Pheromones are extremely widespread in the animal kingdom and are used to communicate between members of the same species. The pheromones emitted by one individual can affect and change the behaviour of other individuals of the same species. Examples of pheromones with which pet owners will already be familiar are the sex pheromones of dogs and cats. In addition to making the bitch or queen more attractive to the male when they are in season, they can also influence territorial marking, aggression, etc...
The Feliway® Diffuser device is made in the EC to comply with British Standard BS 60335. Similar devices are widely used across Europe for plug-in air fresheners, mosquito coils, etc.
The pheromones in Feliway® are synthetic copies of the familiarisation facial pheromones that cats use to mark objects in their environment. As pheromones are species-specific, feline pheromones will have no effect on humans. The actual concentration of pheromone in the air at any one time is tiny.
It depends of the nature and the extent of the problem for which you are using Feliway®. Some cats would show signs of improvement in less than a week. In any case, we advise to continue using Feliway® for at least a month, before assessing its effectiveness.
First of all, you should give at least a month before you conclude that it is not working. Some cases take longer to respond. Then the following points should be checked: all marked areas (urine or scratches) and all prominent objects along the cat’s pathway have been treated once a day for 4 weeks. With the diffuser, check that it has been plugged in a place where it could diffuse without restrictions and it has been left switched on 24 hours a day for 4 weeks.
In addition to the pheromone content, Feliway® contains a paraffin-type mineral oil of a kind common to other air freshener devices. We are not aware of specific problems for asthma sufferers from such devices, however if you consider yourself to be particularly sensitive, or have had problems when using similar devices in the past, then we advise you to use the device only after consulting with your GP.
The Feliway® diffuser device is made in the EC to comply with British Standard BS 60335. The device is widely used across Europe for plug-in air fresheners, mosquito coils, etc. New diffusers may smell slightly when first switched on, just as an electrical heater might when dust has collected on it. Diffusers in a very dusty environment may smell more persistently. Be sure that a dog or cat has not urinated or sprayed onto the device.
The Feliway® Diffuser should be plugged in the room most affected by the marking behaviour. If Feliway® is used for another behavioural problem the diffuser should be plugged in the room where the cat spends most of its time during the day. It is recommended to use a diffuser for an area of 50 to 70 sq. m. - including the rooms which the cat has access to. The diffuser should not be covered and should not be placed behind a door or underneath furniture.
Oil vapour (carrying the pheromones) will rise in a column of warm air above the device. If this rising air is blocked (e.g. under a shelf, table, cabinet, etc) the oil may re-condense and leave a visible mark. Circulation of pheromone will be impaired.
Some devices will run for a little longer than the 4 weeks due to differences in location, air turnover, etc so you may get slightly more than 4 weeks. But remember that the device will never empty completely as the last few millilitres of liquid are not sufficiently in contact with the wick.
Slight variations will occur depending on air turnover. Check that the wick is not broken (should extend from the bottom of the liquid to a level flush with the top of the heated ceramic plate). Check the device is turned on all the time. Finally, try the device in a different electrical socket.
No – the diffuser should be left on continuously day and night. Efficacy was demonstrated in clinical trials with no interrupted use of the diffuser which allows the cat to perceive consistently the pheromone’s signal.