Key Takeaways
The research is limited and mixed, with many studies showing weak or inconsistent results, especially when evaluated independently.
Most studies are low quality, with small sample sizes, short durations, and reliance on owner perception rather than objective measures.
Manufacturer involvement is common, and while not inherently misleading, it introduces potential for bias that must be acknowledged.
Feliway may help some cats, but the effects are often modest and not guaranteed. It’s best used as part of a broader behavior plan.
Environmental factors play a major role, and results in shelters or veterinary settings may not translate to households.
There’s little harm in trying, especially if you’re willing to give it several weeks and have realistic expectations about results.
Use positive reinforcement alongside pheromones, and avoid punishment-based approaches which can worsen behavior issues.
Basic enrichment and health care still matter most; safe spaces, vet checkups, early socialization, and mental stimulation are foundational for feline wellbeing.
Does Feliway Work? Do any feline pheromone products work? If you’ve spent any time Googling how to stop your cat from scratching your furniture, spraying the wall, or hiding under the bed, you’ve probably stumbled across products like Feliway or bSerene; popular lines of synthetic pheromone products designed to help cats feel calm and safe.
The available cat pheromone sprays, plug-ins, and collars on the market promise big things: less inappropriate urination, reduced scratching, happier cats in multi-cat homes, calmer vet visits, fewer stress-related illnesses, and even improved shelter conditions. Sounds great, right?
Here’s the reality check: the current research on these products is limited, often shows a high risk of bias, and remains far from conclusive. Before you drop $30 on a diffuser, here’s what you need to know.
What Are Feline Pheromones Anyway?
To answer the question, “Does Feliway work?” we first need to understand what these products actually are. Cats naturally produce pheromones; chemical signals they use to communicate. The Feliway product line, for example, mimics specific facial pheromones (especially the F3 fraction) that cats deposit when they rub their cheeks on surfaces. The idea is that these “friendly” signals can reduce stress and related behaviors. The idea makes sense in theory, but in science, researchers must support a hypothesis with well-designed, unbiased, and thorough testing before they can draw conclusions.
Feliway products include:
Feliway Classic: For general stress, urine spraying, and scratching
Feliway Friends (Multicat): For reducing tension and aggression in multi-cat households
Feliway Optimum: A newer, more complex blend targeting a wider range of behaviors
What the Research Says (And Doesn’t)
So, does Feliway work? Here’s where things get fuzzy. While some studies suggest that feline pheromone products might reduce certain behaviors, the evidence is far from solid. Here are the key takeaways:
1. Most studies are small and low-quality
Scientific studies, such as medical studies, can be classified by their quality of evidence ranging from a score of 1a (the best) to 5 (the worst). Most studies on cat pheromone products are graded at a 4 (poor). Very few studies are ranked as 1b (very good). Many of the studies evaluating these pheromone products suffer from issues like:
Tiny sample sizes
Poor or inconsistent study design
Short trial durations (often under 4 weeks)
Reliance on owner perception rather than objective measures
That last point is a big deal because if a product works mostly by making you feel better, rather than actually changing your cat’s behavior, it’s worth understanding the distinction.
2. Many studies are sponsored by the manufacturer
A lot of the data supporting Feliway’s effectiveness comes from Ceva, the company that makes it. That doesn’t automatically mean the data is invalid, but it does mean there’s a potential conflict of interest, or at least the perception of a conflict of interest.
3. The effects are often minimal or inconsistent
In one review, researchers found a statistical association between F3 facial pheromone use and reduced spraying, but this was based on just three studies—two of which had poor-quality evidence and high bias risk. The effect was detectable, but not dramatic.
One study conducted by Ceva examined the effects of cat pheromones on aggression in multi-cat households. While the study found no difference between the treatment and placebo groups in terms of improved harmony between cats, it did report a reduction in the overall level of aggression in the home. The authors acknowledged several important limitations of their research, noting that “The predominant limitation…is that it relies entirely upon owner interpretation, making validation complicated.”
Another Ceva-sponsored study evaluating a Feliway Optimum collar found mixed results: it reported statistically significant improvements in certain stress-related behaviors, but not all outcome measures showed significant differences. Notably, over one in four cats experienced adverse reactions to the collar, such as irritation or discomfort.
The research is complex and the results remain inconclusive, which makes it difficult to answer the nagging question: “Does Feliway work?”
4. Environment matters a lot
Even in controlled environments like shelters, the results are inconsistent. A study of cats in two different shelters found no statistically significant improvement in rates of upper respiratory infection (URI) or daily stress scores after using pheromone diffusers for 21 days. Differences in ventilation, cleaning methods, staff behavior, and other cats were all possible confounding factors.
And the researchers were clear: their findings shouldn’t be applied to home environments. So, if you’ve read shelter-based studies and assumed they apply to your living room, think again.
So… Should You Try It? Does Feliway work?
Here’s the honest answer: maybe. We even tried a Feliway plug-in product in our own home for our late cat. While we didn’t notice a dramatic shift, we understand that not every product works for every individual.
If you have the budget and patience to try it for several weeks (at least 4–8+), there’s no known harm in seeing if it helps. You just need to understand what you’re getting into:
Don’t expect a miracle. Even in studies that show improvement, the changes are typically modest, not complete elimination of undesirable behaviors. The strongest evidence for pheromone effectiveness is in reducing scratching behavior, though more research is needed. There is also some support for its potential to ease transportation stress and anxiety during veterinary visits. However, the results are less convincing for addressing urine marking, inter-cat aggression, aggression toward humans, and stress reduction in shelter environments.
Think of it as part of a larger strategy. Use pheromones with other environmental or behavioral changes, not as a standalone fix. It’s crucial to avoid punishment-based methods when addressing feline behavior issues. Punitive actions often increase stress and anxiety, which can worsen the very problems you’re trying to fix. Even if punishment seems to stop a behavior temporarily, it usually returns. In fact, it may even escalate. Instead, focus on positive reinforcement. Reward your cat for desirable behaviors like using the scratching post or litterbox.
Be aware of the placebo effect. If you feel more relaxed because you’re trying something, that may improve your relationship with your cat, even if the behavior doesn’t change much. That’s not nothing—but it’s good to be honest about it.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Skip the Basics
It’s tempting to hope a spray will fix everything, but your best bet for long-term success lies in:
Providing proper enrichment
Giving your cat vertical space, hiding spots, and scratching options
Don’t forget that early socialization for kittens—between 3 and 9 weeks of age—is crucial. This phase, known as the Sensitive Period, is similar to what we discussed in our blog about dogs, Understanding Your Dog’s Development: Socialization and Training. During this time, kittens “show a high willingness to explore and play and often show little fear when encountering new animals, people, objects, or experiences. If deprived of exposure to people, animals and situations they may have an increased risk of developing into adults who have problems with fear, aggression and arousal.”
Addressing any medical issues with your vet
Avoid declawing as an alternative to undesirable scratching behavior. Remember that scratching is a natural behavior for cats; therefore, in order to adhere to the Five Opportunities to Thrive, cat’s must be allowed to scratch.
Consulting with a feline behavior professional if needed
Pheromone products like Feliway might help reduce stress-related behaviors in some cats, some of the time, but they are not a guaranteed solution. And until higher-quality, independent research is available, we recommend trying them with eyes wide open, and realistic expectations.
Author’s Note
This blog is a good-faith effort to objectively summarize the current research on feline pheromone products to answer the question: “Does Feliway work?” The author (Craig) has over 12 years of ongoing professional experience as an analytical chemist, including work in the veterinary diagnostic field. A key part of this work involves reading, dissecting, and critically evaluating scientific research. That background informs the careful approach taken here; aimed at helping pet owners make informed, evidence-based decisions without hype or bias. As more research becomes available, we will either update this blog or create a new one.