Feliway | Feliway for Cats | Feliway Review

What is Feliway for Cats?

Feliway is usually supplied as a small amount of liquid attached to a small, neat, plug-in diffuser. This is placed somewhere out of the way and releases tiny amounts of vapour into the air, which humans are unable to detect. However cats are able to pick up the scent of the product and respond to it. Feliway can also be supplied as a colourless liquid in a small, pump action spray bottle. The liquid can be sprayed onto surfaces in places where a stressed, nervous or anxious cat goes. The liquid spray has the same effect as the diffuser and can encourage a feeling of calmness, confidence and wellbeing in cats.

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How does Feliway 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 can Feliway for Cats be 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.

Article written by:
John Cousins BVSc MRCVS - A veterinary surgeon from VioVet - Online Pet Store & Pharmacy.

The article reflects the opinions of the author and should only be used as a guide. It can only be taken in conjunction with advice from your vet. No liability is accepted for accuracy of content or any other matter.