You might enjoy the fireworks tonight, but kitty may be hiding under the bed. There’s a new solution for helping cats through stressful situations, like fireworks, storms or other loud events, vet visits, car trips, and grooming. It’s the Thundershirt – an invention that’s been used for years to reduce anxiety in dogs — now available for cats, and it’s proving to be quite a useful tool.
The Thundershirt is a little vest that applies gentle, constant pressure to your cat’s torso, calming them and reducing anxiety. According to the Thundershirt website, “anxiety experts believe that pressure has a calming effect on the nervous system and may release calming hormones like endorphins or oxytocins.” Using pressure to calm and relieve anxiety is common practice: parents swaddle newborn babies, pressure has been used to relieve anxiety in people with autism and with children having certain behavioral problems, and vets and trainers have used gentle pressure when working with animals for years.
Here is a testimonial from a cat guardian who has had success with the Thundershirt:
“Thundershirt has been successful in eliminating Jack’s vocalizing in the car and at home, and reduced hiding at home. His symptoms of fear during noisy events, such as vacuuming and thunder, have been completely eliminated. He will stay in the same room now and even watch me vacuum. During thunder, he calmly sits beside me and will even sleep stretched out on my bed. He has expressed a much calmer nature while wearing his Thundershirt. I am so glad to have it.”
Lynnette
Lithonia, Georgia
The company gave me a Thundershirt to test with my cats. I’m trying it with Andy, who is generally high-strung, and Ratso, who is having some anxiety around the new foster kittens (she’s not a fan). You need to get your cat used to wearing the vest, which can take a little training. At first, you may get the “Freeze & Flop” where the cat becomes immobilized and falls over, but the Thundershirt website has excellent guidelines for working with your cat to get the maximum benefit from the product. Once the cats have become accustomed to wearing the Thundershirt, they can move around easily and symptoms are reduced immediately. Check out the FAQ page on the Thundershirt website for lots of useful information. I’m still getting Andy and Ratso used to it and will keep you posted on their progress.
The Thundershirt is easy to put on and can be adjusted to apply varying amounts of pressure as needed. It is made of lightweight breathable material and can be machine washed. This is a simple, drug-free solution for reducing anxiety in cats, and it’s an affordable solution, too, at just $39.95.
ENTER TO WIN!
One lucky reader is going to win a Thundershirt to try with their cat! The winner will get to specify the size (S, M, L). To enter, please leave a comment on this post telling us why you need a Thundershirt. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and announced on July 11, 2012. One entry per person. This giveaway is limited to addresses in the US and Canada.
July 5th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
My cat Henry cries and cries at our bedroom door every night. He is also pretty skittish from being a hurricane survivor and he was run over by a previous owner as a kitten. If this would calm him down that would be wonderful, we just want him to live a great life.
July 5th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
What a wonderful idea. We swaddle newborns to make them feel safe. The Thundershirt would be very much like that. What a blessing for fearful pets.
July 5th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Would love to win this for my oldest cat who — six years after he found me — is still terrified of loud noises and thunderstorms. My other rescues (thankfully) act as if nothing phases them
July 5th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
How cool…..Love this
July 5th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
I have a deaf kitty that is afraid much of the time. I’d love to find something to help him!
July 5th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
would love to try this out
July 5th, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Would love to get one to try on my cats, storms have been so bad this year, as well as to help with my one cat who hates car rides to the vet.
July 5th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Of our six kitties, two of them could have used this last night, yikes!
July 5th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Crazy – I was *just* thinking about this the other day. My little kitty desperately needs this – she’s so scared of loud noises, thunder, all of it! She immediately runs and hides at the stairs, pressing her body so tight up agains the stair. Her nose turns really white and of course, this entices our other cat to pick on her.
I’m excited to try this for Maggie! I’m so glad this exists for kitties!
July 5th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
I have the most anxious kitty when people come over. He needs one of these shirts!
July 5th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
i’ve seen what weighted vests can do for children. it’s very interesting to consider the effects it could have on cats. we volunteer to test it out.
July 5th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
oh man.. i would have loved to have had this last night when the fireworks were going off. ARGH!!
July 5th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
I didn’t know they made these for cats – a friend uses one for her dog & it really works.
July 5th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Stripes Girl needs this very much,Shadowcat chases her all the
time. He’s turned her into a nervous wreck!
July 5th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
My buddy hates car rides. Usually crams himself into the space between the passenger door and seat. A Thundershirt would certainly help get him to the vet.
July 5th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
we’ll try that!
July 5th, 2012 at 7:26 pm
My Aunt died and one of the many loved items I got was a 19 year old Texas lake cat.Her name is Miss Kitty and she is adjusting well with my 5 rescued kitties.The plain ride was hard for her but she made it thru…But now she doesn’t want to leave my house and we soon need to get her for her annual visit to the vet.This may give her the confidence for the rideThank you for considering my request
July 5th, 2012 at 7:50 pm
I think this may help my cat who is nervous when strangers come in the house.
July 5th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
this would work great for some of our stressed kitties who come in to the shelter. I would donate it to them!!
July 5th, 2012 at 8:00 pm
the stray kitten I rescued could use this. She hates being picked up so holding her to trim her nails and medicine is a nightmare.
July 5th, 2012 at 8:12 pm
If I won this, I’d donate to Second Chance Pet Adoptions. So many of the cats at our rescue are scared when they first come in–I think this might help.
July 5th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
I think I’m a “tough” kitten, but my mom know’s that I’m a “scardy” cat!! I would love to not be trembling and finding the darkest hole to crawl in. Size small would work for me.
July 5th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
We could really use this because Gromek is now terrified of thunder! He slinks around and usually ends up hiding under the bed. We’d love a kitty thundershirt! It really works for my sister’s dog
July 5th, 2012 at 9:39 pm
Just got a new cat from a shelter. She still gets scared sometimes, and this would be perfect!
July 5th, 2012 at 9:39 pm
I’d be curious to see if this works.
July 5th, 2012 at 10:07 pm
This would be wonderful if it would help the sometimes loud vocalizing at night and unhappy car trips to the vet.
July 5th, 2012 at 11:05 pm
My cat is TERRIFIED to go to the vet; I think this would really help him. Thanks.
July 6th, 2012 at 1:42 am
My kitty can be a bit skittish, so this would be a perfect product to try!
July 6th, 2012 at 6:16 am
My girl Coqueta is afraid of almost everything. During events like thunderstorms she will hide, unconsolable, under the bed for hours. I think this could help her a lot. Thanks!
July 6th, 2012 at 6:21 am
We have a demon cat. I found him locked in a car as a kitten, rescued him, and have raised him over the last two years, but he is still very frightened and can be violent, especially with strangers. The thundershirt, it sounds, would be a great solution to the stress he must experience whenever people come over, and perhaps would be some comfort to them too.
July 6th, 2012 at 6:31 am
These would be helpful if you are moving to a new home. Kitties get really stressed out during a move.
July 6th, 2012 at 6:32 am
My cat is a scared little kitty
July 6th, 2012 at 6:43 am
My Salem is a scared Peeier! He really needs the thunder shirt!!
July 6th, 2012 at 7:13 am
Our cat, Cliff, has severe anxiety issues. To keep him calm on a daily basis we use a Feliway Comfort Zone diffuser on each level of the house, as well as a prescription for Prozac for him. Thunderstorms, loud trucks, fireworks send him under the bed, where he paces back and forth half-crouched over, usually near a puddle of urine.
I really try to minimize the stress for him since it triggers bouts of Cystitis. He was diagnose a few years ago with FLUTD (FIC, to be exact), and after blocking twice, had a perineal ureathrostomy last fall.
July 6th, 2012 at 7:24 am
My SheShe is fearless in the face of thunder and fireworks, but extremely anxious on even the shortest car trips. I’d love to try a Thundershirt for her.
July 6th, 2012 at 7:27 am
we live in an old train station, about 8 ft from the tracks. several times a week an old freight comes rolling along, moving slowly but making a lot of racket and gently vibrating the floors. our cat, pidge, can sense the train coming, lowers down to the ground and runs to seek shelter behind the washing machine, couch or covers. poor thing hates it!
July 6th, 2012 at 7:44 am
What a wonderful invention – so thoughful and practical. As we all wish to care and do our best for our pets, this seems a great asset. It would be great to own and use – to soothe an anxious pet. Whether that be due to:- noise, travel etc.
July 6th, 2012 at 7:51 am
I had heard of the thundershirt for dogs, but never thought they’d make one for cats! My cat vocalizes all the time, mostly at night, and this might just be what the vet ordered for a happier anxious cat and her sleep deprived owner
July 6th, 2012 at 7:58 am
My youngest kitty, Moo, definitely needs a Thundershirt! He’s very easily startled and afraid of everyone except for me (even other people that live in our house). Poor little guy was found alone in a junkyard at 4 weeks old, being chased around by pit bulls – he has been skittish ever since! Anything that would calm him a little would make both of us happy
July 6th, 2012 at 8:04 am
Bunny (aka Bunzor the Destructor) would benefit from a Thundershirt. Plus we could convince him it is his new tactical vest.
July 6th, 2012 at 8:35 am
Our cat Chessie is 12 yrs old and has seizures whenever there is thunder/lightning or fireworks. He falss from wherever he is to the floor. We have had to place pillows allaround his sleeping/sitting areas to avoid his getting injured when he falls and has a seizure!
July 6th, 2012 at 8:45 am
I live in Denver and my fiancé lives in Honolulu. Our cat James has made one 8 hour plane flight, but I would love to make him more comfortable for the next several we have planned!
July 6th, 2012 at 9:10 am
Oh my gosh! How come I have never known about this?!!! What an amazing product! I must have this for both my 7 pound and 15 pound children! It’s already bad enough to try to put treats inside the carrier to fool them or get the carrier ready a week ahead of time just so they don’t freak out. Would love to try this for my cats!
July 6th, 2012 at 9:23 am
Wow sounds perfect for my kitty!
July 6th, 2012 at 9:28 am
OMG, this was the first 4th where one of the cats became super anxious. The thundershirt would definitly have helped him. Another one seems to be really bothered by the fog horns when the fog is really thick.
July 6th, 2012 at 9:54 am
Would like to have one for my kitty.
July 6th, 2012 at 10:08 am
We have a girl cat who is very scared of loud noises and strangers. She runs when you even approach the vacuum, and hides during thunderstorms, even forgoing meals due to her fear.
July 6th, 2012 at 11:45 am
what a terrific idea! we’ve never had this problem with our other cats in previous years, but our newly adopted shelter cats were very upset listening to fireworks, both community and neighborhood, going off the other night – i tried sitting between them to hold them and keep them calm, but these thundershirts would’ve been a big help!
July 6th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Boo would love this. She tends to get very stressed when somebody comes in front door. Not sure if this would help but worth a try.
July 6th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
My indoor cat gets is very afraid of all the outside noises whenever the kids try to take him to our front porch for cuddle time. Would be great to see if this helps.