-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Your experience with Spirit Essences?
- Thread starter ert1988
- Start Date
They are really expensive aren't they! We don't get them over here so I can't comment on them specifically. However I do have a friend who uses the appropriate Bach Flower Essences, which were the original ones.. She goes to her naturopath who mixes up the appropriate blend for her (for her cats). It works out a lot cheaper. I don't know whether that is an option for you.
I have used quite a few of them. It works for some cats and not for others. You really won't know unless you give it a try. I have used both Peacemaker and Bully Remedy and the cat I used them on did not respond to any flower essences. I also used them on a feral/stray cat and he did better. Yet I have the entire bach flower essence line and now mix my own.
Flower essences take time to work. It is not uncommon for them to take 2-6 weeks. Many people give up as they want instant results. The change is usually slow.
I had great success with the Feral Cat Rehab Spirit Essence. I used it on a number of feral and they really calmed down and were less afraid.
You might also want to look into Composure liquid max calming supplement. Not sure what behavior you are dealing with. Composure worked so well on my territorial aggressive feral/stray that I brought into my home. He was a nightmare. The composure took about 5-7 days to really start working, but it worked so well. It did not drug the cat, just calmed him so that he was able to be redirected instead of completely focused on attacking.
Flower essences take time to work. It is not uncommon for them to take 2-6 weeks. Many people give up as they want instant results. The change is usually slow.
I had great success with the Feral Cat Rehab Spirit Essence. I used it on a number of feral and they really calmed down and were less afraid.
You might also want to look into Composure liquid max calming supplement. Not sure what behavior you are dealing with. Composure worked so well on my territorial aggressive feral/stray that I brought into my home. He was a nightmare. The composure took about 5-7 days to really start working, but it worked so well. It did not drug the cat, just calmed him so that he was able to be redirected instead of completely focused on attacking.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
Thank you both for your feedback. We integrated a third cat (female) who is not getting along with the other female. They switch between aggressive and submissive behavior towards each other with the resident female being a bit of a bully. Nothing severe, but it needs turned around.
Since you are working on reintros the flower essences and/or composure might help. It's worth a try.
I edited this post as I realized you were working on reintroductions and the essences would be a tool.
Last edited:
I've used the Composure on ShadowsRescue's advice with an excellent response. It worked a little more quickly than ShadowsRescue's on her feral boy, but it wasn't such a major issue... just some redirected aggression with my two.
This is ert1988"s thread about the whole reintroduction situation.
This is ert1988"s thread about the whole reintroduction situation.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #7
Thank you both! I am going to order the smaller bottle of Composure and hope for the best. It has better reviews than Jackson Galaxy's spirit essences.
@ShadowsRescue, you said that you mix your own essences. How? Do you just combine different essences (like peacemaker + bully) to create your own formula?
@ShadowsRescue, you said that you mix your own essences. How? Do you just combine different essences (like peacemaker + bully) to create your own formula?
For mixing my own essences I took a Bach Flower Essence course years ago. I learned which essences to use for which behaviors. It was mostly for human use. I then purchased numerous books on flower essences for animals and have been mixing my own off and on for years. I had to purchase all of the bach flower essences for my class. So for me it is much cheaper. You would not want to mix Bully and Peacemaker together. You can do a search on Bach flower essences for animals and read about the essences and which behaviors associate with your cats. Yet it can get costly too.
For the composure, you might want to start with a doubled dose during the day light hours. I gave 1/2 t. mixed into wet food in the morning for the more aggressive cat and 1/4 for the timid cat. At the evening meal, I gave 1/4 t. to the aggressive cat and sometimes 1/4 t or sometimes nothing to the timid cat. My cats were fine at night since they were separated. Just know that you can double the dose safely and it often is needed when you first start.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #9
@ShadowsRescue, that makes sense about the flower essences. Thanks for explaining.
I just ordered Composure and will try that instead of the Bach's Rescue Remedy (which seems to knock them out more than anything). I'll definitely double up on some doses per your suggestion.
I just ordered Composure and will try that instead of the Bach's Rescue Remedy (which seems to knock them out more than anything). I'll definitely double up on some doses per your suggestion.
I should have said that the human Bach remedy is mixed in Brandy. The ones mixed for animals are in purified water I think @ShadowsRescue?
I've always used the human remedies - I'd never even heard of pet ones before TCS. A friend of mine is a trained Bach's practitioner, and she always said the human ones are fine...by the time you've made up the dosing bottle the alcohol content is negligible anyway...even more so if you're medicating the water.
I think you're right,
mani
that the pet ones are in plain distilled water though.
I think you're right,
mani
that the pet ones are in plain distilled water though.
I use the human grade and preserve with a bit of glcycerin. The only pet one I know of is Rescue Remedy for pets.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #13
@Columbine & @ShadowsRescue,
Yes, the version for pets does not contain alcohol, unlike the human version. Thank you again for your input. I'll probably stick to the pre-mixed versions. I'm hoping this situation doesn't progress to the point that I have to become a cat alchemist.
Yes, the version for pets does not contain alcohol, unlike the human version. Thank you again for your input. I'll probably stick to the pre-mixed versions. I'm hoping this situation doesn't progress to the point that I have to become a cat alchemist.
