Final Up to date on
Right here’s the brief reply: Feliway could assist, but it surely doesn’t have the 9 out of 10 success fee the bundle guarantees.
After years of accepting Feliway as a tried-and-true answer for feline stress and nervousness, I lastly determined to sit down down and do the analysis for myself. I wished to know if this artificial pheromone product truly works and, if it does work, precisely what it does and the way far its advantages go.
Hold studying to seek out out what I discovered.
Fast Navigation
Disclaimer: A number of the merchandise really helpful on this submit have affiliate hyperlinks. In case you make a purchase order by means of these hyperlinks, we’ll obtain a small fee, but it surely received’t value you any further. Thanks!
Feliway is all about pheromones.
Pheromones are chemical messengers secreted by virtually each sort of creature on the planet. Salamanders have them. Mice, moths, fish, and canines have them. Folks most likely have them, too. And most significantly, cats have them.
Cats secrete a number of forms of pheromones from 9 totally different glands positioned throughout their our bodies. So far as people can inform, these pheromones ship one in every of two messages: “we’re pals” and “that is my territory”.
In case you can harness the facility of pheromones, you’ve the facility to affect your cat’s emotional state—virtually by magic.
That’s the thought of Feliway.
There are three forms of Feliway, every mimicking totally different feline pheromones. The inventor of Feliway, a veterinary physician and professor named Patrick Pageat, says the formula is an “actual copy of the pure messages launched by the cat”.
In principle, by replicating these pure messages, Feliway can resolve problematic behaviors and soothe nervousness. Whereas a cat would possibly in any other case really feel the necessity to spray or scratch to mark his territory, the artificial pheromones do it for him. The identical applies to emphasize—the artificial pheromones could assist to sign that the provider or new house is a secure atmosphere.
Right here’s an inventory of all of the issues Feliway claims to do:
Word: These are Amazon affiliate product hyperlinks. In case you make a purchase order by means of our hyperlinks, we’ll obtain a small fee. Thanks!
- Feliway Classic sends “blissful messages”, which supposedly present calming and luxury to cut back urinary spraying, scratching, and hiding.
- Feliway Multicat mimics the bonding pheromones launched between mom cats and their kittens, serving to to make sure concord in a number of cat houses.
- Feliscratch by Feliway sends “territory messages”, which redirects scratching conduct and encourages your cat to dig their claws right into a submit or scratching pad.
With so many veterinarians recommending it, so many individuals counting on it, and its use so widespread, I initially assumed that Feliway was as trusted and credible as vitamin C. You most likely felt the identical method.
However after doing extra analysis, I spotted that whereas its outcomes are promising, they’re not almost as constant as they initially seem.
Actually, again in 2010, JAVMA revealed a scientific evaluate of the pheromone research executed between January 1998 and December of 2008. After taking a look at fourteen research of pheromones on canines and cats, the evaluate concluded that not one of the seven cat research gave convincing proof that artificial pheromones right “undesirable conduct”.
Wait, seven out of seven research didn’t exhibit that Feliway works? How is that doable?
If it or equal merchandise failed in seven out of seven assessments, why does Feliway declare that their merchandise are “clinically confirmed” to work?
As a result of they’ve been.
Kinda.
Some research have, certainly, concluded that Feliway’s artificial pheromones are efficient.
To your examination, this Ceva-funded study in 1999. The research concerned 34 cats, all of which had a spraying downside on the time. After they obtained a full bodily examination, it turned out that the cats had urinary well being issues, together with crystals, medical situations involving the urinary tract, and cystitis. Stress could cause or exacerbate these issues, so it’s cheap to assume {that a} stress-relieving product may assist resolve the underlying challenge and cut back spraying.
Although the take a look at began with 34 cats, solely 22 of them—from 19 households—returned full knowledge. Fourteen of these nineteen households reported that their cats have been spraying much less. A 74% success fee. However there’s a major downside with these outcomes.
There was no management group. We now have no thought if the cats would have recovered by that point anyway. This research is one in every of a number of that had promising outcomes however have been executed with out management teams.
One other study performed in Japan discovered that after exposing spray-prone cats to an artificial pheromone product for 4 weeks, urine marking was lowered from a imply 14.2 occasions per week to 4.2 occasions per week, with 37% of cats not spraying in any respect by the top of the take a look at.
The summary concludes that “these outcomes counsel that this pheromone therapy is as efficient in Japan as has been reported in different nations for fixing feline urine marking issues”. Actually? The query isn’t whether or not or not it really works in Japan. The query is that if it really works in any respect. And and not using a management group, this research doesn’t convey us a lot nearer to answering that query.
Just a few better-controlled research have additionally proven constructive outcomes.
For instance, a controlled study in 2013 confirmed {that a} scratching submit handled with an artificial model of feline paw pheromones obtained extra claw time than an untreated submit.
In 2015, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled research confirmed that cats appeared much less pressured on the vet after they have been uncovered to Feliway spray on the examination desk. Although their homeowners mentioned they appeared much less pressured, the cats have been simply as tough to deal with when uncovered to Feliway as an alternative of a placebo spray.
However…another 2015 study confirmed no distinction in a number of stress parameters between cats utilizing a placebo and feline facial pheromones. Whether or not at house or on the vet, utilizing a pheromone product didn’t change respiration fee, coronary heart fee, coronary heart fee variability, blood strain, or seen misery.
In different phrases, the outcomes are blended, however they appear to skew in the direction of average efficacy.
After I checked out twelve research on the efficacy of feline pheromone merchandise, eight of these research confirmed promising outcomes.
So after we’re wanting on the research as an entire, about 66% of them confirmed some advantages. However these weren’t 100% success charges and the measures of success are inconsistent. After reviewing the analysis, it seems that Feliway reveals some promise, but it surely’s not persistently efficient.
Anecdotally, Feliway seems to work comparatively persistently in each house and veterinary settings. However don’t underestimate the facility of placebo. It’s extremely straightforward to undertaking our beliefs on our cats, particularly after we’re evaluating signs of one thing as delicate as stress.
It may not assist, however hey—it could actually’t damage to strive….proper?
Perhaps you’re considering “however I’ve used it and it undoubtedly works!” or “don’t bash it ‘til you’ve tried it” and even “however what about the entire constructive evaluations from actual folks?”
You’re proper. There’s no arguing that Feliway will help.
Even when the advantages of Feliway are pure placebo in 50% of circumstances, that placebo impact is perhaps sufficient to yield some actual outcomes. A guardian’s stress itself may have an effect on a cat’s nervousness. A placebo-placated human simply is perhaps one of the best stress answer for some cats.
And if you’re determined for one thing to cease inappropriate urination, scratching, and different stress-induced behaviors, even a product as inconsistent as Feliway appears to be like like a superb answer. In case you’ll spend $10 on a bottle of water that smells like flowers, chances are you’ll as effectively give Feliway a strive, proper?
Positive. And it’ll most likely work higher than flower water.
However earlier than you drop $32.43 on a diffuser package that does not do what the label implies—there isn’t any constant proof that Feliway will cut back stress-related behaviors in 9 out of 10 cats—think about options that don’t value a cent.
Give your cat house. Be sure that your cat has locations the place he can cover, stretch, and sleep with out being disturbed. A bit elevated territory—assume a delegated windowsill, shelf, or cat tree—can be a superb addition to the house.
Contemplate the hygiene of your cat’s areas as effectively. Is his litter field cleaned day by day? In case you have a number of cats, do all of them have their very own litter bins? Is there loads of house between your cat’s meals and his bathroom?
Lastly, set up a wholesome routine. Your cat isn’t a human. He doesn’t comply with a human clock. The suitable every day routine honors your cat’s wants as a carnivorous predator. It entails immediate feeding, common playtime, and consistency from daily.
When you’ve executed all you’ll be able to to make your own home a cat-friendly house, think about investing in Feliway.
References:
