Calm, only calm: sedatives with Feliway pheromones

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Stress, anxiety and aggression of a cat cause a lot of trouble for its owners, so sedatives for animals are always in demand. Many of them, however, have a number of contraindications, including not being suitable for small kittens. An interesting alternative to conventional sedatives are products with synthetic pheromones - safe substances that imitate the secretions of cat glands.

• 2 Indications for use
• 3 Release forms

  3.1 Feliway diffuser

  3.1.1 Reviews about the diffuser

• 3.1.2 Video: review of the Feliway diffuser

general information

Almost the entire body of a cat is covered with scent glands that produce pheromones. Biologically active substances help animals navigate in space. They need this smell to feel safe. That's why they mark.

There are different tags:

• On the muzzle there are glands that produce pheromone. These are “friendly” odorous substances. This is how the cat leaves a “pleasant” smell for itself, which means that everything is fine.
• Pheromones in urine are considered territorial. They are also called “aggressive”. A cat leaves marks not only out of instinct, to mark its territory. The cat marks when he is stressed and wants to calm down or is dissatisfied with the condition of the litter box. Also, a move or a new environment for a pet, at a time when it is accustomed to living among familiar smells, can also become a cause of uncleanliness.
• Cats don't just scratch furniture, they leave "territorial messages" and mark their territory.

And if an animal rubs its head on the leg of a chair or on the owner’s leg, then this is perceived with affection. And when it starts marking corners, door frames, and scratching wallpaper, it causes anger.

Cat features

Before considering the drug Feliway, you need to understand why these animals leave marks and what role pheromones play in their lives. It has long been noted that cats are territorial animals. It is in their nature to mark their habitat. For these purposes, they use visual marks, odors and pheromones. The latter are a natural chemical compound secreted by cats. Pheromones are very important in the communication of these animals with each other. They are also required when contacting people. For example, when a cat rubs its face against its owner, it is marking him, showing him that he is her property.

Description of the drug

The French company CEVA Sante Animale produces the following types of pheromones:

• “Friendly” aroma of Feliway Classic. If it is sprayed over the “aggressive” one, it helps to reduce or completely eliminate urine marks, scratching of furniture and wallpaper. Pheromone normalizes behavior and provides comfort at home.
• Feliway MultiCat – for cats living together. Helps to establish harmonious relationships, reduce conflicts and aggression between cats.
• Feliscratch is a product designed to accustom a cat to a scratching post and stop it from scratching furniture.

These products are used to correct the behavior of cats. They are not medicinal substances.

The composition contains a synthetic component Feliway - an analogue of cat pheromones. The drug does not contain tranquilizers or narcotic drugs. Non-toxic, odorless. Feliway does not affect people's well-being. Feliway pheromones have no side effects or contraindications.

Reviews

According to reviews, Feliway is effective, it is completely safe and easy to use. It allows you to quickly normalize your pet's behavior. Many pet owners are happy that they purchased Feliway for cats. Its analogues, of course, exist. In particular, you can call Help cat. But it is not as effective. Thanks to Feliway, many cat owners breathed a sigh of relief. After all, their pets stopped leaving marks, their health returned to normal.

Release form

Feliway Classic is available in several forms:

• Bottle (48 ml) with diffuser. Separately, spare bottles of the same volume are available for sale. The diffuser is designed for long-term exposure to the animal when behavior correction is necessary.
• Spray (60 ml). The spray is used to calm a cat in a certain short-term situation: moving, exhibition, visit to the veterinary clinic.
• Feliway napkins. Napkins are convenient for travel and when pheromones need to be distributed precisely.

Feliway Multiket are produced in diffusion form. Feliscratch is a blue liquid in a pipette dispenser.

Restrictions and security

A huge advantage of this sedative for cats is its safety. Pheromones do not affect the animal’s body, do not penetrate inside, they simply act as a signal for the animal, telling them that there is no need to worry or be afraid. The drug is odorless and has no effect on humans or other animals, since the pheromone system has strict species specificity and is simply not perceived by those for whom it is not intended.

Since the product does not have a systemic effect on the animal’s body, the manufacturer does not describe any restrictions for its simultaneous use with other products.

To preserve the properties of Feliway, it is necessary to store it correctly - in a place protected from light, separately from food products at a temperature of 20–25 degrees Celsius. The shelf life of the product is 4 years.

Action provided

The smell of the synthetic pheromone Feliway gives cats a signal that there is no reason to worry, this is cat territory.

The use of Feliway has the following effects on animals:

• stabilizes the emotional state of the animal, calms it down;
• suppresses the instinct of tagging;
• helps to adapt to changes in environment and living conditions;
• restores appetite lost due to stress;
• combats excessive licking.

The animal becomes playful and active. Feliway pheromones are often recommended by animal psychologists to correct uncleanliness.

Functions of pheromones

Facial gland pheromones perform many functions. They are responsible for the relationships of several animals, geographic orientation, normalization of the state, etc.

It is pheromones that give cats a feeling of security and calm, help them settle in and adapt. Any changes that occur in the animal's habitat cause them to panic, as their marks disappear. Therefore, they begin to actively mark the territory, fearing that other animals will lay claim to it. This is inherent in them by nature. That is why cats mark the home in which they live.

To avoid all this, there are many drugs specially designed for this purpose. One of them is Feliway for cats.

Indications for use

Feliway is recommended to many owners whose cats go to the toilet in the wrong place, damage furniture and wallpaper, and behave aggressively.

Pheromone Feliway Classic is recommended for use in the following cases:

• unscrupulous behavior;
• when moving to a new place of residence;
• after repairs and furniture changes;
• if you need to transfer your cat by car, train, plane;
• at shows, if the pet is nervous.

Feliway Multiket is suitable:

• if there are several cats or other animals in the house and they do not get along with each other;
• when a new member appears in the family.

Feliway Feliscratch is indicated for weaning a cat from scratching furniture, wallpaper, curtains and for accustoming a cat to a scratching machine.

However, a one-time use of a spray or a few hours of running a diffuser will not correct the problem. The speed with which the effect of therapy appears depends on the specific animal and problem. For some cats, results are noticeable within a week. In other cases, regular use is required to correct the animal's behavior.

When to use the product

The drug is used in a number of cases that are associated with stress in the cat. The medication is used in the following situations:

• if your pet has a habit of marking territory;
• when moving or rearranging furniture;
• if the animal has a tendency to damage interior items;
• when the cat becomes stressed during exhibitions, visiting a doctor or in other similar situations.

The medicine helps the animal adapt more easily to new people and pets, and prevents outbursts of aggression and fights with other pets. The drug makes it possible to wean a cat from the habit of asking to go outside. The animal becomes more attached to the territory, its behavior is balanced.

Feliway can prevent cats from damaging furniture

This medicine is a real salvation for many people who keep a large number of cats in one room. At the same time, the risk of one attacking another is reduced, since the pheromone has a positive effect on the animal’s nervous system, calming it and making it more affectionate.

Instructions for using the diffuser

The Feliway diffuser is used in the room where the cat marks or sharpens its claws. The diffuser is mains powered. The coverage area of ​​the device is 50-70 meters. One bottle is designed for 1 month of continuous use.

How to use the diffuser:

1. Remove the cap from the bottle.
2. Install into diffuser.
3. Plug the appliance into an outlet that is easily accessible.
4. After 4 weeks of use, replace the bottle.

The device must work continuously. As a result of heating, the substance evaporates and circulates in the air. Do not plug the diffuser into an outlet behind curtains, furniture, or doors. This will impair circulation.

When the cat's condition returns to normal, the owner may notice that the pet has again begun to rub its muzzle on objects. This means you can stop using Feliway or move the diffuser to another room. Usually cats stop marking gradually, so the drug is used for a month, in some cases more.

Special instructions: what to pay attention to?

A separately purchased bottle should be used only as directed.
Cat collars with pheromones and other similar cat calming products require knowledge of how to use correctly. A special electric diffuser is sold in the kit, which should not be replaced with any other, since then the properties of the solution may be lost. If the owners purchased drops in a bottle, then they should not use it in any other way without a special electrical device.

The spray or solution must be stored in a dry room out of direct sunlight. It is recommended to store the product in a place where children and pets cannot reach it. The combined storage of Feliway solution with food and cat food is also not allowed, since if it enters the body of a cat or a person, symptoms of poisoning may appear. Before use, it is recommended to read the instructions for use to avoid unpleasant consequences.

Analogues of the drug

Other pet product manufacturers also have pheromones for cats:

• Anti-scratches (made in Russia) - like Feliway, are available in the form of a bottle with liquid and a fumigator.
• Comfort zone – spray for comfort zone and scratch control.
• CatComfort spray and diffuser from Beafar.

An alternative to liquid substances are collars with pheromones.

Collar options:

• Felisept Home Comfort Beeztees;
• Relaxivet No Stress;
• Beaphar No Stress Collar;
• Sentry Calming Collar.

The collar is convenient when there are several cats in the house, but you only need to correct the behavior of one, and also when traveling. The collars last for a month.

Site Expert

Alexandra Maksimovna Palagina

Education: Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology named after. K.I. Scriabin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, specialty – veterinarian

Ask a Question

In what cases can Feliway Multicat not help?

Feliway Multicat is designed to eliminate tension and conflicts between several cats living in an apartment.

And if the pet is aggressive towards humans, then this remedy will be useless, and its owner will have to seek help from a veterinarian or a specialist who corrects the behavior of pets.

Veterinarian's opinion

Konstantin Semenovich

I think Feliway is an excellent tool for normalizing the behavior of pets in various stressful situations - during trips, exhibitions or the appearance of strangers in the apartment. You can safely use even a spray, even a diffuser, even a collar - all products of this brand are absolutely safe for the health of the animal. When using these remedies, the cat’s emotional state quickly returns to normal, its appetite and desire to play returns. As a specialist, I recommend using Feliway.