Sentry Calming Collars for Cats Review 2024: FAQ, Pros, Cons & Verdict

Review Summary

Having an anxious cat can be stressful and difficult to deal with. As stressed as you are by the situation, your cat is even more stressed. It’s important to the health of your kitty to find ways to manage their stress and anxiety. The best way to do this is to identify the source of anxiety and work to remedy it.

Remember, cats can be stressed by something as simple as moving the litter box or something as complicated as bringing home a new baby. The cause may be obvious, but it also may be something that takes time and testing to determine.

If you’re already addressing your cat’s anxiety by working to remedy the stressor and you’ve talked to your vet about potential medical causes, then a calming collar can be a real benefit. The Sentry Calming Collar for Cats is intended to reduce a cat’s stress and anxiety through the science of introducing calming pheromones. These calming collars are not intended to be an immediate or singular fix for your cat’s anxiety, but they’re a great tool to keep in your kit to help keep your cat stress-free and happy.

Sentry is a solid brand, known for being sold in pet stores and superstores alike. Their products are typically sold for an affordable price, making their products available to everyone, even people on a tight budget. While some people may associate them with other low-cost brands that have proven safety issues, Sentry consistently produces safe products for pets.

Sentry Calming Collars for Cats – A Quick Look

Specifications

Safety

The Sentry Calming Collar for Cats doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients, so it’s safe for your cat. It’s even safe if you have cats that groom each other. There is a low chance of skin irritation with this collar, as there is with any collar or topical product. It should not be used on broken or irritated skin since this is likely to worsen any irritation that is present.

This collar uses a slide buckle closure that can be adjusted for cats with a neck circumference of up to 15 inches, which should encompass almost every domestic cat. Since some cats are known to get into trouble from jumping, climbing, or shimmying underneath things, it’s important for cats to have a safety collar that prevents choking and accidental hanging. The Sentry Calming Collar for Cats’ slide buckle has a built-in breakaway feature that can be opened by as little as 6 pounds of pressure.

Effectiveness

A mistake that many people make with calming collars is thinking that they should be the singular cure for their cat’s anxiety. This collar is most successful when used in conjunction with other means of decreasing anxiety, which will be dependent on the stressor.

If your cat is experiencing chronic stress related to changes in the home or a medical condition, then you’ll need to implement notable changes to help your cat feel better. The calming collar is a great means of adding to your cat’s anxiety relief.

If your cat experiences anxiety during short-term periods, a calming collar is a great way to improve anxiety relief. Some cats experience significant anxiety during thunderstorms, fireworks, and even the introduction of a new cat to the home. A calming collar will help relieve some of this anxiety, but it will work best with other interventions.

If something outside of the home is increasing anxiety, make sure to keep windows and blinds closed or keep the home environment quiet and calm. If introducing a new pet, follow the recommendations about slow introductions to help your cat adjust in a healthier and happier way.

Sizing

Since the Sentry Calming Collar for Cats is made for necks up to 15 inches, you should have no concerns about the fit. A collar that can fit up to 15 inches is longer than a ruler, and most large dogs have a neck circumference of at least 15 inches. Unless your dog is the size of a Labrador, then it’s extremely unlikely this collar won’t fit.

You’re more likely to have fit problems if your cat is exceptionally small, like a young kitten or a small adult cat. It may be difficult to get this collar tight enough for a small cat, but the good news is that you want it to have a slightly loose fit.

You should aim for the fit to leave around ¼ of an inch of space between the collar and your cat’s neck, and if it has a looser fit, that isn’t an issue. The collar will be just as effective if it’s loose.

Longevity

When you put a Sentry Calming Collar for Cats on your kitty, you can expect up to 30 days of anxiety reduction for your cat. Keep in mind, though, that there can be a decrease in the lifespan of this collar if it gets wet or is exposed to the elements. Shampoo and soap will also decrease the lifespan of the collar.

The pheromones that make this collar work, which are pheromones that mimic the pheromones that mother cats produce when with their kittens, are embedded in the collar itself. There is a powdery substance on the exterior of the collars, and this may rub off while you’re putting the collar on your cat or handling it. This is normal and shouldn’t have a significant effect on the effectiveness of the collar since the pheromones are also embedded.

FAQ

Does this collar have medications in it?

No, the Sentry Calming Collar for Cats is not a pharmaceutical product, so it does not contain medications. Pheromones are naturally produced, and the pheromones used in this collar are an artificial replication of specific pheromones.

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Can my cat wear this collar and a flea collar at the same time?

Yes, it is safe for your cat to wear both types of collars at the same time. Neither should impact the efficacy of the other. If your cat has skin irritation, a collar should not be used. If your cat has sensitive skin, keep an eye out for the early signs of skin irritation developing, especially if using both collars at the same time. There is a chance that wearing both collars will increase the risk of skin irritation.

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My other pets lick the collar a lot. Is this safe?

Yes, the pheromones in this collar are safe for cats and dogs. This is a non-toxic product that is safe for your pets, and it’s safe to have in a home with children. It is advisable, though, for people to wash their hands after handling the collar or petting their cat around the head, neck, and shoulders.

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Does this collar contain any fragrances?

Yes, there is a lavender chamomile fragrance in this collar. While the collar has a pleasant scent, it may be irritating to people with sensitivities to smells.

What the Users Say

To help you feel even better about using this collar for your cat, we’ve checked to see what people are saying about it, good and bad. Here’s what consumers who have used this calming collar thought.

This product has shown effectiveness in a major reduction in meowing in cats that meow all the time. Some cats not only stop meowing so much, but they also seem calmer and seek out affection in more appropriate and gentle ways, like headbutting. Some people have found this collar to be more effective than the pheromone plug-ins, but this will vary between cats. Some people have also found this collar to be effective for cats who are urinating outside of the box and have been diagnosed as having behavioral issues by a vet.

Some people have reported finding it difficult to use the slide buckle on their cats, especially longhaired cats. It should be put on with caution to prevent hair from becoming tangled in the slide buckle during application. People who are sensitive to smells have reported finding the smell of this collar to be unbearable and unpleasant, but people without scent sensitivities don’t seem to find the scent offensive.

Conclusion

The Sentry Calming Collar for Cats is a great tool for your toolbox of helping to calm your cat’s anxiety. It is not intended to be used on its own, which many people don’t realize.

You may need to provide environmental changes, vet visits, and even combination products to help your cat feel the full effect of this calming collar. For cats that meow all the time, urinate inappropriately, and are fearful or stressed, this collar can help make a notable difference in their behavior, producing a calming effect.

As your cat begins to calm down, you will also begin to feel calmer, which will help improve the overall stress level of the environment, further improving everyone’s happiness and reducing their anxiety.