Cat pheromone products are becoming increasingly popular, and are marketed for all sorts of feline unwanted behaviors, from scratching furniture to urine spraying and even aggression. To avoid leaking and risk of fire, diffusers must be upright, with the vents facing up. Conveniently, the Feliway’s electrical prongs rotate to accommodate horizontal outlets. Another feature that caught my eye was a green light indicating it was on. Personally, I liked this detail, but some found it too bright. They can be helpful in a variety of situations to help your cat feel calmer, more in harmony with other pets, and secure in their own environment. There is some evidence that they are useful in modifying behavior, but are best used as part of a wider behavioral plan for more severe cases of feline stress.

Synthetic cat pheromones can take a few different forms. The type that’s best for you will depend on how you plan to use it. For instance, consider whether your cat needs 24/7 nerve control, or her stress is more situational. Also, consider whether you’re trying to reduce general stress, or if you need to calm inter-cat tensions and fighting. Remember it is important to find the cause of any signs of stress in your cat. We’d always recommend visiting your vet if their behaviour suddenly changes. It also offers slightly more coverage—750 square feet vs. the usual 650-700. However, like the other diffusers, this is based on an open floor plan and will only be effective in one room. Another bonus: bSerene vials are said to last longer than most other diffusers. According to the company, each refill should last about 45 days, considerably longer than the typical 30-day use. Pheromone communication is complicated—feline facial pheromones alone contain more than 35 different chemicals! Cats in multi-cat households are more prone to stress, which can lead to unwanted behaviors such as hissing, chasing, and aggressive behaviors. Appeasing pheromones can help restore harmony and ease tensions between cats. ‘Territory’ PheromonesWhen plugged in, this diffuser is warm to the touch (as were all the tested diffusers on this list). The company notes that some users may notice a slight odor for the first 24–72 hours, although I didn’t notice any smell during use. Another potential watch-out is that wall outlets should have pretty strong plug retention. These things are fairly heavy, and I noticed them sagging down in certain outlets. This could cause them to fall and break. Dogs also use pheromones, and an interesting study in 2020 looked at using pheromones in households with both cats and dogs, using both cat and dog pheromones. Both species pheromones led to improved inter-pet relationships and reduced anxiety in both cats and dogs. Pheromones are chemicals, released by glands across a cat’s body and used as messages between cats. These pheromones have now been manufactured synthetically and can be bought as a diffuser or as sprays, to be used in situations such as a fireworks fear or for urine marking in the house.

Synthetic pheromones mimic your cat’s natural chemical signals, meaning we can influence their use in our homes (with a diffuser) or out and about (with sprays) to help enrich our cats’ happiness and prevent unwanted behaviors.

When Should I Use Feline Pheromones?

These chemical signals play a hugely important role in feline communication and behavior. Pheromone glands are mostly found around the face, including the chin, cheeks, forehead, mouth, and lower ears.

If your cat seems healthy and happy, but you have a potentially stressful event occurring, such as a fireworks show or a trip to the veterinarian, then pheromones may be a useful intervention to minimize anxiety for your cat. There are three main types of pheromone messages that have been developed, for use in different scenarios. ‘Happy’ Pheromones Cat pheromones are scent chemicals, released by special scent glands all over your cat’s body, including their cheeks, paws, and chin. Your cat, and others, can then ‘smell’ these chemical signals using a special organ called the vomeronasal organ, located on the roof of their mouth. There are multiple symptoms of anxiety in cats, but urine spraying is both a common sign and one that owners find hard to manage. A study in 2011 found that Feliway reduced urine spraying frequency after four weeks of use. The products featured here come from reputable brands in the pet space. I prioritized products clinically proven to be effective and those recommended by veterinarians. I also considered product design, the amount of pheromones dispensed, and cost. What Are Cat Pheromone Products?pheromone diffusers. Plug-in pheromone diffusers slowly release artificial pheromones which we can’t smell, but cats can. These mimic their own pheromones and help them to feel safe A 2018 study found that the use of Feliway reduced both inter-cat aggression and stress-related behaviors in cats in multi-cat households. However, the owners who participated in the study also had training about cat behavior and some basic behavior modifications, so it is impossible to tell exactly how much direct effect the pheromones had. PHEROMONE TECHNOLOGY TO PROMOTE FEELINGS OF REASSURANCE AND WELL-BEING: When cats feel relaxed and happy, they mark objects, people, other animals and their territory with Feline Facial Pheromones (FFP). When they return, they identify the area as safe and reassured. Beaphar CatComfort® contains a copy of Feline Facial Pheromone, which is instantly recognisable to all cats helping to comfort them and reduce unwanted behaviour.