What Is Feliway Spray
Feliway Spray contains synthetic facial cat pheromones that cats emit and leave naturally by rubbing their face and cheeks against objects or people when they feel calm and comfortable and in marking their environment. The product helps reduce stress and calms down your cat during vet visits, while traveling, or if moving to another home.
It also relaxes your cat during stressful situations like thunderstorms, in caseof a new addition to the household like a family member or another pet, if there are loud noises like fireworks and if you are remodeling or renovating your home. Moreover, it also allows for targeted management of areas marked by your cat through urine spraying or by scratching.
The Feliway Feliscratch Solution
Feliscratch is designed to encourage your cat to scratch a designated surface. When applied properly, Feliscratch sends both visual and invisible cues to your cat, in order to stimulate their scratching behaviour. Simply apply the contents of the tube onto appropriate surface in a vertical line, allow your cat to enjoy!
Where To Buy Feliway
Where and how I buy Feliway pheromone products is a bit of a game. This is because, like I said earlier, they can be a bit pricy.
Typically, I get them from both the spray and the diffuser refills. But I have gotten them from Chewy from time to time, as well. The Chewy Feliway selection has expanded lately Im probably going to go back to getting refills there because of their Autoship options and discounts.
A word to the wise: the prices on tend to fluctuate a lot. The other week, I went to order the multicat diffuser refills and found that the single packs were nearly $20 each, when theyre typically around $11.
In that situation, I ordered this ThunderEase powered by Feliway diffusers instead. The price was so much better .
Have you tried Feliway or another cat pheromone brand?What has your experience been like?
Follow me and my kitties on Instagram to keep up with all the feline cuteness!
*This post was originally published in 2020. It was most recently updated on November 29, 2021.
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Is The Feliway Spray Safe
As long as you follow the products instructions, Feliway spray is safe for both you and your cat. There are no reports of any side effects. The pheromones only affect cats so they do not affect people or other types of pets in the house.
Do not forget that this spray is for smelling only and should not be ingested by your cat. To ensure this will not become an issue, it is recommended to avoid spraying around the area where you feed your cat or on objects they often put in their mouth, such as their toys.
How To Choose Between The Feliway Diffuser And Spray
Feliway products do work very well in many cases. They are effective in calming cats because of the pheromones they are mimicking. The product you should use depends on the situation and in some situations it can even be beneficial to use both.
Here are tips for choosiung between the Feliway Diffuser and Spray:
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Before You Use A Sedative
Some people like myself research online about the use of sedatives on cats when traveling. And I have actually come across some interesting information stating the dangers of using a sedative on cats . And of course after reading this, I paid a visit to the Vet to see what his opinion was on this.
When the Vet read this, his response was Different cats respond differently when given medications, and thats why there are Vets, we will recommend you what to use with your cat when you travel based on the health record of your cat.
And to me this makes absolute sense. We are in no position what so ever to decide what to use on our cats before checking with the Vet. So the next time you plan to use a sedative on your cat when traveling by plane, car, or paying a visit to the visit, CONSULT with the Vet prior.
If a Vet recommends you use a sedative on your cat, the vet will tell you to use it prior to the travel date. This is to ensure you wont have any last minute issues with your cat on the date of your travel. So lets get started with some really good sedatives to use on your cat when traveling with your cat on an airplane.
Sedatives For Cats Traveling By Plane
Rescue Remedy is a convenient, safe, all-natural alternative to pharmaceuticals. And its alcohol free, so its perfect for your furry feline friend. The Rescue Remedy All Natural Stress Reliever works great on sensitive dogs.
With all this said, you can easily administer the Rescue Remedy All Natural Stress Reliever using a dropper. You can place the drops in the water, food, place directly into your catss mouth, or rub into the nose, ear or paw. If you are interested in learning how our experience went with Rescue Remedy, please
Relaxivet Calming Collar is a collar that I have recently come across, and it actually works on cats as well as dogs. With this said, you can put it on your pet an hour before your trip. Some airlines will ask you to take it off when going through security, but you can put it back on once done from security.
Furthermore, if you have a land over at an airport, this works great if you want to walk your pet instead of placing in a carrier through out the whole time waiting for your next flight. The calming effect will last for 30 days. You can easily place it on your pet. To read our personal review on the Relaxivet Calming Collar , simply
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Q: What About Other Pet Pheromone Products
A: Sergeants Pet Care Products introduced pheromone collars in 2009 for dogs and the only pheromone cat collar on the market.
Sergeants communications manager, Kelly Lytle Baehr, says the collars reproduce the calming pheromones nursing mothers release to soothe their babies. Baehr says Sergeants paid for three studies by independent researches that show the collars work, but she says the results were not published or presented and so are not available for review.
Continued
Other products use herbal blends to simulate pheromones. Jodi Hoefler, vice president of the Garmon Corporation, says their Quiet Moments sprays for dogs and cats use a patented blend of herbs to simulate canine- or feline-appeasing pheromones to give stressed pets a feeling of safety and well being. The company also makes a product called No Mark, which uses an herbal blend that simulates a feline pheromone to stop cats from marking.
Another company, Nutri-Vet, makes sprays and diffusers called Pet-Ease that use essential oils of herbs that simulate pheromones. We use calming oils, says Phil Brown, DVM, vice president of marketing for Nutri-Vet. The effects are similar, its just what is causing the effects that differ.
Great Sedatives To Use On Cats Traveling By Plane
So you are traveling with your cat by plane and wondering what kind of sedatives you can use to calm your cat during the travel. With this said, if your cat is traveling in cargo, please check if you are even allowed to use a sedative on your cat by the Vet as well as the airline, as some airlines do not allow it.
Ever since we became pet owners, we normally prefer the use of organic or natural herbs to sedate our pets. There are so many sedatives out there that are not really a sedative but work like one. But it is still your responsibility as a pet owner to run anything you want to give to your pet by the Vet before administering it.
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Advantages Of Cat Relaxing Sprays
If you havent tried using cat relaxing sprays yet, you may be wondering about how they can help your cat. Although popular among pet owners and veterinarians, you should keep in mind that this type of product is not entirely a permanent remedy that corrects a cats behavioral concern. Instead, it only gives a temporary aid when dealing with a cats response to a stressful situation.
Here are some of the advantages of relaxing synthetic sprays as well as natural relaxing sprays for cats.
They are easy to use.
To help calm a stressed kitty, many cat owners and veterinarians swear by the use of cat relaxing sprays. These products are easy to use, which makes them one of the best options out there. The sprays work best when applied directly towards specific problem areas, including the spot in your home where your cat couldnt help but urinate or scratch. Just spritz the product directly on surfaces, and youre good to go.
They are easy to carry around.
Relaxing sprays also work best for traveling or a visit to the veterinarian. Unlike other forms of cat relaxing products like diffusers or plugins, they are convenient to bring with you anywhere you go. These sprays come in small bottles that you could quickly put in your bag.
They are safe to use.
They are effective.
They are accessible.
How To Calm A Cat With Pheromones
Pheromones communicate things like territory and dominance to other cats, but can also calm stressed cats. Pheromones are a scent hormone that is emitted from the mother cat that has comforting qualities, says DVM and veterinarian to the stars, Dr. Jeff Werber. Pheromones bring cats back to the sensation they experienced when they were with their mother, says Dr. Werber.
Feliway Multicat Diffuser contains ingredients that replicate a cats natural, calming pheromones and help manage negative behavior caused by stress, such as scratching and urine marking. This diffuser can also decrease the frequency and intensity of tension between cats in multi-cat homes.
Pheromones come in handy in any situation where theres stress or anxiety. Fear or aggression can also be relieved through the use of pheromones, says Dr. Werber. The calming effect takes away fear, aggression or anxiety, so pheromones can be used anytime a cat is having a behavioral challenge or acting out.
In a 2001 clinical trial, scientists studied the effects of Feliway pheromones for feline urine marking. The clinical trial found that Feliway pheromone treatment had a 77% success rate in addressing feline urine marking.
At our practice, when we have a cat thats fearful, well sometimes spray ourselves, towels or table with pheromones to offer relief, says Dr. Werber. Around 80-90% of cats will have some response to pheromones, according to Dr. Werber.
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Feliway For Cats Directions:
- Feliway for Cats and Kittens is a behavior modification product used to safely and naturally end urine marking, scratching, and other stress-related behaviors.
- Feliway For Cats and Kittens contains Analogue of Feline Facial Pheromone , and is available as either a Plug-In Diffuser or a Spray Bottle.
- One bottle of the Plug-In Diffuser lasts approximately four weeks and covers an area of approximately 500-650 square feet.
When using Feliway Spray, shake well and spray the area you do not want the cat/kitten to mark or scratch. Do not spray directly onto your cat.
Additional Feliway Products To Consider
The Feliway Classic Calming Spray is just one Feliway product you can use. You might also want to explore the other products in the company line:
- Feliway Optimum Cat Enhanced Calming Pheromone Diffuser: This 30-day diffuser automatically and gradually releases Feliway Optimum. Feliway Optimum helps your cat deal with stress and may help reduce scratching, urine spraying, and fights between your cats. The diffuser covers up to 700 square feet.
- Feliway MultiCat Calming Diffuser Kit: This 30-day diffuser kit gradually releases Feliway MultiCat, so you dont have to worry about spraying your home. This formulation is designed to help reduce conflicts between the cats in your home. It covers up to 700 square feet.
- Feliway Wipes: Rather than spraying Feliway into the air, with these wipes you can apply Feliway directly to your cats bedding or carrier. Theyre handy and convenient and ideal when youre traveling with your cat.
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Does Feliway Really Work For Cats
Modern-day lives are busy what with fitting in work and family life and pets and hobbies, its no wonder that many people suffer from anxiety or stress. But how about our cats? Do they get stressed out, and if so, do pheromones like Feliway help? Weve been looking at what we know about this popular remedy.
Are There Any Other Tips To Reduce My Cats Stress Levels During The Veterinary Visit
One of the most important ways to decrease your cats anxiety level is to remain calm and relaxed during the visit. Speak to your cat in a calm and soothing voice and reassure her by petting her on her head or stroking her in her favorite spot. See the handout Reducing the Stress of Veterinary Visits for Cats for more information.
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Cats Love To Feel In Control Of Their Environment
When they feel this control they will carefully mark their home using facial marking, and leave happy messages . This happens each time your cat rubs its face against furniture or nuzzles up against your legs.
When you notice this cat behaviour, you can be sure that your cat is feeling great!
Things that may disturb your cat
Many things can disturb your cats need of stability, and impact your cats behaviour.
For instance, every time you move furniture, bring in new furniture, do a major housecleaning, renovate your house or do some DIY work at home This can remove the happy messages left by your cat, and then they dont feel at home anymore.
When this happens your cats become disorientated, and you can see your cats behaviour change: in your cats language, its a sign of discomfort.
Other things that may affect your cats happiness are access to food, heat, water, litter, attention and competition in the household with other cats, as well as visitors to the household.
Your cat loves stability. If your cat has been out for a time , he might feel a bit lost when coming back home. Indeed, all the happy messages will have disappeared during your cats absence! Your cat will simply not recognise their own home!
In these times of change, using the FELIWAY Diffuser or FELIWAY Spray is a great help, as it sends happy messages and brings a feeling of happiness and security.
Signs of an unhappy cat
Further advice on keeping your cat happy