Feliway Diffuser - stops cats from spraying

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivan Seeking
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effectiveness of the Feliway pheromone diffuser in preventing cats from spraying indoors. Participants share personal experiences, explore the concept of pheromonatherapy, and discuss the implications of using such products for behavioral issues in cats.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants report that the Feliway diffuser has been effective in stopping their cats from spraying, noting immediate results after use.
  • Others question the accuracy of claims regarding pheromonatherapy, suggesting that the pheromone may not be universally effective for all cats.
  • A participant raises concerns about the specificity of the pheromone, proposing that it might serve to indicate territory rather than solely marking it.
  • There is a discussion about the lack of detectable odor from the diffuser, with some participants noting that their cats seem to enjoy its presence.
  • Humorous remarks are made about the potential for a similar product to work on teenagers, highlighting the difference in how pets and humans perceive such products.
  • Some participants reflect on the health issues related to spraying behavior in older male cats, sharing personal anecdotes about their own pets.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and skepticism regarding the effectiveness of the Feliway diffuser. While some share positive experiences, others raise questions about the underlying mechanisms and the generalizability of the product's effects.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of animal behavior and the potential influence of health conditions on spraying. There is also an awareness of the marketing versus actual effectiveness of pet products.

Who May Find This Useful

Cat owners experiencing similar behavioral issues with their pets, veterinarians interested in pheromonatherapy, and individuals curious about pet behavior modification techniques.

Ivan Seeking
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
8,252
Reaction score
2,664
I am simply amazed by this product - The Feliway pheromone diffuser
http://www.feliway.com/us

It was recommended by our vet and appears to be 100% effective for our latest problem cat. Our older male cat had started spraying in the house. Over the last twenty years, we have tried any number of products that are supposed to stop this behavior - TOO MANY - but none worked for any cat. We plugged this thing in and the spraying stopped immediately! After a month or so, when the diffuser ran dry, it couldn't have more than a day or two before Isaac sprayed again. We WILL be getting a refill unit today [they were sold out yesterday].

Also, the cats seem to love it. Isaac started sleeping on the floor next to the diffuser.
 
Last edited:
Biology news on Phys.org
interesting. Is the claim about Pheromonatherapy accurate?

What is Feliway®?
Feliway® is a synthetic copy of the feline facial pheromone, used by cats to mark their territory as safe and secure.



By mimicking the cat’s natural facial pheromones, Feliway® creates a state of familiarity and security in the cat's local environment.

As a result, Feliway® can be used to help comfort and reassure cats while they cope with a challenging situation and help prevent or reduce the stress caused by a change in their environment.

The development of Feliway®created a new field in veterinary medicine: Pheromonatherapy.
http://www.feliway.com/us/To-know-everything-about-Feliway/What-is-Feliway-R
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I have no idea how it works, but it seems odd to say it is the pheromone they use to mark their territory. Wouldn't that be cat-specific? I mean, one cat marks his territory to tell the next to stay away; it's not all the same identical scent. Maybe it's the other way around, to tell them it's already the property of some other cat, and keep their spray off?

Does it have any smell you can notice?
 
Moonbear said:
I have no idea how it works, but it seems odd to say it is the pheromone they use to mark their territory. Wouldn't that be cat-specific? I mean, one cat marks his territory to tell the next to stay away; it's not all the same identical scent. Maybe it's the other way around, to tell them it's already the property of some other cat, and keep their spray off?

Does it have any smell you can notice?

There is no detectable odor; at least, not that we can tell. I'm not sure what Feliway claims in this regard. Tsu is hypersensitive to smells so I would expect her to notice if there was even a slight odor. There is also no doubt that Isaac loves it. He actually started sleeping on the floor right next to the outlet.

This is supposed to be effective for all sorts of behavior problems.
 
Last edited:
Come up with a product that works on teenagers and we'll have our first trillionaire. :biggrin:
 
Ivan Seeking said:
Come up with a product that works on teenagers and we'll have our first trillionaire. :biggrin:

You will just have to find solution to the "sleeping on the floor" part.
 
Last edited:
Ivan Seeking said:
Come up with a product that works on teenagers and we'll have our first trillionaire. :biggrin:

Borek said:
You will just have to find solution to the "sleeping on the floor" part.

LOL! :smile:

I guess there might be a difference between how it really works and how it's marketed too. That's one good thing about products aimed toward pets...they don't understand what the product is supposed to do, so aren't as susceptible to the placebo effect as with products aimed toward people. It's a lot more convincing when it works for a cat than a person.
 
Moonbear said:
LOL! :smile:

I guess there might be a difference between how it really works and how it's marketed too. That's one good thing about products aimed toward pets...they don't understand what the product is supposed to do, so aren't as susceptible to the placebo effect as with products aimed toward people. It's a lot more convincing when it works for a cat than a person.

So you are suggesting that with the proper psychological priming, this may work for teenagers? Brilliant!
 
Well, our problem child started spraying in the bedroom; at the opposite end of the house. We put another Feliway unit in the bedroom and the spraying stopped immediately.

We don't expect Isaac to last much longer, but we hate to have him put down before his time and this had to stop now.
 
  • #10
Poor Isaac, if he was in better health, I'd suggest neutering, thankfully that stops spraying.
 
  • #11
Evo said:
Poor Isaac, if he was in better health, I'd suggest neutering, thankfully that stops spraying.

He is neutered. We find that male cats will sometimes do this when they get old, and esp when they are sick. Einstein did the same thing when he got old. IIRC, Dirt II did as well [not sure which cat anymore].
 
  • #12
Ivan Seeking said:
He is neutered. We find that male cats will sometimes do this when they get old, and esp when they are sick. Einstein did the same thing when he got old. IIRC, Dirt II did as well [not sure which cat anymore].
You had a cat named Dirt II? :-p

Well, in tht case, I'm glad the diffuser works.
 
  • #13
Evo said:
You had a cat named Dirt II? :-p

Well, in tht case, I'm glad the diffuser works.

We had Dirt [1], Dirt II, and Dirt the Turd.
 
  • #14
Ivan Seeking said:
We had Dirt [1], Dirt II, and Dirt the Turd.
:smile:
 
  • #15
I guess I should clarify that when I said that Einstein sprayed in the house when he got old, I meant our cat, not Albert.
 

Similar threads

What have we done? Cats, 6; Tsu and Ivan, 2
  • · Replies 73 ·
3
Replies
73
Views
11K
Writing: Read Only What Does Great Lakes Earth Look Like from Space?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Stop Spoiling Your Kids: The Dangers of Instant Gratification
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
PF Fan Fiction: Mathematicians in Love
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 264)
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 266)
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K