Published Nov 6, 2025
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Emotional support vests for cats, or cat anxiety vests, wrap around a cat’s torso and provide compression to soothe their anxiety. While they don’t work for all cats, when used properly, they can work to reduce anxiety in the majority.
In this article, we’ll discuss more about emotional support vests for cats and how to get your cat to wear the vest. I’ve also purchased and tested five of them myself, in hopes that my honest reviews will help you choose the best vest for your cat.
At a Glance: Best Emotional Support Vests for Cats
ThunderShirt Anxiety Vest for CatsAmerican Kennel Club AKC Anxiety Vest
- Multiple adjustment points offer a secure, comfortable fit for your cat
- Straps around the neck rather than pulling overhead
- Best for small cats
American Kennel Club AKC Anxiety Vest
- With two straps, it’s very simple to take on and off of your cat
- Soft material is comfortable for cats to wear
- Machine washable
Coppthinktu Cat Anxiety Jacket
- Designed with a gap between your cat’s shoulderblades for increased mobility
- Easy to take on and off of your cat
- Lightweight, comfortable material
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap Pro
- Helps with grooming, vet visits, medicating your cat, and more
- Zippers and velcro pockets allow access to your cat’s paws, back, abdomen, and rear end
- Swaddle design helps cats feel safe
Top Performance Cat Grooming Bag
- Helps with giving medications, grooming your cat, and more
- Comes with a carrying handle
- Multiple zippers allow access to your cat’s paws, back, and rear end
What are Emotional Support Vests for Cats?
Emotional support vests for cats use compression to comfort anxious cats. It calms them down similarly to how hugs or weighted blankets help to calm anxious humans.
Since every cat is different, anxiety vests don’t always work. For the best odds, you’ll need to slowly desensitize your cat to wearing the vest before the anxious episode. You can do this by:
- Setting treats on the vest or sprinkling catnip to allow your cat to explore the vest and associate it with positive experiences
- Draping the vest over your cat’s back while leaving the clasps undone
- Buckling the straps one by one as your cat becomes more comfortable
Take these steps slowly over the course of weeks or days. Start by leaving the vest on your cat for short periods, such as a few seconds, and build up over time. Stop when your cat becomes uncomfortable, as you want this to be a positive experience!
We also recommend putting the vest on in the time leading up to your cat’s anxiety, such as before a trip to the vet or in the evening before fireworks start. Trying to wrangle a struggling, anxious cat into their vest will only add to their stress.
Why Trust Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
I’m a lifelong cat owner with seven senior cats of my own. I’ve dealt with cat anxiety in the past, and I wish I knew about cat anxiety vests sooner!
When choosing products for this article, I researched the most recommended brands and read a plethora of reviews to see what other cat parents thought. I then purchased them to test for myself, while taking notes on how easy each vest was to get on and off of my cats, how comfortable my cats were while wearing them, and which situations they’d be best suited for.
5 Best Emotional Support Vests for Cats
Our overall best pick is the ThunderShirt anxiety vest for cats. However, every cat is unique and every pet parent has their own preferences. With this in mind, we’ve broken down our top recommendations by the vest that offers the most joint flexibility, the best for grooming, and more.
#1 Overall Best: ThunderShirt Anxiety Vest for Cats
The Thundershirt is one of the most widely-known anxiety vests for cats, and with good reason! It fits securely, has multiple adjustment points, and is made of a light, breathable fabric. My cat seemed very comfortable while wearing his vest as well.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
I found the Thundershirt anxiety vest a little more complicated to adjust than other brands, but it didn’t take long to figure out and was fast once I got the hang of it. The numerous velcro strips can get caught on each other, and I felt overwhelmed by them at first, but in the end, they make for a more secure and customized fit for your cat.
Unfortunately, the sizing does run pretty small. I ordered the small size for my eight pound cat, but had to get a medium-sized replacement because the small wouldn’t fit him! I’m not sure whether this brand would be the right choice for large cats. However, Thundershirt’s dog anxiety vest looks very similar and comes in larger sizes. The dog version also includes chest measurements in their sizing chart!
What We Liked:
- Multiple adjustment points around the waist for a secure, comfortable fit
- Strap secures around the neck rather than being pulled overhead
- A great choice for small cats
What We Didn’t Like:
- Sizing runs small, so the vest may not fit large cats
#2 Runner Up: American Kennel Club Anxiety Vest
The American Kennel Club’s anxiety vest is made for dogs, but it fit my cat very well. If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have noticed a difference between this and the vests made specifically for cats.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Its best feature is how quick and easy it is to take on and off, with only two adjustment points secured by velcro strips. If you think you or your cat might struggle with a more complicated vest, I would recommend this one over the others.
The fabric is also lightweight, soft, and machine washable. While in the listing it claims to resist fur, I found that it gathered plenty, similarly to the other vests on our list.
A small discrepancy I noticed between the listing and the actual product is that they are vastly different colors. I don’t know how the blue looks in person, but the pale pink is actually a bright hot pink.
What We Liked:
- With only two straps to secure, this vest is the easiest to take on and off
- Fits well and is comfortable for cats to wear
- Made of lightweight, washable materials
What We Didn’t Like:
- Pink color appears much different in online listings than in person
#3 Best Shoulder Flexibility: Coppthinktu Cat Anxiety Jacket
A common problem with cat vests and other wearables is that they restrict the shoulders, making cats feel like they can’t move freely. This can impede walking in both real and imagined ways, as cats can be very sensitive to pressure around their joints.
Coppthinktu Cat Anxiety Jacket
Coppthinktu Cat Anxiety Jacket
Coppthinktu Cat Anxiety Jacket
The Coppthinktu cat anxiety jacket gives cats a little more flexibility by leaving a gap between your cat’s shoulderblades. Made of lightweight polyester, it has a strip of velcro on the back that makes it easy to take on and off of your cat. You can then tighten the vest using the wide strap that secures with wide strips of velcro.
Unlike the other vests on our list, this one doesn’t have an adjustable neckline and has to be pulled over your cat’s head. Most cats find designs like this aversive, but training your cat to put their face through on their own can make the experience better. Some cats, especially those who are used to wearing similar items, may not mind having the vest pulled over their head at all.
What We Liked:
- Designed with a gap between your cat’s shoulderblades for better mobility
- Quick and easy to take on and off of your cat
- Made of lightweight, breathable polyester with velcro fasteners
What We Didn’t Like:
- Pulls over your cat’s head instead of fastening around the neck, which can be aversive
#4 Best for Swaddling Cats: Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap Pro
The Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap Pro is made of soft material with velcro fasteners that can be quickly opened and closed while trimming your cat’s nails. The primary zipper, which sits on your cat’s back, can be opened from both sides, allowing you to access your cat’s rear end for hair trimming or cleaning purposes. There is also a zipper at the bottom that allows access to their abdomen.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The wrap is well-designed and can help reduce stress during a number of anxiety-inducing care tasks, including grooming, giving medications, or veterinary check-ups. With less struggle, you’ll be able to accomplish these tasks faster, rather than fighting against a squirmy, anxious cat for an extended amount of time. The thick wrap helps to keep humans safe from sharp cat claws as well.
My cat is used to wearing accessories such as harnesses, so he didn’t fight me about wearing the cat wrap. However, I did find it difficult to get him to lie down to be swaddled, as he was very excited about the treats I was bribing him with! Opening the front paw cutouts made it much easier to get on, and then I gently pushed his legs in and closed them up.
This method will work for cats who are cooperative, but may present a challenge for cats who are fighting the wrap. The best way to avoid this is to introduce it slowly and at your cat’s pace.
Remember to never leave your cat unattended in the Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap, as it restricts mobility and they could hurt themselves!
What We Liked:
- Swaddles cats securely to help them feel safe
- Allows for access to the paws, back, abdomen, and rear through assorted zippers and cutouts
- Helps with grooming, vet visits, medicating your cat, and more
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can be difficult to get onto cats, especially if they’re struggling
#5 Best Cat Grooming Bag: Top Performance Cat Grooming Bag
The Top Performance cat grooming bag isn’t a cat anxiety vest, but it may help to provide a faster and less stressful grooming experience for cats and their humans! The bag is secured with velcro at the neck and has various zippers to help you access your cat’s back, rear, and paws. It also has a handle that allows you to lift your cat easily.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Like the Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap, this grooming bag encompasses your cat’s entire body and is much easier to put on while they’re lying down. I ordered this one for my larger and less cooperative cats, and I found it challenging to get them inside. Like with the wrap, I found it easier to put their feet through first and tuck them back into the bag after it was on.
Once my cat was in it, I was able to carry her and trim her nails with ease. Because it’s made with zippers, not velcro, I didn’t worry about her pushing her paws out of the bag. However, there is still a risk of getting scratched by a struggling cat through either the thin polyester fabric or the mesh areas of the bag.
My cat was able to escape the bag very easily while on a hard surface, but seemed to have more trouble while I was holding her. Unfortunately, after only a couple of short-term uses I did notice multiple tiny holes in the bag from my cat’s nails, so the fabric isn’t super durable.
Overall, I think this grooming bag is a good idea for short-term restraint so that you can attend to quick tasks like nail trims or administering medication. However, I think alternatives like the Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap are more comfortable and calming for the cat.
Lastly, please remember not to leave your cat unattended in the Top Performance grooming bag, as it restricts their mobility and they may hurt themselves.
What We Liked:
- Comes with a carrying handle and supports your cat’s weight evenly
- Multiple zippers allow access to your cat’s paws, back, and rear
- Helps with medications, vet visits, grooming your cat, and more
What We Didn’t Like:
- Your cat may be able to wriggle out of the grooming bag
- Cat nails can easily damage the material of the bag
How to Choose the Best Emotional Support Vest for Your Cat
To help you choose the best anxiety vest for your cat, consider the following:
The Vest’s Purpose
First, you’ll want to decide what you’re looking for in a vest. Do you want a traditional emotional support vest to help calm and comfort your cat through their anxiety? Are you looking to make grooming or vet visits easier on your cat?
In this article, we have three traditional anxiety vests as well as a couple of other options: a swaddle wrap and a grooming bag.
The anxiety vests are best for cats who fear things like thunderstorms, fireworks, or guests in the home. Meanwhile, the grooming bag and wrap are better for restraining your cat to make grooming and vet visits as quick and stress-free as possible.
Comfort
Of course, you want the vest to be comfortable for your cat so that it doesn’t add to their stress! The best cat anxiety vests are made from lightweight, breathable materials, as anxiety can make your cat feel hot. They’re soft against your cat’s fur and skin, and fit snugly while not restricting their movement.
Size
Before ordering a cat anxiety vest, measure your cat’s chest and neck. Most listings include size charts with the ideal weight, neck length, and chest length for each size.
If your cat fits different sizes according to weight and chest size, opt for the vest with the right chest size.
Durability
Next, look for materials that will last. The ideal anxiety vest is machine washable. If it’s meant to restrain your cat, the materials should hold up against claws and teeth.
