Understanding Pet Anxiety: Helping Dogs and Cats Feel Calm and Secure

By Scout & Company Companion Pet Care

Scout is a confident, affectionate dog, but she’s also an anxious one. Storms, fireworks, and sudden loud noises make her pace, hide, or press against me for comfort. She doesn’t like being approached or touched by strangers and feels safest when she’s allowed to come to people on her own terms. Her anxiety wasn’t always this strong, but it has become more noticeable as she’s gotten older, which is common in senior dogs.

Scout in a moment of calm confidence — her happy place.

Images © 2025 Scout & Company Companion Pet Care. Please do not reuse without permission.

Living with Scout has taught me that anxiety isn’t a behavioral flaw. Pets communicate discomfort in the only ways they know how. Even well-loved, well-cared-for animals can develop anxiety, and the signs often appear gradually or in subtle ways we might overlook at first.

Veterinary organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Fear Free Pets note that dogs and cats often show increased stress during times filled with noise, visitors, travel, and changes in routine. With the holidays and winter months approaching, this is an ideal moment to learn what anxiety looks like and how to help our pets feel safer and more secure.

What Pet Anxiety Can Look Like

Pets experience anxiety for many reasons: changes in routine, loud noises, unfamiliar people, separation, medical conditions, or age-related cognitive shifts. Common signs include:

• pacing or restlessness

• hiding or withdrawing

• trembling or shaking

• excessive vocalizing

• clingy or “velcro” behavior

• loss of appetite

• destructive behavior

• sudden aggression or irritability

• changes in litter box or potty habits

These behaviors often seem small on their own but add up to a larger picture of stress. Understanding these signals is the first step to helping pets feel more settled.

Types of Pet Anxiety

Noise and Storm Anxiety

Thunder, fireworks, construction, or sudden loud sounds can trigger intense fear. Pets may hide, shake, pant heavily, or try to escape. Storm anxiety often worsens with age, especially in dogs.

Separation Anxiety

Some pets become distressed when left alone and may pace, cry, bark, or engage in destructive behavior. This is one of the most common behavioral challenges seen in both dogs and cats.

Change-Based Anxiety

Moves, new pets, visitors, holidays, and shifting routines can all create stress. Even small changes, like rearranging furniture, can affect sensitive pets.

Social Anxiety

Some pets are nervous around unfamiliar people or animals. They may prefer to approach on their own terms or avoid direct contact until they feel comfortable.

Simple Ways to Help Your Pet Feel More Secure

Create Predictable Routines

Pets thrive on consistency. Keeping a steady schedule for meals, walks, and quiet time provides structure and reduces stress.

Use Safe Spaces

Offer quiet hiding spots or comfortable resting areas where your pet can retreat when overwhelmed. For cats, vertical spaces can be especially helpful.

Provide Mental Enrichment

Puzzle feeders, scent games, climbing structures, and interactive toys can redirect anxious energy and build confidence.

Support Through Noise Triggers

White noise machines, calming music, and closing curtains during storms can help reduce overwhelming sensory input. For dogs, a ThunderShirt or snug wrap can offer comfort. Scout uses one during storms, and it makes a noticeable difference.

Use Pheromone Diffusers (Adaptil for Dogs, Feliway for Cats)

Pheromone diffusers release synthetic versions of the calming chemical signals pets naturally produce. Adaptil mimics the dog-appeasing pheromone released by nursing mothers, while Feliway recreates the facial pheromone cats leave when marking safe, familiar spaces. Research shows these products can help reduce mild stress and support smoother transitions for some pets, though results vary. They work best as part of a broader anxiety-management plan, not a stand-alone solution.

Gently Desensitize

For noise-sensitive pets, gradual exposure to recorded storm or fireworks sounds at low volume can help build tolerance over time. Always pair exposure with treats, play, or comfort.

Maintain a Calm Environment

Your energy matters. Speaking softly, moving slowly, and creating a peaceful environment can make a big difference for anxious animals.

When to Seek Additional Help

If your pet’s anxiety seems severe, sudden, or disruptive, consult your veterinarian. Medical issues can mimic anxiety, and some pets benefit from professional behavior support or short-term medication during stressful periods. A veterinary professional can help tailor a plan that suits your pet’s needs.

A Note from Scout & Company

Supporting anxious pets is a meaningful part of my work, and much of that understanding comes from caring for Scout. Living with an anxious dog taught me how to notice small signals, adjust the environment, and create steady routines that help her feel safe.

For anxious pets, I bring the same thoughtful approach I’ve learned through caring for Scout: calm visits, predictable routines, and a low-stress environment where they can settle at their own pace. Alongside hands-on experience, I maintain continuing education through Red Cross Pet First Aid & CPR, Pet Sitters International, and Fear Free Pets. This ongoing training helps me support pets who benefit from patience, consistency, and a steady, reassuring presence.

If your pet struggles with anxiety, I’m here to provide gentle, consistent care that helps them feel secure at home.