-spectrum CBD oils, which include CBD, trace amounts of THC, and other compounds. Scientists who study and develop CBD treatments recommend these products because they capitalize on the “entourage effect.” This means that the various compounds in the hemp plant are most effective when they work together. Using the whole plant — choosing a full-spectrum CBD product — ensures that your pet receives the whole benefit of CBD treatment.

Other factors to consider when choosing a CBD treatment for your pet include safety and purity. The best CBD products are grown organically and undergo third-party testing to ensure the highest quality and safety.