Feliway

How does it work?

Cats naturally produce a secretion (called a pheromone) from glands in the skin of their muzzle and face. Tiny amounts of this secretion are transferred onto surfaces within their territory by the cats rubbing their faces against them. This is something they do when they are feeling relaxed, confident and at ease with the situation. Most cat owners will have noticed how a particularly "happy" cat tends to rub its face against the owner. The cat's feeling of wellbeing which accompanies this action is re-enforced by picking up the scent which is transferred at the same time. All of this is a natural process which goes on without us being able to detect the scent at all. Feliway is a made to contain the same compound as the naturally produced pheromones. When a cat detects Feliway on a surface, or in the air, it triggers a response in the cat which brings out the desirable feelings which occur when a cat is "face rubbing" naturally. This has the effect of influencing the cat's "mood" so that a cat which is not feeling confident or calm will be encouraged to relax. It is not magic and will not bring about a miraculous transformation, but it will tend to shift the balance of a cat's mood in the right direction.

Are there any side effects?

It is extremely unusual for any treatment to have no side effects at all, but this does seem to be the case with Feliway. It is simply a scent and the worst that is likely to happen is that it will fail to be effective. Probably it has some effect in most situations, but it might be too weak to make an observable difference. It is possible that the liquid spray might affect certain coloured fabrics or other materials it is applied to, though this would be very rare and is not a side effect as such.

Feliway is regarded as an extremely safe product, has been very widely used for many years, and is considerably less likely to have an adverse effect than medicinal products.

What is it used for?

Feliway can be effective whenever it is desired to make a cat more relaxed and confident, such as:

• When a cat is nervous about being introduced to a new home.
• To help established resident cats which are meeting a newly introduced cat.
• Cats to be transported in a carry-basket, the anxiety associated with travel can be reduced by spraying Feliway in the basket before putting the cat in.
• When transporting a cat (especially to see the Vet!)
• When building work or other disruption is occurring, such as getting a dog or when a baby first starts to become mobile around the house.

All of these things can be stressful to a cat, and can be the cause of urine marking around the house, scratching in vertical surfaces, loss of appetite or loss of interest in play.

What is Feliway?

Feliway is a synthetic copy of the 'feline facial pheromone' and is proven to reassure and comfort cats, helping them to cope with changes in their environment or other stressful situations.
The effects of Feliway has been shown in more than 13 studies published in scientific journals or presented at veterinary conferences all over the world.
Clinical trials show reduction in urine spraying in up to 91% of households and 96% reduction in stress-related vertical scratching.

What are 'Facial pheromones'?

When a cat feel safe and comfortable in its environment, it rubs its head against the furniture, walls, bottom of curtains etc, leaving a substance call the facial pheromone. This pheromone is specific to cats and conveys a message of security and reassurance. In the presence of this pheromone cats are seen to show less signs of stress.

Feliway can be used to:

• Help prevent or stop stress-related inappropriate behaviours including indoor spraying or vertical scratching
• Help prevent tension or reduce conflict between cats and restore harmony with your household
• Help prevent or reduce stress-related behavioural or medical problems (i.e.: Loss of appetite or reduced desire to interact and play, general nervous behaviour, urinary problems etc...)
• Help your cat cope in stressful situations - Multi-cat households, changes to the environment (i.e. a stay in a cattery, new home or another disruption in the cat's territory such as visitors, builders, Christmas etc.)
• Transportation

Feliway can also be used under direction from a vet or feline behaviourist to help cats showing other stress-related behavioural or medical problems.

Use Feliway to reduce or prevent stress-related urine marking

• Do not clean marked areas with products that contain ammonia or bleach as cats are extremely sensitive to strong smells. Water, surgical alcohol or an odourless solution should be used to treat the soiled areas
• A Feliway Diffuser should be plugged into the room where the marking has taken place. If the cat marks several rooms, another diffuser can be placed in one of the other rooms
• The diffuser should be switched on continuously for at least 4 weeks and the refill replaced as required
• This method is more convenient for owners than daily applications of a spray and it is believed to help increase owner compliance
• Feliway Spray can be used in addition to the diffuser to treat a particular area should marking persist
• In such cases, the marked area should be cleaned and allowed to dry Then the spray applied daily to both the site and nearby prominent objects
• Treatment should be stopped when the cat marks the area with its own facial pheromone (is seen to rub the site with its head)
• If a cat has a history of urine spraying, the diffuser should be plugged into the room where the cat spends most of its time at least 48 hours before any stressful event i.e. the arrival of a new pet, building work, Christmas, moving house etc...
• Alternatively, if a new object is being introduced to the home, i.e. a new sofa, Feliway Spray should be applied directly onto the object at cat height

Use Feliway to reduce or prevent stress-related vertical scratching

• Plug a Feliway Diffuser in the area where the scratching has taken place or the room most frequented by the cat
• Feliway Spray can be used in conjunction with the Feliway Diffuser
• Apply Feliway Spray daily to scratched area and provide an alternative scratching area nearby (make sure this is suitable i.e tall enough for the cat to stretch up and with vertical rather than horizontal groves)
• Plug in / apply for at least a month. Stop once the cat is observed rubbing the site with its head and marking it with its own facial pheromones

Use Feliway to reduce or prevent stress-related behavioural or medical problems

(i.e.: Loss of appetite or reduced desire to interact and play, general nervous behaviour, urinary problems etc...)

• A Feliway Diffuser should be plugged in the room most frequented by the cats to reduce the general stress level
• Leave it plugged in continuously for at least 4 weeks or until problems subside
• The Feliway Spray can be applied directly to doorways and other relevant areas to give added reassurance as necessary

Use Feliway to comfort cats in stressful situations - Multi-cat households, changes to the environment, etc...

(e.g. new home or another disruption in the cat's territory such as visitors, builders, Christmas etc.)

• A Feliway Diffuser should be plugged into room most frequented by the cats to reduce the general stress level
• Leave it plugged in continuously for at least 4 weeks or until problems subside
• The Feliway Spray can be applied directly to doorways and other relevant areas to give added reassurance as necessary

Use Feliway to comfort cats staying in a cattery or rescue centre

• Apply Feliway Spray to the upright sections of the outside pen at cat height after daily cleaning. 1 spray should be administered to each of the 4 corners of the raised indoor section / cabin and 2 sprays to the floor and 2 to the ceiling
• Allow the alcohol to evaporate by leaving for approximately 15 minutes Introduce the cat to the sprayed area
• Bedding may be sprayed before being introduced to the pen if a cat is particularly fearful and does not want to leave its cage
• Allow time for any fumes from the cleaning products to disperse as much as possible, and for the pens to dry
• Feliway Diffusers can be used in indoor runs if a socket is available
• The diffuser should never be used outside

Use Feliway to reduce stress during transportation

• Apply Feliway Spray directly into the carrier 15 minutes before introducing the cat (1 spray in each of the 4 corners, 2 sprays on the floor and 2 sprays on the ceiling)
• Re-apply before each journey