Hiss, yowl, sphftt, thump, pow, schzip! In multi-cat households the sounds often remind owners of superhero TV. Owners now have a stress-reducing options.
A recent study in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery looked at the effectiveness of using pheromone diffusers for aggression in multi-cat households. They discovered that cats exposed to feline-appeasing pheromones exhibited less infighting than those who were not exposed to the pheromones.
Source: Catster, November 20, 2018. Link.
Cats exposed to pheromones saw significant decrease in aggression compared to the control group, and the positive effects of the pheromones continued for two weeks after the treatment ended.
Also see: Tools for managing feline problem behaviors: Pheromone therapy, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, October 30, 2018. Link.
In this article the scientific background for naturally occurring feline pheromones and semiochemicals and their impact on cat behavior is reviewed. This is used as a foundation to explore the three feline synthetic pheromones currently available and the empirical evidence that exists for their effectiveness. From this information, several recommendations for veterinarians and behavior professionals on the application of feline pheromone therapy in the home and veterinary clinic setting are presented.
INSIGHTS: Note that FELIWAY® <link> from AHD sponsor Ceva Animal Health is referenced in the study. Semiochemicals and their actions were the subject of a March 2018 post, Pheromones; the nose knows. <link>