Cats receive information and respond to other cats and species through natural pheromones that they release. Pheromones can have a big impact on your cat’s emotions and behaviors and are a powerful tool that can help anxious or stressed cats. Therefore, companies have created synthetic pheromones to send positive messages to cats, which can help them adjust to change and feel more comfortable in new environments.
We’re going to discuss two brands that have several cat pheromone products on the market to determine which one might be better for you and your cat. We’re also going to discuss the various products and let you in on a few of our favorites.
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Best Overall
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Feliway Optimum |
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CHECK PRICE |
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Feliway Help! |
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CHECK PRICE |
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Feliway Classic Spray |
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CHECK PRICE |
What Are Cat Pheromone Sprays?
Cats communicate through different chemical pheromones, which are released from glands around their heads and bodies. They leave behind pheromones by rubbing, scratching, and bumping their head, claws, or bodies on objects, other cats, and even their owners. They may even spray urine to mark their territory. Cats also receive information through another cat’s pheromones, which may tell them about the cat’s identity, signal stress, call for sexual partners, and create familiarity.
Pheromones have the ability to influence a cat’s behavior, emotions, and interactions, which is why synthetic cat pheromones have been created—to send calming messages to cats that may struggle with anxiety or stress. These products are so effective that up to 95% of cats respond to them. They are drug-free and safe for your cat.
Comfort Zone vs. Feliway
Comfort Zone and Feliway are two popular brands that sell cat pheromone products in the form of diffusers and sprays. Comfort Zone offers a little more variety and sells calming collars, too, which Feliway does not.
Diffusers are effective for long-term use as they must be plugged in continuously. They also cover larger areas in your home but need to be refilled because they run out after 30 days. The sprays are the portable version of the diffusers that you can take along when you are traveling or at the veterinarian for a checkup. Both brands sell their products online and in local pet stores, so they’re accessible and easy to find.
Feliway is better known for its pheromone diffusers, and countless customers have left reviews on its sites to back it up, proving its popularity and success. Their diffusers cover a wider range than Comfort Zone diffusers and work well for most cats. They’re recommended by veterinarians and are clinically proven, as they did most of the original research in the field.
Comfort Zone isn’t as popular as Feliway but is well-known, nonetheless. Their products are more affordable and don’t need to be replaced as often as some Feliway products. They also use a higher concentration of man-made pheromones in their products than Feliway, but they don’t work for all cats and don’t cover as wide of an area, meaning you may need to buy several diffusers for them to be effective in larger homes.
Between the two brands, Feliway comes out on top for effectiveness as most cats respond well to their products, whereas this isn’t as commonly the case with Comfort Zone. Feliway also has many reviews from true customers for cat owners to look through to get good, honest feedback before purchasing their own products.
However, Comfort Zone is the more affordable option between the two, and their diffusers last longer than Feliway’s. However, it covers a smaller area, so you may need to buy several diffusers for it to cover your whole home.
Feliway Classic vs. Optimum
Cats are creatures of habit, and when change inevitably comes, they can become very anxious and stressed, which can cause them to be irritable and even show signs of aggression. Moving homes, replacing the furniture in your home, having visitors stay over, or welcoming a new baby into the home are all changes that can feel overwhelming for your cat.
Feliway Classic is available as both a diffuser and a spray. It was Feliway’s first cat pheromone product and is still popular and effective today. It combats unwanted behaviors such as urine spraying, scratching, and hiding due to stress. However, it should never be sprayed onto your cat; it should only be sprayed on objects.
The spray is a great option to use in your cat’s carrier when they need to go to the vet or leave their home. You can also spray it around your cat’s litterbox to encourage them to use it and not urinate elsewhere. Both the diffuser and spray can be used in this situation. It is also a lifesaver when you move or encounter other changes in your home, as it will help your cat adjust and feel comfortable.
Feliway Optimum is only available as a diffuser, but it is a new, more powerful pheromone complex that has even better results amongst cats. It is effective in preventing even more unwanted behaviors than Feliway Classic and supports problems such as urine spraying, scratching, hiding, fighting, poor appetite, and overgrooming in stressed or anxious cats.
You can use Feliway Optimum and Feliway Classic for the same situations, such as moving homes or preparing for visitors or a new baby, as well as any routine changes that may upset your cat.
Feliway Optimum helps cats with more signs of stress and is more effective than Feliway Classic, but Feliway Classic is also available in spray form and can be used on the go, whereas Feliway Optimum cannot.
The Difference Between Feliway and Feliway Multicat
Feliway is a solution for cats with anxiety or stress because the synthetic pheromones send out messages that make cats feel safe and happy. However, Feliway Multicat was created to mimic the Cat Appeasing Pheromone, which, naturally, is secreted by mother cats. This pheromone helps kittens bond with their mother and helps the littermates get along, which reduces conflict and tension.
Unlike the original Feliway, which was designed to help individual cats, Feliway Multicat was designed for multicat households, where the cats are aggressive towards each other and often fight each other. This synthetic Cat Appeasing Pheromone helps cats bond and live in harmony with each other, so it can also be used when introducing a new cat to the home.
Does Feliway Work?
Feliway is clinically proven and recommended by veterinarians. It has been on the market for a number of years and is highly popular amongst cat owners with anxious or stressed cats as well as multicat homes.
There isn’t a lot of research to support Feliway, and most of the research that has been done has been conducted by the company that makes Feliway products. In this case, it is best to turn to the countless reviews left by cat owners who have tried and tested these products.
So, does Feliway work? Well, no product is going to have a 100% success rate, and some cats may not respond to it at all. However, Feliway products have been used by over 14 million cats, and the overwhelming majority of cat owners claim that they have made a noticeable difference in their cats’ behavior, which is why this product is as popular as it is.
Our Top 3 Picks
Feliway has several products that can be used for specific situations; below are our top three picks.
1. Feliway Optimum
Feliway Optimum is recommended for cats who are having a hard time adjusting to change. It also helps aggressive cats live in harmony together. It is the newest innovation in the range and reduces the most signs of stress in cats. It has over 5,000 positive reviews and a satisfaction rating of 9.1 out of 10.
2. Feliway Help!
Feliway Help! is recommended for short periods of stressful situations for your cat, such as when you have to sleep out for a night and leave your cat alone with food and water. It works for seven days and should be plugged in 1–2 days before any stressful situation.
3. Feliway Classic Spray
Feliway Classic Spray works almost immediately and is compact and easy to use when you are traveling. If you’re taking your cat on a long journey, it can be sprayed on your cat’s carrier every 4 to 5 hours. It can also be used on areas where your cat has urinated to deter them from marking the area again.
If you have any additional questions about pheromone sprays and whether they are right for your cat, contact a vet.
If you have a question about your cat's health or behavior, why not Ask a Vet for Free with Catster. Our veterinary team answers reader questions and provides trusted advice to help you better understand your cat.
Conclusion
Although there are several cat pheromone sprays on the market, we recommend Feliway. They have mimicked various cat pheromones to communicate messages of happiness and safety to stressed cats. They have various products designed for specific situations and behaviors caused by stress.
Their most popular products are their diffusers that can be plugged in to run continuously for 30 days, as well as their spray that is easy to carry around when traveling.
Featured Image Credit: Vaillery, Shutterstock
What Are Cat Pheromone Sprays?
