How long does feliway take to become "active"

 Hi there,

 I posted before about Candy,she has recently had a real problem with her tail,biting and attacking it,she really hates it and its so hard and sad to watch because she is truly angry and just not herself.I sought vets advice and he said sounded like Feline Hyperthesia as somebody had suggested on here.I discussed diet and he said that what I feed them (wet and dry) and the brands seemed ok to him.i have looked into other brands as a next step and I have found some allergy foods I think these may be suitable but I think that Candys problem is stress and anxiety she seems to get very agitated. I bought feliway and I have plugged it in on the landing (small area) upstairs where she spends most of her time.Today is the third day and I have not noticed any improvement,she gets very agitated when there is no food available and is very vocal and lashes out even if she isn't hungry so I have to make sure there is some food available all the time.

 Does feliway affect different cats differently?and does it differ from cat to cat in when it begins to help a little?I am not expecting a miracle from it and I know it may not work,this is step one for me and I probably have a long way to go.x

Aw, I'm so sorry, I didn't know about Candy feeling this way. :heart3: :rub:

By day three, Feliway should be helping if it was going to.

You might want to try the allergy foods. :cross:

LDG said:

Aw, I'm so sorry, I didn't know about Candy feeling this way.

By day three, Feliway should be helping if it was going to.

You might want to try the allergy foods.

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I think I will have to the vet only suggested allergy foods but I am not sure if they will be suitable,to be honest I am not "up" on what foods are available,I looked at the foods the vet offered and there was so many for different things.People on here gave me good advice about what to not get ingredients wise it just all seems confusing to me as there is so many available.On the plus side I have noticed a change in Fudge (my nervous 3 legged kitty) so I think the feliway will stay.

 I just hate seeing Candy like this she is not the same cat and is seems so annoyed all the time and incredibly vocal,I can't even pick her up and cuddle her as she just growls at me,she wouldn't ever be nasty and hurt anyone and I can see that she is really bothered by something.The vets over here I don't think are totally clued up on physchological diseases.x

Feliway is good to help reduce stress, and I am glad you will keep it going. But for more serious problems, while it may help a little, it's not a cure, certainly. For instance my Jennie, who reacts favorably to feliway by way of becoming more playful when I have it going, continues to lick her 'pink triangle' area, whether the feliway is going or not.

I was the one who mentioned FHS in your other thread, and suggested certain ingredients that should be eliminated from Candy's diet. Diet changes do take time, of course. Has your vet discussed medications?

otto said:

Feliway is good to help reduce stress, and I am glad you will keep it going. But for more serious problems, while it may help a little, it's not a cure, certainly. For instance my Jennie, who reacts favorably to feliway by way of becoming more playful when I have it going, continues to lick her 'pink triangle' area, whether the feliway is going or not.
I was the one who mentioned FHS in your other thread, and suggested certain ingredients that should be eliminated from Candy's diet. Diet changes do take time, of course. Has your vet discussed medications?

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Hi and thanks for your reply,no the vet didn't say anything about medication as of yet and really its something I would like to try and avoid if I can as Candy is not old but not young either.I told the vet about the FHS and that it was mentioned here,like I said they don't seem to be very clued up here and I don't find very much support.The foods I am now looking into,I have written down the ingredients to look out for not to have and I am basically seeing what is available near me,we have a pharmacy that does pet foods so would be readily available,they do science plan and hills are these recommended foods?there are that many different varities available though i wouldn't know where to start.Our money situation at the minute is a black area,I have just taken on a job but don't get paid for another 4 weeks but I just want to help Candy and I will find the funds to do it.My mum said that putting all of my cats on a food suitable for candy may be benficial and cheaper than wet and normal dry food as she has read they are more nutricious and filling for the cat.x

HI and , sorry Candy is having trouble.... I just wanted to mention that they make a Felaway spray. I started using the spray instead of the plug-ins. I just couldn't afford the plug-ins anymore at $25.00 a pop. The spray is much more economical and I spritz the areas where my cat's hang out in the evening's. So every twenty four hours. Sending you loads of vibes that Candy gets better soon and you can find a solution. :cross:

Oh dear,

  she has been really bad this evening,I have never seen her like this,very aggressive towards her tail and just very agitated.I will try and post a video if I can.My mum has been up and I think she definetely needs vet treatment,the only problem is funds are very low at the minute as my hubby has been put on short time at work,we have just had the car mot and even though I start my new job properely after my training in 3 weeks we won't be caught up with bills until atleast March I expect.I have been trawling the net tonight for help with vets costs but they all require you to be on benefits which we are not as we work and we get tax credits but only a very small amount (hardly worth having) as it goes on lasts years income.My mum can't really help as my dads hours have been cut at work.I just don't know what to do,I know she will require blood work and a lot of tests and it won't be cheap.They don't even do a kind of care credit over here.I can't get pet insurance as its a condition I know about as I was thinking about taking that out but she needs seeing asap and I think they will put 2 and 2 together.I will keep looking to see if there is any solution,I know my mum will help me out where she can but she hasn't got a lot.I tell you I have a curse at this time of year  which is the worst time of year.i am going to phone the vets tomorrow and see what will need doing and get some approximate costings,I can't leave her like this,its distressing to watch.x

Ruthyb, I'd like to share these articles with you for information. Hopefully they will be helpful to you.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1998

http://www.tufts.edu/vet/vet_common/pdf/petinfo/dvm/case_march2005.pdf

http://www.cathealth.com/skin-and-fur/feline-hyperesthesia

Also, in her book "Psycho Kitty?" Pam Johnson Bennett has a whole chapter on a kitty with hyperesthesia. (The book is available at amazon.com)

Sending vibes to you and Candy

Our vet suggested Feliway, because Rusty gets a little stressed at times, and we adopted a stray in the summer, and she said this would helpthe situation, but to be hinest I have seen no evidence of any change in behaviour. I bought the diffuser x

Violet said:

Ruthyb, I'd like to share these articles with you for information. Hopefully they will be helpful to you.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1998

http://www.tufts.edu/vet/vet_common/pdf/petinfo/dvm/case_march2005.pdf

http://www.cathealth.com/skin-and-fur/feline-hyperesthesia

Also, in her book "Psycho Kitty?" Pam Johnson Bennett has a whole chapter on a kitty with hyperesthesia. (The book is available at amazon.com)

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Thank you very much for posting those,I was very interested in the part about "wool sucking" Candy suckles herself,I have posted a video of it on here before and I have always thought it strange behaviour.she has had issues since I had her as a kitten and I think its to do with how she was treated before I had her to be honest.I have had so many different vets diagnose so many different things I think though we have finally hit the nail on the head with feline hyperthesia.x

Hi,

I don't really have any helpful advice, but just wanted to send you and Candy some good thoughts. Hope she is doing better and that you and your mom are hanging in there. Seeing the fur-babies unhappy can really take a toll. 

I've rung the vets but its just going to be too costly for all the blood work,it breaks my heart but we have nothing spare at the moment,even christmas may not happen at the minute,I don't get paid for another 4 weeks and I won't be bringing in a great deal from my new job.I have tried new food and just the feliway at the moment,I have been studying Candy and it seems to be when she is stressed she is bad,the main time is when we have people round or when she is waiting for me to dish the food out.x

Keeping you and Candy in my thoughts! :heart3:

I am so very sorry Candy is feeling this way and I know you are worried sick.  To answer your question;  In my experience it took about 2 days for the diffuser to "penetrate", for lack of a better word, the area.  I buy the plug in diffuser and refill it monthly.  I don't know how much this will help Candy in her current predicament.  A sick cat can get very stressed out.  As for me, I will never again be without it in my house.  I am a huge proponent of it and have had great success using it. My 2 cents....

Sending vibes to you and Candy

I'm sorry about candy. have you checked her tail very closely to see if she has any scabs or anything on it?

my apologies I didn't know how old this thread was, lol