Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > General Forum for cats and dogs

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old May 6th, 2009, 03:39 PM
luvsmallfurries's Avatar
luvsmallfurries luvsmallfurries is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 111
Felliway

Hi;

Does anyone know if the cat calming products in the pet stores are effective?
I'm working on integrating a new cat into my household (see complete story at http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=62347). I have two other cats who have gotten along together just fine for years but with the new cat in the house there are some problems. So far I've been cycling between giving all of them supervised free access and isolating the new cat in the bedroom for a couple of hours every evening. There are still some serious tensions between the three of them - hissing, growling and at least one significant fight.

Most disturbing is that the relationship between my two resident cats has suffered. They are hissing and growling and basically upsetting each other. Also, my younger boy does not want to come out from under the bed. I can coax him out with a treat and he'll stay in the living room if I put him there but he's always been little mister friendly and I'm getting worried that the stress of having the new cat, and the aggression, will affect him permanently.

The pet store I frequent has a product, a plug in device like a room freshener, and the label says "contains felliway". My specific question is whether this is the felliway product that's been mentioned in several other threads or if there is something more appropriate that might be available only through the vet?

Other than that, I'm open to any suggestions about relieving some of the aggression and tension. I don't want to continue having to isolate everyone all the time - it's not fair to the two who have been with me for all these years. Fortunately, if I can't make this work - the newer cat's previous home is willing to take her back.....it's just not an ideal situation for her. She won't be abandoned at any rate!
__________________
Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it.
You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

"The Kids"
~Corkie - Tuxedo, at the bridge (probably hogging the sunbeam)
~Sparks - Calico, 15 yrs
~Jollip - Senegal Parrot, 13 yrs
~Yeti - Himalayan, 12 yrs
~Pepin - Silver Martin/Dwarf Rabbit, 8 yrs
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old May 6th, 2009, 04:41 PM
sugarcatmom's Avatar
sugarcatmom sugarcatmom is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 5,357
Quote:
Originally Posted by luvsmallfurries View Post
The pet store I frequent has a product, a plug in device like a room freshener, and the label says "contains felliway". My specific question is whether this is the felliway product that's been mentioned in several other threads or if there is something more appropriate that might be available only through the vet?
Does it say "Comfort Zone with Feliway"? That would be the one you're looking for. It has a couple different packaging designs, one that's mostly purple and looks like this: http://www.feliway.com/gb and another that's a bright fuscia colour and looks like this: http://catfaeries.com/feliway.html They're both the same product.

Feliway may or may not work, depends on just how escalated the tensions are and how receptive your cats are to the pheromones. It's certainly worth a shot and even if it doesn't work for ALL the cats, it may at least help one or 2 of them to feel more at ease. My vet has Feliway diffusers in all her exam rooms and I've definitely noticed a difference in my cat's stress levels since she started using them. Supposedly it has an effect on about 60% of cats.
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb

“We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old May 6th, 2009, 05:04 PM
luvsmallfurries's Avatar
luvsmallfurries luvsmallfurries is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 111
Quote:
Does it say "Comfort Zone with Feliway"? That would be the one you're looking for. It has a couple different packaging designs, one that's mostly purple and looks like this: http://www.feliway.com/gb and another that's a bright fuscia colour and looks like this: http://catfaeries.com/feliway.html They're both the same product.
No - didn't look like that either of those - was all bubble wrapped and was called Kitty Comfort or some such thing - what I was hesitating about was the "contains Feliway" description - it didn't say what ELSE it might contain! But, I did just get a call back from one of the vets in the neighbourhood where I work and they have the Feliway in the purple box in stock (your first link) - so I'm off to speak with them about it.

I know the Feliway is not a guaranteed solution.....and I know that a successful integration can take weeks or even months. At this point I'd just like to get to "I don't like it, but I'll stay in the same room without complaining too loudly" and we can all can work toward "come on, let's play!" It just breaks my heart to see my little guy hiding away like that...:sad:

Quote:
Supposedly it has an effect on about 60% of cats.
Now I'm sort of curious if it's the same 60% that are affected by catnip ??

Thanks for the help!
__________________
Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it.
You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

"The Kids"
~Corkie - Tuxedo, at the bridge (probably hogging the sunbeam)
~Sparks - Calico, 15 yrs
~Jollip - Senegal Parrot, 13 yrs
~Yeti - Himalayan, 12 yrs
~Pepin - Silver Martin/Dwarf Rabbit, 8 yrs
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old May 6th, 2009, 05:13 PM
Winston's Avatar
Winston Winston is offline
Mom of 3 precious Angels
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hamilton Ontario
Posts: 7,300
SCM is right there are 2 different ones. The ones you buy at the vet are very expensive and they are the right ones. I buy mine online from the US and have them shipped via the mailman. Its great. I can forward you the location that I get them from. I understand the issue with them not being allowed in Canada is because they are like your Glade Plugins and the Diffuser / Plug in is not CSA approved.

The ones at the pet stores are not the same for some reason.

Oh and the reason I am using it is because mt little princess kitty Tabitha likes to pee on the dogs bed and only is bed! Now she doesnt do it anymore so it works for me. I know many it has worked for and a few on here have said it didnt work so I guess you wont knoe till you try it. The concept makes sense to me now but I had never heard of them before..

Good Luck
__________________
Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013
Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010
Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011
Sophie Aug 30, 2011

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old May 6th, 2009, 07:20 PM
sugarcatmom's Avatar
sugarcatmom sugarcatmom is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 5,357
Quote:
Originally Posted by luvsmallfurries View Post
No - didn't look like that either of those - was all bubble wrapped and was called Kitty Comfort or some such thing - what I was hesitating about was the "contains Feliway" description - it didn't say what ELSE it might contain!
Ya, sounds dubious at best. "Feliway" is the proprietary formula of a company in France called Ceva Sante Animale. I question the legitimacy (and legality) of this other company using the Feliway name.
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb

“We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old May 6th, 2009, 09:10 PM
luvsmallfurries's Avatar
luvsmallfurries luvsmallfurries is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 111
Quote:
Originally Posted by sugarcatmom View Post
Ya, sounds dubious at best. "Feliway" is the proprietary formula of a company in France called Ceva Sante Animale. I question the legitimacy (and legality) of this other company using the Feliway name.
Next time I'm in for food I'll have another look at it.....now I'm kind of curious. If it's not above board I'll mention it to the shop owner.

I did get over to the animal hospital near my office and I got some "real" Feliway - the purple box, made by CEVA......the vet was very informative and suggested a few other techniques as well. I got the atomizer and the pump spray so I'm happily dousing everything tonight!

I'm also going back to square 1 for a few days. No visuals - just scents.
__________________
Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it.
You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

"The Kids"
~Corkie - Tuxedo, at the bridge (probably hogging the sunbeam)
~Sparks - Calico, 15 yrs
~Jollip - Senegal Parrot, 13 yrs
~Yeti - Himalayan, 12 yrs
~Pepin - Silver Martin/Dwarf Rabbit, 8 yrs
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old May 7th, 2009, 08:04 AM
Jim Hall Jim Hall is offline
Kitty pimp
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: paterson new jersey
Posts: 4,788
try this if you can get lavender sachets or lavender soap pet the cats after washing with it give it time too like 6 weeks it can be crazy sometimes i assume htey are all neutered?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old May 8th, 2009, 12:49 PM
luvsmallfurries's Avatar
luvsmallfurries luvsmallfurries is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 111
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Hall View Post
try this if you can get lavender sachets or lavender soap pet the cats after washing with it give it time too like 6 weeks it can be crazy sometimes i assume htey are all neutered?
Yes - all spayed and/or neutered. Lavender? I know it's used homeopathically for relaxation for people - works on cats too? I have some lavender spray I use on my pillows at night so I'll try making a sachet like you suggested.

I'm prepared to go the distance - however many weeks - until I either see some kind of acceptance or it becomes evident that she's just not going to fit in. Aside from the Feliway I've gone back to square 1 with introductions - no visuals, just scents for another week or so. They were sort of reluctantly accepting each others presence for a while but then there was a physical scrap and it went back to regular showdowns.....

Hopefully we get more steps forward than we get steps back and we all get there eventually!
__________________
Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it.
You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

"The Kids"
~Corkie - Tuxedo, at the bridge (probably hogging the sunbeam)
~Sparks - Calico, 15 yrs
~Jollip - Senegal Parrot, 13 yrs
~Yeti - Himalayan, 12 yrs
~Pepin - Silver Martin/Dwarf Rabbit, 8 yrs
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old May 8th, 2009, 02:10 PM
Jim Hall Jim Hall is offline
Kitty pimp
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: paterson new jersey
Posts: 4,788
also if you can find some fresh catnip and have them nibble it that can also have a calming effect belive it or not another scent that calkms cats is green tea had a kit that used to nurse a sheet moistened with green tea
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old May 16th, 2009, 09:44 AM
luvsmallfurries's Avatar
luvsmallfurries luvsmallfurries is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 111
Well - after 4 full weeks of trying and trying we had to make the difficult decision to let Max go back to her previous home.

This was just not going to work out. Max settled in here with no issues for herself - found the food to her liking, improved litter box habits, no howling at the door despite being free roam at her previous home, etc. Unfortunately my other two, Yeti and Sparks, didn't have such an easy go of it. The more comfortable Max got being here, the more aggressive and dominant she got. The other two just did not defend their positions in the household and were consequently being terrorized by the end of last week. Max was getting pretty vicious with her attacks and there were some very minor injuries - scratches and bald patches - and some pretty serious psychological effects. Nothing I was able to do could distract her once she decided she wanted some action and we had a couple of sleepless nights - me in the bedroom with the originals and the husband on the couch with Max. Yeti and Sparks took to the underside of the bed and would not come out for love, money, extra special "I'll do magic tricks for them" treats - nothing. I worked pretty closely (daily) with the vet for the last week and nothing was going to persuade Max to let up on the aggression so he suggested two final options: anti-anxiety meds for all of them (possibly on a permanent basis ) - or send Max home.

I'm not prepared to dose any animal with any medication unnecessarily so we made the call and Max was happily welcomed back. She basically marched back in like she'd never been away! My friend is reporting however that Max seems to be slightly better behaved having spent a month away! She's convinced Max has learned a lesson and knows she may have to go away again if she doesn't behave! She's still picking on the other pets there but they are being a bit more certain about their defence and Max is backing down. She's delighted with the change in litter box habits (Max was peeing on things and had really bad stinkies)! I recommended the litter I use and the food, and my friend is making those changes to keep Max happier.

Yeti and Sparks don't seem to have any lasting damage thank goodness. They have come out from under the bed - are eating and using their litter boxes normally and have 'remarked' every surface in the house (twice!) so no harm done and lesson learned. I think we'll stick with the two for now.

Thanks to all of you for all the great support, wishes and advice - I guess it was just not meant to be. Silver lining - I can go visit her anytime I want!
__________________
Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it.
You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

"The Kids"
~Corkie - Tuxedo, at the bridge (probably hogging the sunbeam)
~Sparks - Calico, 15 yrs
~Jollip - Senegal Parrot, 13 yrs
~Yeti - Himalayan, 12 yrs
~Pepin - Silver Martin/Dwarf Rabbit, 8 yrs
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:46 AM.