10 Best Cat Calming Treats and Pastes 2026
- Rachel
- Feb 27
- 13 min read
Updated: Jul 3
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
Recommendations are based on extensive research into products, brands, customer feedback and my own reviews wherever applicable.
10 Best Cat Calming Treats:
Top Picks At a Glance
View full details ⇨Best Healthy OptionScrumbles Calming Krunchies✓ Natural ingredients. ✓ Valerian and chamomile. ✓ 22% dried chicken. |
View full details ⇨Best Soft ChewsWoyamay Calming Cat Chews✓ Soft and chewable. ✓ Chicken flavoured with cheesy filling. ✓ Chamomile, melatonin and calming amino acids. |
View full details ⇨Best PasteHappy Snack by Feliway✓ Contains alpha-casozepine. ✓ Individual sachets. ✓ Soft and creamy for licking. |
View full details ⇨Best for KittensZesty Paws Calming Paste✓ For cats and kittens of all ages. ✓ Made with real fish. ✓ Lactium, L-tryptophan and L-theanine. |
View full details ⇨Best BudgetWhiskas Relax & Unwind Cat Treats✓ Calming amino acid. ✓ Highly palatable. ✓ Budget-friendly. |
Cat calming treats are designed to help reduce stress and anxiety in a gentle, natural way without causing drowsiness or changes to a cat's personality, as is seen with some prescription medications. They're often used to relax cats during stressful events like vet visits, travelling, fireworks and changes in routine or environment.
By lowering anxiety levels, you should see a reduction in stress-related behaviours such as:
Destruction to furniture (scratching, chewing, urine spraying).
Excessive vocalisation.
Overgrooming.
Hiding.
Aggression.
Chronic stress can lead to serious health issues, and calming treats may help to support short and long-term physical and emotional health. Treats and supplements work from the inside, while other calming aids - like diffusers and sprays - provide a comfortable and secure environment, so you can use both in conjunction for extra zen. This is particularly beneficial within multi-cat households to reduce conflict and fighting.
Since stress is commonly related to boredom or inactivity, especially for indoor cats, it's important to schedule daily playtime with your cat and provide other forms of enrichment.
Calming treats usually contain blends of natural ingredients such as:
Herbs like valerian, lavender and chamomile.
The amino acid, L-tryptophan (boosts serotonin levels).
Melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep.
Since treats are designed to be exactly that - a tasty snack - they're easier to administer than pills or supplements. They can also aid training and bonding, hence why they're a popular option amongst pet parents.
But which one to buy?
With so many different types and brands available, I've hunted down 10 of the most highly rated treats that offer a balance between quality and affordability. These include a mixture of soft and crunchy treats, pastes and flavours to suit all preferences - even the fussy ones!
*Treats and supplements should not be used to replace veterinary treatment or medications. If your cat is displaying abnormal behaviour then you should take them for a health check-up at the first opportunity and follow the advice of your vet.
Best Cat Calming Treats
Best Healthy Option
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Scrumbles is a UK pet food brand known for their natural, high-protein recipes with an emphasis on digestive health. Calming Krunchies combine a crunchy outer shell with a soft filling that supports calm behaviour for a zen kitty.
Other varieties of Scrumbles Krunchies include Anti-Hairball, Dental and Chicken.
Ingredients
Active ingredients include:
Valerian and chamomile to support relaxation.
Pumpkin and yeast to promote healthy digestion.
Treats contain 100% natural ingredients with no artificial nasties or added sugars, as well as being gluten-free.
While Scrumbles wet and dry food recipes are made with a portion of fresh meat, treats only contain dried chicken. Despite claiming to be hypoallergenic, it still contains some undesirable ingredients including pea starch and rice flour. However, the meat quantity and ingredients are better quality than bog-standard treats.
Other ingredients:
Dried chicken 22%, rice flour, pea starch, potato protein, coconut oil, poultry fat, vegetable fibre, hydrolysed chicken protein, dried brewers yeast, minerals, dried valerian root 0.1%, dried chamomile 0.1%.
Feeding
At less than 2 kcal per treat, you can feed cats 10-15 Krunchies per day. Suitable for cats and kittens over 8 months old.
Reviews
Customers find Scrumbles Krunchies to be of good quality and say the size is suitable for both kittens and adult cats. They receive positive feedback for their calming effect and, while most cats enjoy the taste, some won't eat them. There are a generous amount of treats per bag at an affordable price.
✓ Valerian and chamomile. ✓ Natural ingredients. ✓ Supports digestion. ✓ Value for money. | ✕ Rice flour, pea starch, potato protein. |
Best Soft Chews
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Woyamay offers natural products designed to support pets' comfort, health and happiness. Calming Chews provide a natural daily solution to help cats feel calm and support stable behaviour patterns. They can be used during travel, changes in daily routines, noisy environments and other stressful situations.
Ingredients
Chews combine the flavour of chicken with a crunchy shell, and a rich cheese filling that even picky eaters can't resist. Each treat contains natural ingredients, including:
Organic chamomile - soothes and relaxes nerves.
L-tryptophan - supports mood and relaxation.
L-theanine - reduces stress-related behaviours.
Melatonin - supports sleep and reduces anxiety.
They contain no artificial flavourings or added sugar and are gluten, soy and corn-free.
Other ingredients:
Chicken, Wheat Flour, Egg Yolk Powder, Cheese Powder, Chicken Liver Powder, Chinese Yam, Deep-Sea Fish Oil, Beef Tallow, Potato Starch, Pumpkin Powder, Brewer’s Yeast Powder, Spirulina Powder, Cranberry Powder, Yucca Powder, DL-Alpha-Tocopherol, Rosemary Extract.
Feeding
Feeding directions are based on 1 chew daily per 0.45 bodyweight. For kittens aged 4-6 months, this amount should be halved. Chews are not advised for kittens under 4 months.
Treats may help cats to settle within 30-45 minutes and provide up to 12 hours of calm. Each bottle contains 500 chews which, for an average-sized 5kg cat, would last around 2 months.
Reviews
These tasty chews go down well with cats since they're packed with flavour, although they may not be the healthiest option with cats being lactose intolerant. Owners see a noticeable effect on cats that struggle with anxiety and nervousness, as well as stressful situations. However, it's a pricey option - while 500 chews sounds like a lot, they might not stretch far depending on the weight and size of your cat.
✓ Organic chamomile. ✓ L-tryptophan and L-theanine. ✓ Melatonin. ✓ Gluten, corn and soy-free. | ✕ Wheat flour, cheese powder. ✕ Expensive. |
Best Paste
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Feliway offers a full range of cat wellbeing products, backed by over 25 years of research. Check out the calming diffuser range here: Feliway Reviews: Classic, Optimum and Friends Diffuser Comparison
Feliway Happy Snacks have a soft, creamy texture for cats to lick during stressful situations. They also improve bonding with humans, making them perfect for rescue cats and new adoptees.
Ingredients
These delicious chicken-flavoured treats contain alpha-casozepine, a natural milk protein with appeasing properties that help cats to feel calm and relaxed. They're gluten-free with no added sugar, artificial colours or preservatives.
While alpha-casozepine is considered to be lactose-free, the product does contain other milk products which may contain small amounts.
Other ingredients:
Meat and animal by-products (incl. 4% chicken), oils and fats, milk and milk products (incl. 0.5% milk protein hydrolysate with alpha-casozepine), vegetable by-products.
Feeding
Snacks come in packs of 6 or 24 individually wrapped sachets that are perfect for a treat at home or on the go. You can feed 2 sachets daily by mixing into food, using as a topper, feeding on a spoon or straight from the packet. They're suitable for cats over 12 weeks old.
Reviews
Consumer testing revealed that 86% of cats love Happy Snacks, even the fussy ones! I haven't tested these due to my cats' aversion to the texture, but I've administered Zylkene Supplements which also contain alpha-casozepine as the active ingredient. They did seem to boost Simba's confidence around his bullying brother, and he loved the taste.
Most owners find Happy Snacks to be effective at calming their cats, particularly during stressful events like fireworks and vet visits. Since cats naturally enjoy licking, snacks provide a good distraction for aggression-related behaviours and during the separation and reintroduction process.
Sachets are easy to use, with several customers using them to sneak in medications. However, they can be messy if your cat isn't used to licky treats!
✓ Alpha-casozepine. ✓ Improves bonding. ✓ Individual sachets. ✓ No artificial additives. | ✕ Unknown meat/vegetable byproducts. ✕ Expensive. |
Best for Kittens
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Formulated by vets, Zesty Paws products are made with premium ingredients that have benefits in every bite (or lick!). The paste has shown to support calmness and wellbeing without causing drowsiness or affecting alertness. With consistent use, it can help to maintain relaxation in stressful situations and reduce symptoms of anxious behaviour such as fear, aggression, restlessness and hyperactivity.
The Zesty Paws paste also comes in Anti-Hairball and Digestion formulas.
Ingredients
The clinically-proven ingredients include:
Lactium - a bioactive peptide to maintain calmness under stressful situations.
L-tryptophan - boots serotonin to reduce anxious behaviours.
Green tea extract - a natural source of L-theanine to improve focus and reduce stress-related signs.
The paste is made with real fish for a great flavour.
Other ingredients:
Malt Extract, Vegetable Glycerin, Yeast Products (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Yeast Extract, Lactium® Milk Protein Powder (2.7%), Hydrolysed Fish Protein, Minerals, Vitamin B1, L-tryptophan, Green Tea Extract.
Feeding
Zesty Paws Calming Paste is suitable for cats and kittens of all ages.
For best results, directions advise feeding daily for a minimum of 4 weeks. The recommended amount is 1/3 teaspoon or a 4cm ribbon, either straight from the tube or added as a food topper.
Reviews
Zesty Paws Calming Paste is recommended by 9 out of 10 vets. It's effective in many cases, but not all cats will appreciate the flavour since fish has a strong taste and is hard to mask in food. It's an expensive option for long-term use.
✓ L-tryptophan and L-theanine. ✓ Lactium. ✓ Real fish. ✓ Suitable for kittens. | ✕ Strong taste. ✕ Expensive. |
Best Budget
Whiskas is a well-known budget cat food label, and these dual textured Relax & Unwind treats are crunchy on the outside with a creamy filling. They're prepared with tasty chicken and added vitamins and minerals.
Other variations of Whiskas treats include Groom & Care and Pounce & Play.
Ingredients
Treats are chicken flavoured and contain a relaxing amino acid as the active ingredient, although it's not named. They contain no added colourants but a lot of cereals and unknown vegetable and animal derivatives.
Other ingredients:
Cereals, derivatives of vegetable origin, oils and fats, meat and animal derivatives (including chicken 4%), vegetable protein extracts, minerals.
Feeding
Treats contain less than 5 kcal each and can be fed as a snack between meals.
3kg cats: 4 treats per day.
4kg cats: 5 treats per day.
5kg cats: 6 treats per day.
Reviews
Cats love the taste of Whiskas Relax & Unwind, and many owners noticed that their nervous cats were more relaxed and friendly. They may be less effective on severe cases of anxiety and are quite large to chew.
Unfortunately, the ingredients are heavy in grains and vegetables with only 4% chicken. However, it's a cheaper alternative for those on a budget, and cats should only eat a small amount per day.
✓ Relaxing amino acid. ✓ Highly palatable. ✓ Budget-friendly. ✓ No added colourants. | ✕ Cereals and unknown derivatives. ✕ Large size. |
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Beaphar products consist of anti-parasite treatments, behaviour and training aids, vitamins and supplements. StressLess Calming Treats are part of the herbal calming range to help reduce feline stress and anxiety, as well as unwanted behaviours like scratching and urine spraying. They provide additional support during stressful situations like fireworks and travelling.
You can use StressLess Herbal Calming Treats alongside other Beaphar calming products: Beaphar Cat Calming Products: Diffuser, Spray, Spot-On, Collar and Tablets
Ingredients
Treats are chicken flavoured and the active ingredients include:
Valerian - calming and stress relieving properties.
Melissa - calming and soothing with muscle relaxing properties.
Rosemary - reduces stress and anxiety by improving state of wellbeing.
Hop flowers - calming and soothing.
Other ingredients:
Cereals, Milk and milk derivatives, Derivatives of vegetable origin (Melissa officinalis 5%, Hop blossoms 1%, Valerian extract 0.1%), Oils and fats (Chicken fat 3.5%), Minerals, Yeasts, Fish and fish derivatives, Meat and animal derivatives.
Feeding
Treats should be fed up to one-and-a-half hours before a stressful event and every 3 hours thereafter, with no more than 6 given per day. For ongoing use, 2 treats per day is recommended. They're suitable for cats of all ages.
Reviews
Customers say that StressLess Treats are effective at calming nervous pets, particularly behaviours like hiding and overgrooming. They help during fireworks and car journeys, as well as promoting restful sleep.
Some cats find them too large and hard to chew, and having been a previous user of these treats, mine will only eat them if they're hidden in a pile of other treat biscuits or kibble. However, they do have a mild effect.
✓ Valerian, Melissa, hop flowers, rosemary. ✓ Suitable for long-term use. ✓ For cats of all ages. ✓ Use with other Beaphar products. | ✕ Cereals and unknown derivatives. ✕ Hard to chew. |
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VETIQ develops preventative care products and functional treats designed to enhance pets' health and wellness. Healthy Bites help to relax your cat naturally by reducing anxious behaviour caused by stressful situations such as loud noises, changes to the home, travel and separation anxiety.
In addition to Serene Calming, VETIQ Healthy Bites range inlcudes Urinary Care, Hairball Relief, Growth Support and Nutribooster.
Ingredients
Treats contain a unique blend of lemon balm, chamomile and ginger oil to soothe cats during periods of avoidance and stress.
Other beneficial ingredients include:
L-tryptophan, an amino acid involved in the production of serotonin to reduce stress and aggression.
Magnesium and vitamins A, E and D3 for balanced emotions and calmer behaviour.
Healthy Bites are high in protein with 33% poultry, giving the cream-filled crispy shells a delicious meaty taste at just 2 kcal per treat. They're wheat-free and contain no artificial colours or preservatives.
Other ingredients:
Poultry meal, Rye Flour, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Milk Derivatives, Flavouring, L-Tryptophan, Salt, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Chamomile Powder, Rosemary Extract Oil, Seafoam (minerals), Lemon Balm, Ginger Oil, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3.
Feeding
Treats can be fed as a snack between meals and are suitable for cats and kittens over 12 weeks old.
Cats and kittens less than 2.5kg: up to 6 bites per day.
Cats over 2.5kg: 12 bites per day.
Reviews
Healthy Bites are said to be small enough for kittens as well as adult cats. Results are generally positive for all varieties of Healthy Bites, with owners using Serene Calming for stress-inducing events like fireworks and general nervousness. For cats with pee problems, which can be another symptom of stress, you can use in combination with Urinary Care Bites.
Remember, this is not a treatment but a form of natural support. It's vital that you take your cat to see a vet for any health problems.
✓ Chamomile, lemon balm, ginger oil. ✓ L-tryptophan. ✓ Magnesium and vitamins. ✓ High meat content. | ✕ Rye flour, corn starch. |
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AmeizPet specialises in functional pet health products including pastes, supplements and other treatments. Healthy Calm Bites are a supportive daily snack to help cats cope with busy environments, changes in routine, travel, hyperactivity, restlessness and nervousness. The crunchy outer layer and soft centre encourages cats to chew so the calming support is delivered in a natural way.
Other treat products from this range are Anti-Hairball, Fresh Breath, Healthy Liver, Urinary Tract Health, Immune System and Hypoallergenic.
Ingredients
Treats are designed to encourage a more balanced mood with a blend of ingredients:
Chamomile and valerian extract to support relaxation and emotional balance.
L-tryptophan to boost serotonin and reduce feelings of aggression and stress.
Other ingredients:
Maize flour, wheat flour, yeast, animal fats, malt bran, dried beef, ginger, tryptophan.
Feeding
Cats can be fed up to 10 bites per day.
Reviews
Many cats find Healthy Calm Bites tasty but the calming effect has mixed opinions. They're said to be quite large, with some owners having to break them in half before feeding. Reviews are generally positive across the whole AmeizPet range, particularly the Anti-Hairball Bites.
✓ Chamomile and valerian. ✓ L-tryptophan. ✓ Dried beef. ✓ Odourless. | ✕ Maize flour, wheat flour. ✕ Large size. ✕ Expensive. |
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GimCat is a German-made brand specialising in high-quality health products, treats and pastes for cats. The Relax Paste has been developed in collaboration with vets and comes in handy when your cat needs extra help during changes and unexpected events, such as vet visits, travelling and fireworks.
Ingredients
The active ingredients are:
California poppy herb and St John's wort to promote wellbeing and reduce stress. They're also natural sedatives and painkillers.
L-tryptophan, known as the "happy hormone".
Vitamin B complex to support nerve function and metabolism.
The formula contains no added sugar, artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and is lactose-free.
Other ingredients:
Vegetable by-products, oils and fats, yeast (contains 1% beta-glucan), milk and dairy by-products, ground California poppy herb (0.7%), St. John’s wort (0.04%).
Feeding
Relax Paste is suitable for cats over one year old as a treat. It's easy to administer by feeding directly from the tube, mixing into food or adding as a topper. It's best used as a short-term treatment.
Reviews
GimCat Relax Paste shows fast and effective results in many cats, particularly for car journeys and fireworks. While the paste has good palpability overall, some cats won't eat it.
✓ California poppy herb and St John's wort. ✓ L-tryptophan. ✓ Vitamin B complex. ✓ No artificial additives. | ✕ Vegetable by-products. ✕ Expensive. |
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PrimaCat offers high-quality cat food with plenty of meat and no wheat or added sugar. These soft, chewy treats are ideal for rewarding and motivating your cat, and they take a slightly different approach to kitty calmness than others mentioned.
Catnip is known as a cat's "happy drug" due to inducing feelings of playfulness and relaxation, depending on their individual response. It's believed to stimulate the pheromone receptors and is completely natural and non-addictive.
Ingredients
PrimaCat Treats are made with tasty chicken and added catnip to support stress relief, promote healthy digestion and aid training. They contain salmon oil for a shiny coat.
Treats are high in meat and grain-free with no added sugar, corn, soy or GMO ingredients.
Other ingredients:
Dehydrated chicken protein 35%, yellow peas, liquid vegetable starch, collagen, poultry liver gravy 5%, catmint dried 1%, salmon oil.
Feeding
To be fed as a treat for adult cats only.
Reviews
Many cats love the taste of PrimaCat Treats, but the calming effect is seen more in some cats than others. These are a good option if your cat responds to catnip as they may help to boost confidence as well as relax. However, some cats are immune to the substance.
Related post: 15 Best Catnip Toys, Blends and Sprays
This is a small bag for the price, but the high meat content and quality ingredients make it a snack that's healthy as well as delicious. Treats are quite big but can be broken into smaller pieces due to their soft texture, potentially making them last longer.
✓ High-meat content. ✓ Catnip. ✓ Grain-free. ✓ No corn, soy or GMOs. | ✕ Contains peas. ✕ Expensive. |
Information accurate from June 2026 and may be subject to change.
Have you tried any of these calming treats? Did your kitty approve and were there any noticeable effects? Feel free to share any other great products that you think missed the list.
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