Mary Allen
Sometimes a cat’s life can be stressful. A move, a new animal companion, or the loud noises on New Year’s Eve are exhausting for fur noses. Pheromones promise relief for cats. Because the fragrances should provide relaxation.
How Do I Know if My Cat is Stressed?
Stress can trigger various behavioral changes in cats. Since such changes always occur individually, there is no uniform clinical picture.
Typical signs, however, can be that your cat is reacting more aggressively or that it is suddenly very shy. Often cat owners also observe unwanted urination in certain places within the home. Many a stressed house tiger scratches the furniture or meows more often than usual.
In addition to these undesirable changes in behavior, stress is also a common cause of all kinds of diseases: If your cat feels stressed, her adrenal gland releases more of the stress hormone cortisone. This in turn demonstrably weakens the immune system, so that previously undiscovered diseases or infections are no longer adequately fought by the body.
Therefore, it is very important that you keep an environment that is as stress-free as possible.
When Can I Use Pheromones for Cats to Relieve Stress?
It is not always possible to create a stress-free and cat-friendly environment. In such cases, however, you can resort to pheromones for cats. Appropriate preparations should contribute to the relaxation of your fur nose. These help especially during short-term stressful situations. These include, for example:
- a visit to the vet
- long journeys by car, train or plane
- special occasions, for example, New Year’s Eve
- a move to a new environment
- animal newcomer
- Celebrations with many guests
What are Pheromones and How do they Work?
The word pheromone is derived from Greek: While the word part means to deliver phérein, the word part means to stimulate or drive hormān.
These are the body’s own fragrances that are excreted by cats and other living beings as a signal for other conspecifics. It is, therefore, possible for cats to communicate with one another without facial expressions and gestures. This is also known as non-verbal communication.
Cats release a particularly large number of pheromones when they urinate, for example. This is how they mark their territory. The fragrances also help cats while looking for a partner, as they create a feeling of relaxation and well-being.
When your cat ingests pheromones through its nose, a stress-relieving signal is generated in the brain. You can use this phenomenon to the advantage of both of you with the targeted use of pheromone preparations.
How are Pheromones Used for Cats?
Usually, pheromone preparations are sprays or so-called atomizers, which can be used until the symptoms of stress are relieved. They are not used on the cat itself, but by being released into the room air:
If you want to treat several rooms in your home with pheromones for cats, you should spray them over a period of several weeks. The simplest solution is a fragrance plug, which you only have to plug into a normal socket. It then automatically releases the pheromones into the room air.
Manual distribution of the spray, on the other hand, is particularly useful for your cat’s transport box. Simply spray them on from the inside before a trip or a visit to the vet. Areas marked with urine and scratch marks can also be treated with pheromones.
An important note: you do not have to worry about unpleasant smells during the entire application. You as a person are not able to consciously perceive the pheromones.
Is the Use of Pheromones Safe for Cats?
According to the manufacturer, no side effects have been found in cats and kittens treated with pheromones. You can therefore use pheromone sprays without having to pay attention to the minimum age of your fur nose.
The manufacturers also rule out intolerance for dogs, people, and children. Only parrots and budgies shouldn’t come into contact with pheromone preparations because of their sensitive airways.