Calming Supplement Reviews: ZylKene and YuMOVE Calming Care for Cats (Tried and Tested)
- Rachel
- Jun 19
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
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All photos are my own and previously unpublished. I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in this article.
Supplement Reviews
Calming supplements are often used as a natural, drug-free alternative to medication to help relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety, similar to what you'd find in a health and wellness shop. In cats, this usually manifests as behavioural problems like hiding, overgrooming, excessive vocalisation, urine spraying and aggression.
It's important to address any underlying issues in conjunction with medications and/or supplements by getting cats checked over by a vet. In some cases, environmental changes or behaviour modification therapy might be necessary. You shouldn't rely on calming products alone and always discuss your options with a qualified vet.
Supplements may be beneficial for cats with mild to moderate anxiety and are available without a prescription. They shouldn't have any undesirable side-effects like drowsiness, but effectiveness varies from cat to cat.
Prescription medications like antidepressants and benzodiazepines are used to treat more severe cases of anxiety or aggression, particularly if caused by an underlying medical condition. Where illness isn't a factor, these should only be used on a short-term basis and as a last resort where other treatments/therapies have failed.
YuMOVE Calming Care is a supplement that contains a unique combination of natural ingredients. It helps to maintain calming pathways in the brain to support relaxation and promote calmer behaviour in anxious cats. It can be used for stress-inducing events including:
Fireworks, thunder and other unexpected noises.
Changes to the environment (renovations, moving house, parties, etc).
New people, babies or pets.
Holidays and travelling.
Vet visits.
Separation anxiety.
YuMOVE is labelled as the UK's No.1 Veterinary Joint Supplement Brand (Kynetec VetTrak, August 2024).
Ingredients
The scientifically-backed ingredients include:
Lemon balm: a popular herb that helps to promote relaxation, soothe stress and encourage calmer behaviour.
L-Tryptophan: an amino acid found in many proteins which is involved in the production of serotonin, helping to reduce stress.
Natural GABA and L-Arginine: a combination that helps to maintain calming pathways in the brain and support relaxation.
Fish protein hydrolysate: supports a cat's brain, helping calming signals to find the right spot.
B vitamins: play an important role in supporting a cat's overall health, including the heart, skin, metabolism, energy and brain function.
All ingredients:
Each capsule provides:
62.5mg L-Tryptophan, 60mg GABA Fermentate Blend, 50mg L-Arginine, 30mg Fish Protein Hydrolysate, 15mg Lemon Balm, 3.36mg Vitamin B1, 3.2mg Vitamin B6, 3.15mg Niacinamide, 42mcg Folic Acid, 5.3mcg Vitamin B12.
COMPOSITION:
Product from Lactobacillus species rich in protein (15%), Fish Protein Hydrolysate (9.4%), Lemon Balm Powder (4.7%), Maltodextrin, Phosphate Salts, Yeasts, Salt, Lupin Protein Meal, Magnesium Stearate, Sunflower Oil, Hydrolysed Soy.
ADDITIVES (PER KG):
L-Tryptophan 1195755mg, L-Arginine 156604mg, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Hydrochloride) 10523mg, Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) 10085mg, Niacinamide 9866mg, Folic Acid 132mg, Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) 16mg.
Directions
One packet contains 30 capsules. Simply twist and pull the capsule open, then sprinkle and mix with your cat's food.
Cats up to 5kg: 1 capsule per day.
Cats over 5kg: 2 capsules per day.
*Not recommended for cats under 10 months. If your cat suffers from any allergies, you should reach out to the customer care team for advice.
Review
YuMOVE capsules are easy to use, with a fine powder that mixes easily into wet food. However, it has a rather fishy aroma that's hard to disguise. If you have fussy felines like mine then adding it to food might be a turn off, especially if you sprinkle it over kibble which isn't very appetising for cats.
To get around this, I mixed the powder with a drop of water and administered it orally in a syringe. I'd only advise this if your cat is tolerant.
As many of you will know, I'm no stranger to calming products following a long-standing case of redirected aggression between my cats, leaving one traumatised by the other. It didn't put a stop to the fighting but Simba (the victim) was less reactive to Drax's bullying.
It's not a perfect solution - nothing is! - but you can see a difference in comparison to when he's not on them, as he's more nervous and hissy around Drax. There was no noticeable change with Drax, but his aggression levels came down naturally over time once the underlying cause had been dealt with.
Unfortunately, I can't comment on the effects of this product for other anxiety-related behaviours. For long-term use, it's a more cost-effective option than Zylkene.
Customer Feedback
Many owners use YuMOVE Calming Care on an ongoing basis for nervous cats and settling rescues. It's said to reduce hiding, overgrooming and territorial aggression. However, it can take a few weeks to see the full effects and some cats refuse to eat it due to the flavour/smell. Some owners claim to have seen no change in their cat's behaviour.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0
Based on 1,000+ Amazon reviews.
Zylkene (75mg) is a natural calming supplement for cats and small dogs to help them cope with short and prolonged challenging situations:
Fireworks, thunder and other loud noises.
Changes to the environment (renovations, moving house, parties, etc).
New people, babies or pets.
Holidays and travelling.
Vet visits.
Separation anxiety or being left alone.
Zylkene is not recommended for aggression as it's designed to help pets cope with fear-based stressors and may not address the root cause of aggression.
Labelled as the UK's No. 1 Veterinary Calming Supplement (Kynetec market data, MAT May 2023) the product is widely used and trusted by vets, behaviourists and pet owners. Zylkene is developed by Vetoquinol, a global veterinary pharmaceutical company.
Ingredients
Zylkene contains the ingredient, alpha-casozepine, which is derived from a natural milk protein called casein. Alpha-casozepine has clinically proven calming effects, and studies show that it reduces anxiety in the following scenarios:
Cats placed in an unfamiliar environment.
Fear of strangers.
General fear.
Fear-related aggression.
Zylkene is lactose free.
All ingredients:
POWDER (77.3%):
Maltodextrin, Casein (Trypsin hydrolysed bovine casein), Magnesium stearate.
CAPSULE (22.7%):
Bovine skin gelatine.
Directions
One packet contains 20 capsules. You can either open the capsule and sprinkle over food or give it cats whole.
Cats up to 5kg: 1 capsule per day.
Cats 5kg-10kg: 2 capsules per day.
*More options available for dogs over 10kg and up to 60kg.
Give Zylkene 1-2 days before the stressful event or when a change in their environment is expected to happen. For long-term use, the company recommends giving one capsule a day for a month and then reassessing behaviour and speaking to a vet, if necessary.
Review
I'd been using YuMOVE for around a year before I heard about the benefits of alpha-casozepine during a course on feline anxiety. I had come across Zylkene when searching for calming aids, but the price put me off without really looking into it.
There's also some confusion around the product itself, as research shows that it reduces fear-based aggression. However, reading through the website's FAQ section, it states the following:
"Aggression can be a sign of stress in animals, however Zylkene is not recommended in aggressive animals, and we would therefore not advise its use. Our best advice would be to speak to your veterinary practice and a qualified clinical animal behaviourist regarding your pet."
Understandably, it might be the company covering themselves in the event that aggression stems from dominance. Offensive aggression can present quite differently to defensive aggression, and cats can quickly go from confident to cocky!
Nevertheless, I thought it'd be beneficial to see if Zylkene helped with Simba's fear of his brother. Even with Drax having reverted to his placid self, Simba remains cautious and it leads to occasional misunderstandings. This could be something as simple as clashing in a doorway, which Simba believes is a surprise attack and reacts by hissing. Whether it escalates depends on how pissed off Drax gets, but I'd rather it didn't happen at all!
I also use pheromone diffusers to keep the boys as relaxed as possible - a calmer environment usually means a calmer kitty!
I have to say that during the first week on Zylkene, there was a noticeable improvement to Simba's confidence - and he loves the taste. I continued to use a syringe and water because it's what he's used to, and he'd happily lap up every single drop.
Although I was pleased with this improvement, the "misunderstandings" were continuing to happen, though no more or less than usual. Simba is such a nervy cat that it can be difficult to pinpoint the trigger. I bought a month's supply to give them plenty of time to kick in, but since there hasn't been a dramatic change in his anxiety levels - particularly around Drax - then I can't justify the expense for such minimal results.
Zylkene works out at double the price of YuMOVE (per capsule) which isn't ideal for long-term use, especially when your kitty is over 5kg and requires 2 per day!
Customer Feedback
A lot of feedback concurs with scientific research, with cats showing reduced fear towards people and, more rarely, other animals. Most owners use Zylkene to help during stressful situations like travelling, holidays, moving house and fireworks. Some find that it makes their cats less nervous and more playful.
Naturally, Zylkene doesn't work on all cats but the biggest sticking point seems to be the price.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.1
Based on 4,000+ Amazon reviews.
Summary
It's clear that YuMOVE and Zylkene work in different ways but, for the most part, show similar results. Based on all of the points discussed, and factoring in the cost, I'd recommend YuMOVE for either short or long-term use for most stress-related behaviours and changes. Zylkene may be more suitable for short-term stress and fear-related behaviours.
Chronic anxiety is rare in cats, and many issues can be resolved with behavioural training therapy or making simple changes to a cat's environment to reduce the stressor. Providing enough resources for the number of cats you have is essential, and this post contains some useful tips: Where to Put a Cat's Food and Water Bowls, Litter Tray, Bedding and Other Essential Resources
If you're interested in my journey or find that you're in a similar situation, you can read about it here.
You can also check out reviews of the best pheromone diffusers for cats and top recommended calming sprays.
Information accurate from June 2025 and may be subject to change. Feel free to get in touch if you think this article needs updating.
Have you had any success with YuMOVE Calming Care or Zylkene? Share your experiences in the comments to help out other cat parents.
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