Pet anxiety is common: noise, being left alone, travel, visitors and changes at home are the usual triggers. In a large study of pet dogs, almost one in three was sensitive to noise, and cats show stress through changes in eating, toileting and grooming. Routine, a safe space, gradual training and a vet's advice help most.
Key facts
- Most common in dogs
- Noise sensitivity: 32% of 13,700 Finnish pet dogs
- Other dog anxieties
- Fearfulness, separation-related behaviour, compulsions and aggression
- Typical cat stressors
- Changes in the home, conflict with other cats, a poor human-cat relationship
- Risk factors in dogs
- Less socialisation as a puppy, little activity or training, urban living
- Fireworks
- In a Dutch survey, fewer than 30% of common interventions had a lasting effect
- First step
- A vet check, because pain and illness can look like anxiety
What causes pet anxiety?
Most anxious pets react to something specific. The common triggers are:
- Loud noises: fireworks, thunder and other sudden sounds. In the UK, Bonfire Night on 5 November is a peak, and in a Dutch study most owners heard fireworks from September onwards (van Herwijnen et al., 2024).
- Being left alone: separation-related behaviour is one of the recognised anxiety traits in dogs (Salonen et al., 2020).
- Car journeys and vet visits: unfamiliar movement, a carrier and a strange place all add up.
- Visitors and children: strangers in the home, or children who handle a pet in ways it doesn't like.
- Other animals: a new pet, or conflict between cats in the same home (Amat et al., 2016).
Not all of it is about the moment. In dogs, breed makes a big difference, which points to a strong genetic part (Salonen et al., 2020). Early life matters too: dogs that were less socialised as puppies, that took part in fewer activities or less training, or that lived in more urban areas showed more fear of noises and new situations (Hakanen et al., 2020).
How common is anxiety in dogs?
Very common. A University of Helsinki study collected owner reports on 13,700 pet dogs. Noise sensitivity was the most common anxiety-related trait, seen in 32% of the dogs, and noise sensitivity and fearfulness were the traits that most often occurred together. The researchers also looked at fear of surfaces and heights, inattention and impulsivity, compulsive behaviour, separation-related behaviour and aggression, (Salonen et al., 2020).
| Trait | What owners may see |
|---|---|
| Noise sensitivity | Trembling, hiding or fleeing at fireworks, thunder or traffic |
| Fearfulness | Avoiding strangers, other dogs or new situations |
| Separation-related behaviour | Barking, chewing or toileting when left alone |
| Compulsive behaviour | Repetitive actions such as tail chasing or licking |
| Aggression | Growling or snapping, often linked to fear |
What are the signs of anxiety in cats?
Cats often hide stress, and some signs look like normal cat behaviour. A review of stress in owned cats lists eating less, urine marking, some forms of aggression and compulsive over-grooming, which can leave bald patches (Amat et al., 2016). Hiding and withdrawal are also typical, for example during fireworks (van Herwijnen et al., 2024). The common stressors are changes in the home, conflict with other cats, a poor relationship with people and not being able to do things cats are strongly motivated to do, such as climbing, scratching or hiding (Amat et al., 2016).
How can I reduce my pet's anxiety?
- See the vet first. Pain and illness can look like anxiety, and a vet can refer you to a qualified behaviourist if needed.
- Give a safe place. A quiet den or covered crate for a dog, high shelves and hiding boxes for a cat. Environmental enrichment is one of the main ways to reduce stress in cats (Amat et al., 2016).
- Keep a routine, and keep them active. Regular walks, play and training give structure; dogs that took part in more activities and training showed less non-social fear (Hakanen et al., 2020).
- Get them used to things gradually. Short, calm practice with being alone, car trips or recorded noises works better than sudden exposure. Habituating young animals to noise matters most (van Herwijnen et al., 2024).
- Introduce new animals slowly. Careful introductions reduce conflict between cats (Amat et al., 2016).
- Plan ahead for fireworks. Close curtains, play background sound, walk dogs before dark and stay calm. Fewer than 30% of the interventions owners tried had a lasting effect in the Dutch study, so speak to your vet well before the season (van Herwijnen et al., 2024).
Synthetic feline facial pheromone products are also used to reduce stress in cats (Amat et al., 2016); ask your vet whether they suit your cat.
When should I see a vet?
See a vet if the anxiety is severe, lasts or gets worse, if your pet stops eating, starts toileting indoors or becomes aggressive, or if a cat's grooming leaves bald patches or sore skin. Stress-related loss of appetite in cats can lead to serious medical problems (Amat et al., 2016).
Where do CBD pet oils fit in?
Our pet oils are care products for external use. They are not a treatment for anxiety or any other condition, and they don't replace a vet's advice. Our guides to CBD for dogs and CBD for cats explain what the research does and doesn't show, and our scientific research page describes the veterinary studies we have funded.
Frequently asked questions
What causes pet anxiety?
Common triggers are loud noises such as fireworks and thunder, being left alone, car journeys, visitors, children and new animals in the home. Genetics and early life matter too: dogs that were less socialised as puppies show more fear of noises and new situations.
How common is anxiety in dogs?
Very common. In a survey of 13,700 pet dogs in Finland, noise sensitivity was the most common anxiety-related trait, affecting 32% of the dogs. Separation-related behaviour, fearfulness and aggression were also recorded.
What are the signs of anxiety in cats?
Stress in cats can show as eating less, urine marking, aggression, hiding and over-grooming, which can leave bald patches. Because some of these look like ordinary cat behaviour, watch for changes that persist.
How can I help my pet with fireworks?
Prepare before the season: give your pet a quiet hiding place, keep doors and windows closed, and stay calm yourself. In a Dutch study, fewer than 30% of the most common interventions had a lasting effect, so ask your vet early if your pet is badly affected.
When should I see a vet about pet anxiety?
If the anxiety is severe, lasts or gets worse, or comes with changes in eating, toileting or aggression. Some signs of anxiety can also be signs of pain or illness, so a vet check comes first.
Where do CBD pet oils fit in with pet anxiety?
Formula Swiss pet oils are care products for external use, not a remedy for anxiety or any other condition. Talk to your vet about anxiety, and see our guides to CBD for dogs and cats for what research does and doesn't show.
This article is general information about pet behaviour and is not veterinary advice. Formula Swiss pet oils are for external use and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. See our full disclaimer.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Salonen M, Sulkama S, Mikkola S, et al. Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs. Sci Rep. 2020;10:2962. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-59837-z
- Hakanen E, Mikkola S, Salonen M, et al. Active and social life is associated with lower non-social fearfulness in pet dogs. Sci Rep. 2020;10:13774. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-70722-7
- van Herwijnen IR, Vinke CM, Arndt SS, Roulaux PEM. Firework aversion in cats and dogs as reported by Dutch animal owners. Vet Anim Sci. 2024;26:100402. doi:10.1016/j.vas.2024.100402
- Amat M, Camps T, Manteca X. Stress in owned cats: behavioural changes and welfare implications. J Feline Med Surg. 2016;18(8):577-586. doi:10.1177/1098612X15590867