Calming Aids for Dogs and Cats: 12 Picks for Anxious Pets

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A calm place to settle

The ASPCA's advice for pets who fear loud noises starts with a space where they feel comfortable, inside and away from the excitement. For a lot of dogs that's a deep bed they can curl into. For a lot of cats it's somewhere to disappear. Start here, because it's the one thing on the list your pet will use every single day.

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  The easy yes for a dog who burrows

  Best Friends by Sheri calming donut bed

  A deep, round, fluffy bed with a raised rim, made for a dog who likes to curl up tight and rest their chin on the edge. Yogi has a round bed of his own, so I get the appeal. Calming is the maker's name for it; what I can tell you is that buyers rate it highly.

  Good to know: This link is the small, 23-inch size. Measure your dog curled up and pick the size on the listing.

  See it on Amazon (paid link)

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  The same idea, sized for a cat

  Bedsure calming cat bed

  A 20-inch round bed in long faux fur with a raised rim, for a cat or a very small dog who likes to sleep in a curl. Bedsure says the smaller sizes go in the washing machine whole, which matters more than it sounds with a shedding cat.

  Good to know: This link is the camel color. The other colors are on the same listing.

  See it on Amazon (paid link)

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  For the cat who hides

  MEOWFIA felt cat cave

  A cave bed made from felted merino wool, handmade, with one round doorway. A cat who likes to vanish can tuck inside out of sight, and a cat who doesn't can flatten the top and sleep on it instead.

  Good to know: This link is the dark gray, medium size. Pick the size and color on the listing.

  See it on Amazon (paid link)

Something to do: lick mats, a KONG and a snuffle mat

Both the ASPCA and AAHA suggest giving a pet something to work on during a noisy stretch: a stuffed toy, a treat puzzle or a chew. Licking, chewing and sniffing out food keep a pet busy, and these three are the simple, well-rated versions. They're easy wins on a quiet day too.

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  The one the ASPCA names

  KONG Classic

  A hollow red rubber toy you stuff with kibble, a spread of peanut butter or a treat, and the dog works it out. When the ASPCA writes about pets who fear loud noises, it names a Kong or a chew as a way to keep them busy inside.

  Good to know: This link is the small size, for small dogs. KONG makes it in several sizes; pick the one for your dog on the listing.

  See it on Amazon (paid link)

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  Works for dogs and cats

  OHMO lick mat, two pack

  Flat silicone mats with a raised space pattern and suction cups on the back. Spread something soft across the pattern, stick the mat to a smooth floor or the side of the tub, and let them lick it clean.

  Good to know: The listing says they go in the freezer and the dishwasher. Use a spread that's safe for your pet; no xylitol.

  See it on Amazon (paid link)

• For a nose that needs a job

  Oliumt snuffle mat

  A fleece mat full of strips and flaps. You scatter kibble or treats into it, and your pet has to sniff every piece out. The listing names dogs, cats and small pets, and it goes in the washing machine.

  Good to know: A smaller brand with fewer reviews than the others here. It still cleared the same bar.

  See it on Amazon (paid link)

What we keep at home for Yogi

I'll keep this one plain, the way I did on our gift list. Yogi is terrified of fireworks and loud sounds, and we keep Rescue Remedy Pet at home for him. It's the one pick here we use ourselves. I'm telling you it exists and that it's in our cupboard, not that it's the answer for your pet. It's also something your pet swallows, which is why the note under it matters.

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  Ours: we keep it at home for Yogi

  Bach Rescue Remedy Pet

  This one isn't a guess: we keep a bottle at home for Yogi. It's a flower essence from Bach in a dropper bottle, made for pets and alcohol-free, and you add it to water, food or a treat. The pet version is a different bottle from the one for people, so check that the label says Pet.

  Good to know: Bach says its claims come from traditional homeopathic practice, not scientific evidence, and aren't FDA evaluated. Read the box below before you try it.

  See it on Directly From Nature (paid link)

Calming treats for dogs: the one chew that cleared our bar

I went through a lot of calming treats for dogs for this list. Most of the big-name chews sat under the 4.6-star bar the rest of this list had to clear. One made it. I'm describing it from its label only: what it is, what's in it, and who it's for. What it does for your dog is a question for your vet.

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  The one calming chew that cleared our bar

  VetIQ Calming Support soft chews

  Soft chews for dogs. The bag names L-tryptophan, L-theanine and melatonin as its key ingredients, and VetIQ says they're made in the USA. The National Animal Supplement Council lists its maker, PetIQ, as a company that has earned the NASC Quality Seal.

  Good to know: VetIQ says dogs should weigh at least five pounds. Follow the label for your dog's weight, and ask your vet before you start.

  See it on Amazon (paid link)

None of the calming treats for cats we looked at cleared the bar, so there isn't a cat pick here.

Fireworks and thunderstorms: calming aids for noisy nights

Here's why this part matters. AAHA calls the Fourth of July the single biggest day of the year for lost pets, and the AVMA says noisy fireworks can startle animals and cause them to run away. Add New Year's Eve and whatever storms your summer brings, and it's worth having a plan. This is the one the ASPCA, AAHA and AVMA lay out, in plain words:

• Bring them in before it starts. AAHA says to keep pets indoors around sunset.
• Pick a quiet room, ideally one with no windows, with their bed, their toys and water.
• Turn on some soft music, and give them something to work on, like a stuffed KONG.
• Check the ID tag and the microchip details before the holiday, in case anyone bolts through a door.

For the noise itself, one thing I'd add is a steady sound of your own:

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  Made for people, handy on fireworks nights

  Yogasleep Dohm Classic white noise machine

  A round sound machine with a real fan inside, which makes a steady whoosh rather than a recording on a loop. The idea on a loud night is simple: a steady sound in the room, so the bangs outside aren't the only thing to hear. The ASPCA's advice for noise-shy pets includes soft music; this is the same idea without a playlist.

  Good to know: It plugs into the wall. Keep the cord away from a chewer.

  See it on Amazon (paid link)

A calm moment worth keeping

This part is ours, so read it knowing that. When the noise is over and your fur baby finally settles, curled up with their chin on the rim of the bed, that's the photo. It's the one we framed of our two.

Pet Pic Portraits turns one photo of your pet into a portrait. You see it before you spend anything: upload a photo, pick a style, and a free preview comes back, no card needed. If it's right, order it as a digital file, a print, a canvas or a framed piece. Physical pieces are made in the USA, framed ones are assembled in the USA, and Mercy and her team check every portrait against the photo before it's made.

Books from people who study this

If your pet's fear is more than one bad night a year, it's worth understanding what's going on. These two are written by people with real credentials in animal behavior, for owners rather than professionals.

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  If your dog's fear is more than one bad night a year

  Bark! by Zazie Todd

  Zazie Todd has a PhD in psychology, is an honors graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers, and writes the Companion Animal Psychology blog. Bark! is her book for owners of a dog who's scared of noises, the vet, being left alone or other dogs, and it sticks to positive reinforcement.

  Good to know: It's a book for working with your dog over weeks, not a fix for tonight.

  See it on Amazon (paid link)

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  The one for cat people

  Decoding Your Cat

  Written by members of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists: vets who went on to specialize in behavior. It explains why cats do what they do, from hiding to scratching to trouble with the litter box, and how to change what you can.

  Good to know: It covers every kind of cat behavior, not only fear, so some chapters may not apply to your cat.

  See it on Amazon (paid link)

What isn't on this list, and why

You'll see a few things on every list like this one that you won't see here.

• Anxiety wraps and vests, plug-in pheromone diffusers and sprays, and calming music albums and speakers. We looked at the big names, and none cleared our bar when we checked in September 2026. AAHA's fireworks advice does mention all three, so if you're curious, ask your vet. The free version of the music idea is a quiet playlist you already have.
• Most calming chews, including the big names, and every calming treat for cats we looked at. They sat under our bar. If you're thinking about one anyway, the vet note on this page goes for it too.

When it's more than nerves: talk to a vet

Everything above is for a pet who gets a bit rattled. If the fear is getting worse, lasts long after the noise stops, or your pet is hurting themselves or wrecking doors to get away, that's a vet conversation, not a shopping list. The ASPCA puts it the same way: if medication is the right call, it's one you and your vet make together.

Your own vet comes first. If getting there is the hard part, or you want a quick answer on a Sunday night, an online vet is an option.

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  A vet on video, for dogs and cats

  Dutch online vet

  Dutch is an online vet membership for dogs and cats. You book a video call or send a message, a US-licensed vet answers, and if the vet recommends a prescription, you can order it through Dutch. It can be easier than a clinic trip for a pet who hates the car or the waiting room.

  Good to know: It's a paid membership, and the plans are on their site. It doesn't replace your own vet, and in an emergency, go to an emergency vet in person.

  See it on Dutch (paid link)

Questions people ask

Whatever you pick, pick it for the pet you actually have: the burrower, the hider, the one who needs a job. And when they finally settle and go still, take the photo. See them as a portrait for free before you decide. We make custom dog portraits and custom cat portraits from one photo.

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