How Long Does FELIWAY Take to Work?

If your cat is new to your home, it can take a little while for them to fully relax; after all if your kitty is still young, they may be missing their cat mummy and the rest of their litter as well as all of those familiar smells and sounds.

If they are an older cat, they may be stressed if something new has happened in their home - have you redecorated, have you moved home, is there a new baby in the house, or have you introduced a new pet into the household?

If you’ve noticed that your kitty is getting stressed by any changes to their environment or routine, or by another cat, then you might be considering using FELIWAY.

FELIWAY supports your feline family, and helps your kitty adjust to a range of different situations.

How Long Does it Take for a FELIWAY Classic Diffuser to Work?

When cats are relaxed and happy they mark their territory by rubbing against people, corners and furniture - and sometimes other pets too. This releases ‘happy messages’, scientifically known as pheromones, marking an area as safe and familiar.

FELIWAY Classic contains a synthetic copy of the Feline Facial Pheromone, specifically the F3 fraction.

If your cat is not entirely comfortable they don’t release these happy messages- instead they may start hiding, spraying, or scratching objects around the home instead.

Using a FELIWAY Classic Diffuser can help, as it replicates the natural pheromones produced by cats, diffusing them into the surrounding environment, helping your cat feel safe and secure.

You could see results of using the diffuser within a week or so, but this depends on how long signs of stress have been present, and their severity, so it may take longer. Stick with it - we recommend using FELIWAY Classic for at least a month and make sure you do not place it behind furniture or behind curtains as this will prevent the circulation of the warm air, making it ineffective.

Diffusers should be left plugged in 24/7 - trials show that continuous use gets the best effect. However, keep an eye on the vial (which should last about 30 days) and replace it regularly.

How Long Does it Take for FELIWAY Classic Spray to Work?

Releasing the same ‘happy messages’ as the FELIWAY Classic Diffuser, the FELIWAY Classic Spray is the ‘instant’ version which is frequently used if you want to travel with your cat or if there are signs that your cat is scratching walls or furniture outside of the area where your FELIWAY Classic Diffuser is plugged in.

FELIWAY Classic Spray is an effective way of calming your cat if you are going on a car journey. It will work almost immediately but you must spray the area where your cat will be (for example their cat carrier) 15 minutes before your cat enters. This allows the alcohol base to evaporate, leaving behind the non-smelling pheromone, which will help to make your cat feel relaxed and calm.

The FELIWAY Classic Spray should last for 4-5 hours, so if you are planning a longer journey, you may have to reapply - but remember DO NOT spray directly onto your cat and remove your cat from the carrier for 15 minutes to allow the alcohol to evaporate. 

More on choosing the right carrier for your cat here.

What about FELIWAY Friends?

If you have two (or more!) kitties in your household, but they don’t seem to be the best of furry friends, FELIWAY Friends is here to help! It contains a synthetic copy of the Cat-Appearing Pheromone. 

This is the same pheromone that a mother cat naturally produces after giving birth to help her kittens feel safe, secure, and bonded. When used in FELIWAY Friends, this pheromone helps to reduce tension and conflict between cats living in the same home, encouraging a more peaceful coexistence.

It's clinically proven and widely recommended by vets for multi-cat households experiencing stress-related issues.

Plugged into the space where your pets spend the most time, a FELIWAY Friends Diffuser can help to reduce conflict between cats living together, and prevent signs like fighting, chasing, blocking, staring.

When used continuously, it can help to maintain constant harmony and help your cats get along better at home.

What about FELIWAY Optimum? 

FELIWAY Optimum is an innovative, new Feline Pheromone Complex that conveys even more impactful messages than ever before!

The patented blend of feline pheromone components sends a broader range of reassuring messages to cats. It's much more than just a combination of 'happy' and 'harmony' pheromones, it's our most advanced solution. Clinically studies prove a greater reduction in visible signs of stress.

Like all FELIWAY Diffusers, many cat parents notice positive changes in their cat's behaviour within a week, but it depends on many factors such as the severity of stress that your cat is experiencing, and how long they have been stressed for.

In light of this, we recommend using FELIWAY Optimum for at least a month in an open area- not hidden by furniture or curtains- to ensure the pheromones are circulating properly to help your cat. 

Proven by clinical trials, the diffuser should be plugged in 24/7 for best results. The vial supplied with the diffuser should last around 30 days, so keep an eye on the remaining solution and replace with a FELIWAY Optimum Refill to keep the calming support consistent for your cat. 

Which Product is Best?

There is no right answer here - the products you choose will depend on your unique situation - however we do recommend using FELIWAY Classic Spray to support your cat in specific instances such as when on the go or travelling, and a FELIWAY Optimum Diffuser for continuous, everyday support in the home.