That darn cat

     Cats are important members of the domestic pet household, but too often they garner negative attention due to inappropriate behaviors such as clawing furniture, aggression, and urine marking.  Many pet owners have experienced this situation, either with their personal cat, or through word of mouth.  There are numerous ways of approaching the treatment of these behaviors.  One important component to consider is the use of the product Feliway, which is a synthetic analog of the natural feline facial pheromone.  Facial pheromones are important for cats to feel safe and secure in an environment or situation.  Feliway comes as both a plug in diffuser as well as a spray formulation.  Not every cat responds to Feliway, and responders may take several weeks to begin showing results.  However, due to the ease of use and lack of any toxicity, as well as the added benefit of not trying to administer an oral medication to a cat, Feliway is a viable and easy product to use.  Cat owners should understand and remember that there are a multitude of causes of inappropriate feline behaviors, and that Feliway is not an answer to all problems.  Owners who are interested in using this product with their cat should contact our office and set up an appointment to have a physical examination performed and to discuss whether Feliway is a product that may be of use.