In rare cases, sensitivity to chamomile can cause vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation, or allergic reactions. Cats may be particularly sensitive to the side effects.
Although we humans drink chamomile tea to relax, this plant is poisonous to our four-legged friends. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and “bleeding tendencies.” The ASPCA explains that the bulbs contain the most poison.
You can give 2-3 drops twice daily directly into your pet's mouth, or mixed into your pet's food, or alternatively, let your cat or dog drink the droplets directly.
Your cat may like the smell of your chamomile tea, too (and plain, non-caffeinated tea is safe for cats, so he can even have a sip). “Chamomile leaves also attract cats and calm them as well,” Hudson said.
Types of cat calming products
Oral supplements and chews. Compression jackets. Pheromones (sprays, diffusers, wipes, collars) Prescription medications.
Catnip and More.
Many herbs we use in cooking are safe and fun for cats to sniff, and some are known to be feline favorites. Catnip, part of the mint family, affects many cats with a scent-induced kitty “high.” Silver vine has a similar effect. And valerian can energize cats.
If your cat doesn't respond to catnip, but you still want something that will attract them to toys, Chamomile is a great alternative. Chamomile is a member of the Asteraceae family, but there are many different species of this plant. Chamomile flowers can be dried and placed inside toys to help a cat relax.
Cats should never have caffeine in any form, including caffeinated tea. Herbal teas are generally OK for cats to drink, though (more on that later). Caffeine can cause a lot of health problems in cats, and even a little bit can make them sick.
Best known for its calming properties, chamomile is safe for dogs and full of healthy benefits. In fact, it is actually one of the safest herbs you can offer your pet! Chamomile has anti-inflammatory, sedative, and antispasmodic properties.
Side effects.
Most experts say chamomile is safe. It can cause drowsiness and, in large doses, vomiting. It also has the potential to trigger allergic reactions in people who are allergic to related plants in the daisy family, although such reactions are very rare.
Overdose. Chamomile is not known to produce any serious adverse effects. Overdose may cause drowsiness and vomiting. In case of overdose, discontinue chamomile and hydrate well.
A human analog that causes similar effects [as catnip on cats], as in a comparable high, would be LSD or marijuana.
There are some alternatives--plants such as silver vine, honeysuckle, and valerian have all been used to satisfy the feline sense of smell. Surprisingly, silver vine is the most effective of these plants, as more cats respond to its smell than even catnip.
Chamomile is widely regarded as a mild tranquillizer and sleep-inducer. Sedative effects may be due to the flavonoid, apigenin that binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain (68). Studies in preclinical models have shown anticonvulsant and CNS depressant effects respectively.
Orange and lemon peels (cats dislike citrus smells), cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, & mustard oil.
It appears that cats can sense human moods as well as depression. Cats are observant and intuitive, and this allows them to understand emotional cues from humans. So when you are depressed, they can sense that too. In particular, cats may come in closer proximity when their fur parents are depressed.
However, from this research, we can conclude that overall, cats are comforted by their owner's presence, but did not appear to get much reassurance from something that smells like their owner, at least during a brief stressful situation. Behnke, A. C., Vitale, K. R., & Udell, M. A. (2021).
Feliway® is a synthetic pheromone that has been specifically developed for use in cats. The pheromone in Feliway® is a synthetic copy of the feline facial pheromone used by cats to mark their territory as safe and secure.
Giving them time to calm down in a quiet, safe place, and allowing them to come to you if they want physical reassurance is often all that is needed. For those acute stressors over which you do have control, such as a visit to the vet or to a boarding cattery, you can put some plans in place to help your cat to cope.
The most common combination is a pre-anesthetic sedative and analgesic combination that is administered by injection, followed by an induction agent that is also administered by injection. Once the cat is unconscious, a breathing tube, called an endotracheal tube, is inserted into the windpipe or trachea.
Stroke the cat's nose and forehead.
The kitten should reflexively blink or close its eyes while you do this, encouraging it to fall asleep.
There is a critical need for a safe, oral sedative that can be administered by owners prior to confinement and transportation that will prevent or reduce the cascade of anxiety leading up to the veterinary visit and facilitate ease of examination. The drug trazodone hydrochloride holds promise for this use in cats.