Do Pheromone Diffusers Work For Cats
Some studies have shown that cat calming diffusers are effective in reducing common anxiety-related behaviors.
These feline behaviors include:
- Destructive or aggressive behavior
For cats with mild symptoms of anxiety, a pheromone diffuser may offer significant relief.
In cases of mild anxiety, they may be sufficient to calm the cat alone, says veterinarian Dr. Joanna Woodnutt. The nice thing about pheromone diffusers is that theyre natural, and unlikely to do any harm. They can therefore be used for non-anxious cats, and for cats with on-and-off anxiety, without any risk at all.
However, like people, cats experience anxiety differently. Pets with more severe symptoms may need additional intervention.
Pheromone diffusers may not be enough for some very anxious cats, says Woodnutt. For these animals, extra calming tools and changes to the environment may be needed.
Additionally, its important to note that anxiety symptoms can point to a wide range of underlying health issues in cats.
Be sure to get your cat checked out by a vet to rule out any potential health problems, says Rodriguez. Once your kitty is deemed healthy, you can try using a pheromone diffuser to help put them at ease.
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.
How To Calm A Cat Using Pheromones
If your purring pet is more scaredy cat than ferocious feline or if your cats separation anxiety is at an all-time high, she may benefit from pheromones. Its not uncommon for cats to experience anxiety, especially when there are changes to their daily routine. While anxiety is not unusual, it can lead to cat behavior issues like excessive meowing and inappropriate scratching it can be challenging to know exactly how to calm a cat and stop this kind of behavior. If your cat keeps meowing for no reason, or you witness changes in their behavior, calming pheromones can help by easing stress.
Stress affects cats both physically and mentally. It can exacerbate existing physical conditions, and cause behavioral problems. A stressed cat will act out, but there are ways to keep help cats feel calmer even when introducing cats to your home. You cant always eliminate stressors, but you can reduce anxiety with pheromone sprays or diffusers.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Cat Pee Smell Out Of Wood Floors
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.
How Long Do You Have To Use The Deterrent For
Many of the deterrents on our list have their own instructions for use about the best way to use their products, so we recommend following the product directions. You will likely need to use the deterrents a few times a day for at least a couple of weeks, but it will vary by product. Several of the sprays recommend using their product as a training aid and you may have a higher success rate if you use the spray with positive reinforcement for good behavior.
The end goal is to wean your cat off needing the deterrent, so youll likely only need to use it as long as it takes to keep your cat away from the furniture or surface you want it to avoid. Until your cat stops the offending behavior, you will need to use the spray as often as the product requires for a successful outcome. Once you confirm the cat is not reverting to bad behavior you can stop using the product.
Recommended Reading: H.p. Lovecraft’s Cat Name
How We Ranked Our Top Cat Pheromone Diffusers
When researching the best pheromone cat diffusers, we considered a number of factors. The diffusers on our list:
- Contain 100 percent pet-safe ingredients.
- Have earned numerous positive reviews from pet parents.
- Are available at major pet retailers.
- Have readily available refill cartridges.
If you have any concerns when shopping for a pheromone diffuser, speak with your veterinarian or a certified cat behaviorist. These experts can answer any questions or direct you to a product that is the right fit for your feline.
Q: Are Pet Pheromone Products Safe
A: There are no reports of any side effects, and Neilson and Hunthausen say they have never seen a bad reaction to the calming pheromones.
Theyre species specific, so they dont affect people or other types of pets in the home, Neilson says. And even if you have several dogs or several cats, the other animals can probably benefit from the pheromones as well.
Pheromones are also “good for older, skittish or sick pets, because it doesnt stress them further to use them,” Hunthausen says.
Recommended Reading: How To Keep Cats Off Outdoor Furniture
What Causes Stress In A Cat And Why
Before we took cats into our homes, they lived very different lives.
They roamed free and had lots of space available to them. They controlled their resources where they went to eliminate, eat and rest. They could avoid interactions with other cats, dogs and people if they chose to do so. It was also easier to escape threatening and stressful situations.
Now our cats live in houses and apartments that may limit their ability to roam.
They have little or no control over their resources. Their access to the outdoors is restricted or not allowed. They now share their living space with other cats, dogs, children, etc. While these changes have helped and protected cats, they also can cause stress and anxiety. Stress and anxiety can lead to inappropriate behaviors.
What are behavioral and medical signs of stress and anxiety?
- Urine marking
Q: Are Cat Calming Sprays Safe
A: Yes as long as you follow the manufacturers instructions, cat calming sprays are perfectly safe for both you and your kitty. To make sure youre using them correctly, always read and retain the instructions, and be sure not to over-use the product.
Some sprays use alcohol as a solvent for their synthetic pheromones, so should not be sprayed directly onto your cat or yourself if you have particularly sensitive skin. You should also wait for 15 minutes to give the alcohol a chance to evaporate before introducing your cat to the treated area.
Its a good idea to check out the ingredient list before using a new spray too. Finally, remember that these sprays are for smelling only, and should not be ingested by you or your cat. To ensure this isnt an issue, we recommend avoiding using the spray around the area where you feed your cat, or on objects they often put in their mouth, such as certain toys.
Recommended Reading: Is Sylvester The Talking Cat Dead
Are There Other Feliway Products Aside From Feliway Spray
Yes, aside from Feliway Spray there are also other products like the Feliway Classic Diffuser, Feliway Friends/Multicat Diffuser, and FeliScratch. These products have the same synthetic facial cat pheromones except that Feliway Friends/Multicat uses the feline pheromones from the mammary gland area after a mother cat gives birth to bond with the newborn kittens. Through its use, aggressive cats in a multi-cat household become relaxed, calm, and get along well with each other. The Feliway brand also has refill packs for the Feliway Classic and Feliway Friends Diffusers to ensure the continued use of the products for optimum results and to maintain a stress-free environment for your felines.
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.
Recommended Reading: Ho Lovecrafts Cat
What To Consider When Buying Cat Calming Spray
There are many different cat calming products on the market and it can be difficult knowing which type to buy. Not every product will work for every cat and so it may be a case of testing a few to find which works best for kitty. If you have never used a cat calming spray before then its always good to opt for the products which have been recommended by vets first. These are often clinically proven to get fast results.
If you have multiple cats in the house then a cat calming diffuser can be a good first choice as these work by releasing pheromones into the environment and can calm your kitties together at the same time. If you find that this isnt effective enough then you can couple a cat calming diffuser with a calm calming spray to target specific areas where the cats have sprayed or displayed other negative behavior such as scratching and inappropriate toileting.
Some cat calming sprays are designed for use around the house and are safe to use on furniture and bedding but not safe to use on cats, whereas other pet calming sprays work the opposite and are designed to be used on the cat and not on furniture – please make sure you fully read and understand the instructions before use.
Best Drops: Richard’s Organics Pet Calm
Delivery Method: Liquid drops | Key Ingredients: Valerian, chamomile, passionflower, skullcap extract
-
Can be difficult to give to your cat
-
Wears off in a few hours
Richards Organics Pet Calm combines four relaxation-inducing herbsvalerian, chamomile, passionflower, and skullcap extractthat may help alleviate stress, anxiety, excitability, and improve your cats sleep. Because its a liquid drop, administration can be a challenge, especially since there are no added flavors to entice your cat to consume it. We recommend dropping it onto your cats paw and letting him or her lick it off.
Don’t Miss: What Is Terramycin Used For In Cats
How To Calm Your Cat With Aromatherapy
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow’s Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 58,301 times.Learn more…
Aromatherapy involves the use of particular scents derived from plant sources to treat a wide range of conditions. If your cat is anxious because of an upset stomach or a long car ride, you might find aromatherapy very helpful. Scents like lavender, cardamom and spearmint can be used to treat your cats stress or anxiety. However, many essential oils are toxic and potentially fatal, so you will need to follow strict safety precautions.
New Feliway Formulation For Aggression In Multiple Cat Households
There is a new Feliway formulation now available, Feliway Multicat, which is especially good for calming cats in multicat homes that have been showing aggression toward each other. The diffuser works the same way as the original Feliway diffuser does, but its composition is specific for helping to diffuse intercat aggression.
You May Also Like These Related Articles:
Don’t Miss: Cat Human Age Equivalent
Pet Behavior Problems: Can Pheromones Help
Experts answer common questions about pet pheromone products.
Just like people, dogs and cats can get stressed. Changes like a new home, a new family member, or just that annoying cat next door can cause unwanted behaviors like destructiveness, marking or urinating in the house, and excessive barking or meowing.
But some owners would rather not use drugs to treat a stressed dog or cat. One alternative you might see on store shelves are pheromone-based products, which were first introduced in the U.S. in 2001.
But what exactly are these pheromone products, and do they work? Here are expert answers to questions about what they can and cant do.
Will Cat Repellent Sprays Stain Your Furniture
Most of the sprays will not stain your furniture, but some of these products contain essential oils. Depending on the blend of the product, essential oils may leave behind a residue on your furniture. Remember to always test the product in a small area first so you dont inadvertently ruin your own furniture in your efforts to keep your cat from scratching it to pieces.
You May Like: My Cat’s Meow Sounds Hoarse
Using Pheromones For Dogs Vs Pheromones For Cats
Dogs and cats can benefit from the use of calming pheromones in different ways. For example, calming pheromones can help dogs who have a difficult time with loud noises, especially in the case of thunderstorms and fireworks, where noises come together with flashes and bursts of lights that are frightening to dogs. Some dogs also are often confused and upset by being left at home for long periods while their family is at school and work, causing separation anxiety or separation distress, Dr. Tynes explains. Pheromones help the dog feel safe and can prevent unwanted behaviors like whining, crying, pacing and being destructive when the pet is alone in the house.
In cats, calming pheromones are also useful for making them feel safe and secure, either when alone or in the presence of other cats. Conflict between cats is very concerning because once friction has escalated, those relationships are not easily repaired, Dr. Tynes says. Using Feliway when adopting an additional cat may help the relationship begin well.
How To Use Feliway To See The Best Results
FELIWAY can help to reduce stress-related behaviours in cats, as the products copy the pheromone messages naturally produced by cats when they are in their happy place. Used around the home, it can help your cat feel safe and secure.. but which FELIWAY product should you use, when should you use it, and how can you make sure you get the best results from each product?
Cats love routine and arent big fans of change, so if their everyday habits get interrupted by changes at home, it can be unsettling for them, sometimes leading to stress and anxiety. This can manifest itself by your otherwise happy and relaxed cat starting to scratch furniture, hiding away when they would normally be sociable, or urine spraying around the home.
Normal changes in our human lives, like moving the furniture around, welcoming new visitors, or introducing a new pet into the home – might trigger anxiety in your cat, so its a good idea to be aware of how your feline friend might be affected and prepare in advance to keep them calm and stress-free.
Read Also: Cats Age In Human Years
Best Cat Repellent Sprays For Furniture In 2021
Cat owners everywhere are familiar with the noise of their cats nails clawing into their furniture, slowly ripping the fabric to shreds, and costing them money. Is there a solution to this age-old problem? Beleaguered cat lovers are turning to cat repellent sprays for furniture to save their living rooms. Many are discovering that these sprays, combined with positive reinforcement training, are helping to save not only their furniture but also their sanity. Weve reviewed 10 cat repellent sprays on the market, looking for the best options for keeping cats off the furniture naturally. We hope our reviews help make your purchase of a cat repellent spray just a little bit easier.