Feliway?

[Tambrey]

Has anyone ever heard of or used this product?

http://www.feliway.com/

It is a pheremone s[ray taht is supposed to help reduce stress or to help with cats that spray or urinate in places other than the litter box...

I am curious about if it really works before I spend the amount of money on it...

but I do have a cat who insists on using the kitchen floor rather than one of the many litter boxes placed throughout the house...she is extremely picky and will not use a litter box if another cat has used it...and of course, I cannot tell the others that this box is Callie's and to not use it!!

[Cleo]

I haven't used it but after going through the website I was thinking it might help with my situation here. My 4 year old resident Keeks is not happy at all with the addition of Gwen and her 4 kittens; neither is my 3 year old resident Molly. To help with the stress the vet gave me Cyproheptadine HCl which I found out was just an antihistamine. Maybe this is used for other situations but I didn't think it would do any good here.

Anyway I was at the pet store tonight and they had the Feliway plug ins. I asked the manager there about them and he said they work but would work on everyone, not just the one or two specifically. He steered me towards something called Pet Calm by Richard's Organics that treats anxiety & stress. The active ingredients read Valerian, Chamomile, Hops, Passion Flower and Scull Cap. This is the same stuff although different dosages I'm sure in supplements for sleep aid that I see at the vitamin shop. I haven't given it to anyone yet and hope someone here can give me their opinion.

Cleo

[Tambrey]

hhmmm....I am not so sure I would want to give them to my pets...their bodies are so different than ours as far as processing the chemicals within those plant extracts and tinctures.
I know i take Valarian and Passiflora (PassionFlower) combo for relaxation and pain management when I get injured...
But then, Horticulture and Using Natural remedies is something that interests me and I have studied alot...but as I said, I am not sure I would give them to my animals with their different makeups...

[Traci]

Cleo, you know my opinion on that stuff Herbs, flower essences, homepathics, whatever, essentially useless. Flower essences for example, probably contain alcohol which would be the only active ingredient so naturally, there would be an effect to alcohol, but do you want to give it to your cats? There are not enough established studies or research for herb use in pets, and "natural" is not always better..considering that many "natural" herbs and plants are toxic before they are even adulterated into pharmaceuticals. See Task Force for Veterinary Science...a good place to start researching pseudoscience.

I think the best calming measures start in the environment, reducing the stresses for the cats, and finding what works for them and you, without the need for drugs or unregulated substances.

[Cleo]

Cleo, you know my opinion on that stuff

Of course I do; why do you think I didn't contact you directly to ask ?? I haven't opened it and will probably take it back.

I think the best calming measures start in the environment, reducing the stresses for the cats, and finding what works for them and you, without the need for drugs or unregulated substances.

I know but I don't even know where to start. Space is limited here but what I've been doing the second half of the night is taking Keeks & Molly in the bedroom with me and closing the door. Gwen and the kittens fuss for a while outside the door but eventually stop. I think it's helped some because Molly has been snuggly with me at this time which she hasn't been since Gwen and the kittens came here. As far as Keeks goes, nothing is going to do it for her. She wants them all gone and gone fast.

Traci, I'll be sending you off an email later tonight or tomorrow to fill you in on something. Thanks for the input on the herbs - they're gone as an option as well as the Cyproheptadine.

Cleo