Life is more interesting when you share your home with spirited cats. However, if your cat has a proclivity for aggression, particularly unprovoked aggression, you may be at a loss for what to do.
No one wants to deal with an upset, agitated cat, whether they are a cat lover or not. When a cat is stressed, he or she may develop behavioral issues.
If you own a cat, you probably already know that the picture-perfect image of a cat purring and lying calmly at arm’s length while you pet her isn’t always accurate. Kitten crazies, or bursts of energy, are common in cats. They can range from sprinting and jumping around the house at high speeds to animated play-fighting with other household pets.
If your cat is showing any of these signs, don’t worry. By the means of this article, we are going to give you Tips to Instantly Calm Any Cat. So, let’s jump right into it.
10 Tips to Instantly Calm Any Cat
1. Let Them Come to You
With a cat, don’t try to force the issue. Allow them to breathe and don’t crowd them. If they are constantly approached by strangers, they will become intimidated.
You’ll be able to do it eventually, but not right away if they’re nervous. Allow a cat to take the initiative.
Simply get down on their level and give them as little attention as possible. The idea is that as time passes, they will become more at ease with you.
So just sit on the floor for a while, minding your own business. Then, after a while, get up and go about your business. Repetition will eventually make them feel more at ease in your presence.
2. Avoid Following Them
Don’t force cats to do something they don’t want to do. If you don’t think they want to be there, don’t pick them up and place them somewhere. Don’t follow them if you’re having a good time with them and they wander off! If they want to leave, they must have a valid reason.
If they need to go somewhere safe for whatever reason, they must be confident that they can do so on their own. Remember, a cat is allowed to follow you but not the other way around! The rules are the rules.
3. Control Your Movement
Your cat has good night vision, some color vision, and is extremely sensitive to movement. Rapid movements, especially if they are unexpected, can amplify her reactions and make her more reactive.
Maintain a slow pace around her and provide distractions such as treats or toys. With cats, slow is usually fast, and fast is slow. Avoid looming over your cat because it makes you appear bigger and more threatening. If your cat is in her carrier, cover it with a towel to create a visual barrier and give her a sense of security.
4. Rolling onto Your Back
It is not appropriate to tickle a cat when it rolls onto its back. That may appear to be the case, but don’t be fooled. If you fall into their trap, their paws will grab your hands in nanoseconds, and you will not be able to escape without being injured.
What should I do? Imitate their actions. Slowly roll onto your back, not too close to your cat, but close enough for them to see you (they have to see you otherwise you’ll look ridiculous).
5. Blink Towards Them
If you only remember one thing from this article, make it this point. It’s the one thing that all cat owners agree helps them bond with their pets. If you keep an eye out for it, you’ll notice that when you look at your cat, it may blink slowly and then look away. This is your cat’s way of telling you that they aren’t a threat in any way.
When a nervous cat looks at you, it’s trying to figure out whether or not you’re a threat. It will assume you are a threat if it has any doubts. So, simply blink. If you have a cat, try it right now.
6. Play Soft Music
Cats are extremely sensitive to noise, just like they are to scent. Providing alternative sounds, especially if loud noises (construction, a baby crying, traffic) are causing your cat’s fear or stress, is a great solution. You can experiment with soft classical music or pleasant ‘white noise’ to see how the cat reacts.
It may create a buffer between the scary noises and the listener. The sense of calm will be enhanced by pairing this music or sound with a cozy room or “Kitty Haven.” You can even listen to some cat-specific music created by University of Wisconsin scientists as part of a research project.
7. Yawn When You Look at Them
You will never see an aggressive cat yawn if it is staring down another cat. You demonstrate your lack of threat by yawning in front of your cat (I bet you’re yawning just thinking about it).
When you do this, keep an eye on your cat’s reaction. While you’re doing it, it’ll be entirely focused on you. Combine this with a slow blink and averting your gaze from time to time. Close your eyes as you yawn to assist your cause. When you yawn, try not to make a loud noise as some people do. Make it a peaceful one.
8. Give Them Some Space to Go
A nervous cat will want to be able to escape from time to time and climbing to a higher level is often appealing. Cats feel safe because they can see what’s going on below them from their perch.
Purchasing a cat tree is one of the best things you can do. This will allow your nervous cat to take up residence on the high ground, where it will feel safe and have places to hide. The Go Pet Club cat tree is one of our favorites. It comes in several different heights and is really sturdy with perches, boxes, and plenty of scratching posts.
9. Bribe Them with Treats
Bribe your cat with treats. It does work sometimes. If you have a little motivation, you can occasionally improve your bond with your cat. Keep some treats on hand. If you’re nearby and the nervous cat isn’t keen on approaching, try luring them in with some treats.
Place some near them on the floor. If they seem interested and willing, try to persuade them to take one from your hands. Feline Greenies Dental Treats are one of our favorites because they are made with natural ingredients like vitamins, minerals, and taurine to provide complete nutrition as well as dental care.
10. Don’t Stare
Never stare a stressed or anxious cat in the eyes. Yes, take a look at them, but don’t stare at them. If the cat is staring at you, return the stare, but look away every now and then. Keep everything controlled and slow and avoid making any sudden movements.
This shows your cat that your attention isn’t entirely focused on it. You’re telling it that you’re not going to attack it and that you’re not interested in bothering it.
Conclusion
There are a variety of reasons why your cat may be anxious, but most of them are related to its environment or history. These were the methods or tips to instantly calm any cat who is anxious or agitated.
Any of the mentioned tips will have an impact, but we recommend combining a few of them at the same time. For example, slow blinking followed by a big yawn, then a brief pause before repeating.
