Pet Remedy Calming Products for Cats with Reviews (Tried and Tested)
- Rachel
- Nov 15, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 11
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
Information accurate from November 2024. All photos are my own and previously unpublished.
Pet Remedy Products:
Calming Kits
Pet Remedy was founded in 2000 as a new way of tackling stress and anxiety in pets. Products are made and developed in England, UK, and exported to 21 countries worldwide.
Pet Remedy is available to buy in Pets At Home and other pet store chains; and online from Amazon, eBay or direct from the brand's website. It's stocked by thousands of veterinary practices and rescue organisations, which is a testament to the quality and effectiveness of their range.
Pet Remedy is available as a plug diffuser, calming spray, wipes and battery atomiser.
What Is Pet Remedy?
Pet Remedy is clinically proven to work with pets' natural calming systems by mimicking GABA, a natural calming agent present in all mammals, birds and reptiles. When a pet becomes anxious or stressed, the active ingredients in Pet Remedy help to trick fired-up nerve cells into thinking they're getting a message from the brain to calm down. The effects are immediate and, unlike feline pheromone products, they can be used on other pets and animals.
Benefits include:
Helping animals to feel safe in unpredictable situations and environments.
Making animals more aware of their surroundings and receptive to owners so you can focus on calming their behaviour, which makes it ideal for training.
Aiding decision making and emotional resilience to cope with stressful events.
Improving social connections with other animals.
Remember, Pet Remedy is only a support mechanism that helps to calm excited nerves. It won't eliminate underlying or external issues, and there's still a matter of learnt and reactive behaviours to deal with.
Ingredients
Products contain a low concentration of valerian, vetiver, basil and clary sage essential oils, which are safe for cats. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a herb that's renowned for its calming and relaxing effects. People have been using valerian root for centuries to reduce feelings of nervousness, tension and to improve sleep. This means that a lot of formulas are too potent for cats and can sedate rather than calm.
Pet Remedy sources their oil from Europe, where their valerian plants are grown organically using pig manure as fertiliser. Diffusers deliver a slow, constant release which is gentle on a cat's metabolism, while sprays and wipes are pH neutral and water based.
Pet Remedy and other cat-calming products should not be used in place of veterinary treatment. You should always take your pet for a health check-up to rule out illness or disease.
Diffusers should be plugged in where cats spend most of their time so the calming solution can slowly release into the surrounding area.
Key points:
Easy to use.
Covers up to 60m² (large room).
Only 5 watts - cheap to run.
Lasts up to 60 days.
Refill bottles available.
Review
Having used this diffuser for a couple of months when tackling aggression between sibling cats - along with several other brands - it's worth noting that Pet Remedy shouldn't be confused with or compared to a pheromone-based diffuser. While both can be used in similar situations as a safe and effective way to reduce stress, they function in different ways and you should choose the product that's most suitable for your cats. Chances are, you won't know what works until you try - and that means giving products enough time to see the full effects.
In my experience, Pet Remedy is most likely to benefit nervous or excitable cats; and during periods of increased stress (fireworks, travelling, etc). It's reported to be great for reducing fear and associated behaviours, including hiding and excessive crying.
If your kitty is exhibiting problem behaviours on a regular basis, such as urine spraying or using your sofa as a scratch post, it may respond better to pheromones. These mimic the chemicals that cats naturally release to make themselves feel safe and secure within their environment, so there should be less need for territory marking or fighting.
This is ONLY a guideline as each cat will respond differently - or in some cases, not at all.
That being said, Pet Remedy diffuser did seem to promote relaxation when placed in the cats' sleeping areas. It didn't stop the fighting and I can't say that I noticed a difference in aggression levels, generally speaking. I'd usually confine the boys to separate rooms after a physical fight, each with a diffuser to help them calm down.
Overall, I can live without Pet Remedy, but having a pheromone diffuser has played a crucial role in reducing tension and conflict. Other people claim that Pet Remedy helps in multi-cat homes (where aggression isn't present) simply by creating a more harmonious environment.
Customer feedback is positive in regards to value for money with diffusers lasting up to two months, while opinions are mixed on effectiveness. The most negative point seems to be the smell, but this should be expected with essential oils. While there definitely is an earthy, herbal kind of aroma, it's only around the diffuser itself and by no means unpleasant. I guess it depends on your nose, but I happened to find it rather soothing - even if cats don't!
For locations where a plug socket isn't available, you might find the Pet Remedy Atomiser more suitable. Operated by 3x AA batteries, it delivers a metered dose every 30, 60 or 120 minutes. It's suitable for a small 10m² room, which is much less than the diffuser and at a significantly higher cost. A 250ml bottle lasts up to 8 weeks and refills are available.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0
Based on 6,900+ Amazon reviews.
The calming spray is great for travel and in the home. Just a couple of squirts is all you need for bedding, cat trees, problem areas (where cats scratch or urinate) and carriers prior to a vet visit. You should avoid spraying directly onto pets so they don't associate the spray with stressful situations.
It can be used to aid bonding between cats by spraying a little onto your fingers and gently rubbing around muzzles, under the chin and top of the chest. This helps with scent swapping as well as calming. You can also spray onto harnesses or leads when walking an anxious cat or dog.
Key points:
Starts to help instantly.
Easy to use trigger spray with generous 200ml.
Lasts for 2-6 hours depending on the individual pet.
Water-based, pH-neutral formula is safe on pets' skin and coat.
Can be used in conjunction with plug diffuser.
Review
I'll be honest and say I'm never without a Pet Remedy spray, even if I don't use it too often. The convenience over a diffuser wins it for me and, as mentioned, most of my plug sockets are taken up by pheromone diffusers.
My boys are incredibly skittish and have been known to get hissy with each other, so I'll spritz some Pet Remedy around for an extra level of calm. The most use it's had is during fireworks, and there's a noticeable difference to how quickly they get over the trauma. Simba actually sleeps through the quieter ones!
The 200ml bottle is larger than other calming sprays on the market and you don't need much to see the effects. Which will be a relief for some because, yes, it does come with the classic Pet Remedy aroma. It's more pungent than the diffuser when first sprayed, but if it does what it's supposed to then the smell is a small price to pay for happy cats.
Customers claim the product works well in conjunction with the Pet Remedy diffuser and is very effective for travelling, settling pets and generally making stressful situations more bearable.
For more recommendations, check out these 6 Best Cat Calming Sprays
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.1
Based on 5,100+ Amazon reviews.
Wipes are an alternative to Pet Remedy Calming Spray and can be used in the same manner by wiping over bedding, carriers, harnesses; or tying to a basket when travelling. They're also good for use in veterinary clinics and grooming parlours to wipe down surfaces. The main advantage over a spray is that you can rub wipes over your hands before handling a nervous animal, and there's less risk of spooking it than with a spray trigger.
Key points:
Single use.
Eco friendly.
Made of viscose and 100% compostable and biodegradable.
Review
Admittedly, I didn't go out of my way to purchase these calming wipes but got a couple of freebies with the plug diffuser. The individual sachets are handy for carrying around and keep wipes moist for longer than a large pack. As far as wipes go, they're a decent thickness and seemed to do everything the spray does - apart from sending my two wimplings running from the room, which is a bonus.
Customers appreciate the portable option and say the wipes are ideal for keeping in cars for travelling and walking pets.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.1
Based on 1,200+ Amazon reviews.
4. Pet Remedy Calming Kits
Other Pet Remedy offerings include a range of grooming products; massage brush; heat pad; bandanas and calming kits for different situations. Kits are great value for money and come highly recommended.
Party Season Survival Kit
Keep your pet calm and relaxed during party seasons including Bonfire Night, New Year and other noisy celebrations.
Includes:
1 x Plug Diffuser
1 x 15ml Calming Spray
3 x Calming Wipes
Extra Value 120 Day Starter Pack
This kit contains everything you need to get started and is best value for money. Perfect for settling pets into new homes or environments; stressful situations and anxiety-related behaviours.
Includes:
1 x Plug Diffuser with 2 refills.
1 x 75ml Calming Spray
12 x Calming Wipes
Calming Kit
Another great pack ideal for travelling with pets or testing out products.
Includes:
1 x Plug Diffuser
1 x 200ml Calming Spray
1 x Mini Calming Spray
12 x Calming Wipes
When it comes down to it, choosing the best Pet Remedy product will depend on a combination of factors including behaviour, situation and circumstances. If you're still unsure then purchasing a kit will give you some options as well as saving a few quid!
Information accurate from November 2024 and may be subject to change. Feel free to get in touch if you think this article needs updating.
Have you tried Pet Remedy? Which product worked best for your cats? Comment to share your opinions and experiences.
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