Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements Launches Probiotics for Cats

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements has announced that Calming Care, its No. 1 veterinarian-recommended probiotic brand for supporting calm behavior in dogs, is now available for cats. Calming Care is a management option for owners whose cats experience anxious behaviors like hiding or pacing. Calming Care is a probiotic supplement that contains a strain of beneficial bacteria that has been shown to help dogs and cats maintain calm behavior. It helps cats cope with changes in routine and location and helps promote positive behaviors such as playing and seeking out social contact.

Anxious behaviors in cats can be relatively common but also misunderstood as common cat behavior. A 2021 Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements survey revealed that 78 percent of cat owners surveyed had a cat that regularly exhibited one or more anxious behaviors, yet 22 percent of those owners believe these behaviors are just “the way their cat is.” Anxious behaviors in cats can include hiding or withdrawing, showing aggression, showing compulsive behavior, pacing, vocalizing excessively or following family members around the house. Cats may experience anxious behaviors as a result of external stressors like change in environment, being confined to a cat carrier, being overstimulated or bored.

“It can be tricky for pet owners to identify anxious behaviors in cats because they may attribute anxious behavior to being part of their cat’s personality or the ‘that’s just the way they are’ mentality,” said Dr. Ragen McGowan, Animal Behavior Expert at Purina. “If you notice your cat acting differently or if you’re concerned about your cat’s typical behavior, it’s important to talk with your veterinarian to ensure there are no underlying health conditions. Your vet can provide a proper assessment and recommend if Calming Care is a good option for your pet. Keep in mind that it can take up to six weeks to start seeing results, so it’s important to build the supplement into your regular feeding routine.”

For more information on Calming Care, click here or speak to your veterinarian.