USING FELIWAYTM

Feliway is a product that contains a synthetic version of a chemical produced by glands on a cat’s face. This gland is one of several around the cat’s body which produce chemical scent signals which are used in communications between cats. These are called pheromones, and the particular pheromone reproduced in Feliway  is one that cats associate with comfort. It is the scent that is deposited when a cat rubs its face on objects around the house, and which makes the cat feel happy.

The practical theory behind the use of this product is that cats will very rarely spray over the top of a facial rub mark - as the two signals mean different things to the cat. Therefore, by applying a synthetic version of the face-rub pheromone, it is thought that this will discourage the cat form needing to spray.

Feliway is most effective when used carefully after thorough cleaning with appropriate agents.  If the spray mark is not adequately cleaned off before Feliway  is applied, the cat will still smell the underlying scent mark, and it is likely to continue over-marking it. Hence, the following cleaning and application routine is recommended for the maximum effect of Feliway.

1. Clean the affected area with warm water and biological washing powder, or a proprietary enzymatic cleanser from your veterinary surgeon. If you need to clean carpets or soft furnishings, please check they are colour fast before starting to scrub. Rinse thoroughly. (Do not use any other type of cleaners, as the majority of these have an ammonia base - ammonia is the main constituent of cat urine and so your cat will feel the need to mark it again with his own scent thus perpetuating the problem further)
2. Allow to dry.
3. On smooth surfaces wipe over with surgical spirit.
4. Allow to dry.  This is important, because if you apply the Feliway before surgical spirit is dry, some of the essential chemicals in the product could be broken down, decreasing its effectiveness.
5. Apply Feliway according to the instructions on the product.