Customer Reviews

Farnam Comfort Zone Plug-In Diffuser with Feliway, 48 Milliliters

5 star:		(131)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(27)
2 star:		(35)
1 star:		(73)

 

 

The scenario: my 6 month old kitten adopted from a garbage pit 4 months ago, for many unpreventable medical and physiological reasons reverted back to her feral state; fearful, crying, and creating all-night insanity, making sleep impossible for me, the other cats, and perhaps the neighbors as well.
Most alarming was that the stressful condition she was in altered her appetite, and the most she would consume was some warm milk.
I didn't want to add to the medications she was already taking, with a prescription of something like Diazepam (Valium), so decided to give "Comfort Zone" a try.

I noticed an improvement within 8 hours, and by 36 hours, all her feral symptoms had vanished, and she was calm, slept through the night, ate, and was her charming, cuddly self again. During the first 36-72 hour period, there were some "extras," like her rubbing against my legs while I was standing in the kitchen, but now things are back to normal, and she is behaving the way one would expect a healthy 6 month old to act.
The last month has been quite an ordeal, but with the help of "Comfort Zone," I feel as though a miracle has taken place, with harmony and peace back in our humble but cozy abode.

This 48 oz. bottle lasts approximately 4 weeks, covers up to 650 sq. ft. and is recommended for all situations that cause stress in a cat, from new environments to the addition of a new pet in the family. It will also treat "urine marking," another symptom my kitty was exhibiting, as she would spray against the wall instead of urinating into the litter, a nasty habit that required a lot of cleaning up and that "Comfort Zone" has cured.
Completely odorless, the bottle and plug-in unit is a 1-2-3 simple assembly, and feline facial pheromone that is the active ingredient does not affect humans, except to improve their lives by making their fur friends happier.

To the Feliway product description information above, I would also add, "Aids in calming cats...who manage stressful chronic health conditions."

My 4yr. old neutered male cat manages several chronic health conditions, which at times create seemingly unrelated behavioral issues, when flare ups occur that jangle his nerves. When his IBD is not well controlled, my otherwise angelic cat becomes stressed out & does deadly things - chewing through power cords, consuming inedible objects, eating plants untouched for years, climbing to & jumping/falling from extremely high places aggravating his arthritis, & more. When he's not feeling well, acting-out is his way of externalizing his bad nerves & telling me, "I don't feel well, help me".

So I bought a Feliway Diffuser for him for his birthday a few weeks ago, & the change in my cat's behavior was noticeable within the first few hours after plugging it in. Initially, I noticed a personality change - sort of a mellowing effect, reflecting a more leveled out & increased general sense of well-being. I see less lethargy, & more interest in social interaction, his environment, & play. It's a subtle overall field effect, but his happiness & joy somehow seem happier. I've noticed I've had an easier time with giving him his regular medications & brushing his teeth. It's a synthetic feline facial pheromone, but I call it "the airborne feline prozac"... And without putting more chemicals into his system that don't belong in the body, & their problematic side effects. My cat seems to appreciate the general change in the overall atmosphere of his home, & occasionally, he even sleeps underneath the diffuser.

The benefits my cat experiences also pass on to me - because if he is less stressed & upset, & doing fewer life threatening things in reaction to his nerves - then I'm less stressed out as well. I'd rather buy him Feliway, than spend money on veterinary visits & additional medication to deal with new problems he creates when he's stressed. And there have been a lot of them.

Feliway contains an odorless oil by human standards, & it does not upset my cat's severe asthma or allergies, nor my own more moderate conditions. In fact, I am wondering that if he's less stressed out psychologically - & in turn physiologically - if there might even be less asthma & less digestive upset due to a reduction in the cycle of internalized stress. And if it improves his overall quality of life, I'd much rather buy him peace instead of more doctors...

I live in a small 1 person unit, & 1 diffuser does seem to cover the entire place. I unplug ours when the window is open, & plug it back in when it's closed, while I sleep or am away, & any time I think he might benefit from it. The plastic bottle can be unscrewed from the plug-in unit & recapped to preserve it until your next use. This may help to extend the 6 week life span recommended in the packaging information, we'll find out. I would also add that the diffuser gets warm, but not hot to the touch, & certaintly not hot enough to burn a hand or singe a whisker or fur. I have handled the diffuser many times during use, & I have no fear of allowing my cat to be directly near it.

The only negative aspect of this product so far as I can determine is how much you'll want to kick yourself for waiting to buy it for long as you did... As a pet store employee recently told me, "It is one of the few behavior mod products for cats on the market that actually does work." While there is no substitute for building & maintaining a solid, trusting relationship with your pet - or for seeking competent veterinary care - Feliway does seem like it could be a great adjunct to it.

Feliway gets 2 Thumbs & Paws Up from kitty & me. =^..^=

My 2 new cats were a rescue from neglect. They are 2 huge Maine Coons, 6 yrs., and siblings. The male (20lbs) unpacked within the first hour, moved in and wanted lunch. The female (17lbs) hid. Both were infested with fleas, ticks, and roundworm. She had good reasons to hide because she also had an upper respiratory infection, conjunctivitis, and a urinary tract infection. This is what happens when people think that their domestic pets can survive outdoors for long periods of time. They cannot. The female would have died before winter.

After a month of anti-biotics, flea, tick and roundworm treatments, her diseases were healed but not her psyche. Her brother liked to pick on her and she would growl like a mountain lion. She even scared me. I've had cats for 40 years and this is the first time I questioned my safety with one.

But I knew part of her reaction was stress from all the changes - new home, new food, warm bed, a host of sicknesses, etc. Nevertheless, I needed to get on top of the stressful behavior or they were going to be permanently separated with the female going to a new home. He was a lover right from the start. I didn't know what she was because she was freaked out. Sleep deprivation was also turning me into zombie.

A Google search turned up this product. It was serendipitous that this product was the first hit, because I study the same types of odors in humans (scientist); they're called human semiochemicals and pheromones (this product) are one class of semiochemical. At any rate, had this product Fed-Exed to me and all I can say is WOW.

Within 12 hours all stress levels dropped by a factor of 10. For the first time in 6 weeks both animals slept through the night without an 'argument' and I, too, got my first full night's sleep since bringing them home. It's been 2 days now and both animals are completely chilled out.

I've decided to bomb my entire house and put a diffuser in each room in order to maintain this blissful state for the next 60 days with the expectation that both animals will transition into calmness without any further need for the product after this time period. If it turns out that stress begins to increase, I'll just continue using the product in the rooms where they spend most of their time.

While the female is still 'tetchy', she is phenomenally less stressed and can be handled. Because of this product, I won't have to separate these two lovely animals and also will not have to resort to Valium for her.

While this product may not work for long standing stress situations where bad behaviors have been allowed to continue for years, it is an amazing product for recent changes. It seems to me that all shelters and rescue organizations might benefit from this product and its canine counterpart to relieve shelter stress. Highly recommended - it is science (not hocus pocus), backed up by empirical tests, and it works.

We have four cats, one of which is extremely shy and always hides in closets and hard to reach spaces. I bought this product in hopes it would help to calm him down somewhat and make him a little less anxious. I bought two diffusers, one for the living room and one for the bedroom, the two spaces he usually hangs out. After using it for a month, I have not seen any changes whatsoever in my cat. He still freaks out at the slightest noise and still spends most of his day tucked away in a "safe" spot. I know that the manufacturer recommends that you use this product for at least 90 days to see any significant results, but I know from friends that they had an instant turn-around with similar issues when they used this product. I will probably discontinue the diffuser since it is fairly expensive and is not likely to help alter my cat's behavior.

I should add that I also used Feliway sprays and found that the one distributed by VPL works better on my cats than the one sold through Farnam. I gave the Farnam spray to a friend and it worked well on her cats, so it seems to be depending on the cat. So, in case your cat doesn't respond to one, you might try the other. I also recommend shopping around for them. Although they are sold at most vets, you can often get a much better deal online.

While I am not convinced of the diffuser system, the spray really works well on the same cat. He has the habit of going through my bathroom trashbin, but whenever I spray it with Feliway, he would stay away from it. The Feliway spray was also very helpful on our recent move from the East coast to the West coast. Each evening we sprayed the hotel rooms before we left the cats out of their carriers and it really seemed to make a difference. They were a lot calmer than we had expected them to be.

All in all, I think that Feliway products work differently for each individual cat. They are not overly expensive and not harmful, so that I would at least give it a try before trying some of the more invasive options like chemicals or drugs.

I'm highly active in cat rescue, and I'm vice-president of a no-kill animal rescue organization. I recommend this stuff to EVERYONE who cares for more than one cat, or who has trouble with a cat spraying, peeing, or fighting. I have this conversation on a DAILY basis with people who want to surrender or otherwise get rid of their cat(s) because of spraying, peeing, fighting, etc...

After I've gone through the usual questions (Is your cat neutered? No? Then DO it, NOW!) and potential solutions (You have 6 cats and only 1 litter box? You need at least 3 more litter boxes!), I tell them to try Feliway - spray, diffuser, or preferably both. I explain how it works, and point them to the shelf in the store where we hold our adoption clinics. As a rescuer with a whole houseful of cats, with "strangers" (cats up for adoption, kittens being tamed, and feral cats awaiting release after spay/neuter surgery) coming and going all the time, I could not function without Feliway. It's a lifesaver!

Does it work for all situations and problems? No. Is it magic? Of course not. But, it works for what it is intended for. Not all peeing problems are due to stress. If your cat starts peeing outside the box, the first thing to do is try a different litter - something unscented. Then try a bigger box, or one without a cover - some cats, especially big ones, don't like enclosed boxes. Next, have them checked for a urinary tract infection or phosphate crystals in their urine - bladder stones. Urinary discomfort is the primary cause of most feline peeing problems, and is easily treated with antibiotics or a modified diet, depending on the cause. Please see a vet before you consider getting rid of your cat. Thousands of cats are killed in shelters because they have urinary problems which could be easily and inexpensively treated. I see these cases every day, and it's a tragedy.

However, if you DO have a situation where dominance fighting/spraying/etc... is the problem, then Feliway should work. I don't run into too many peeing/spraying problems because... well, frankly, because I'm a pro. I have loads of experience with cats, plus space and equipment to handle them. I know to get males neutered ASAP, I have big isolation cages, and I know how to do gradual introductions. However, I DO deal with a lot of fights and dominance aggression. That's what Feliway works best for.

Do I endorse products for a living? Absolutely not. However, I do have my favorite brands of food, scratching posts, toy mice, etc, and I recommend them to other cat owners. As an experienced cat caretaker with a rescue organization behind me, I have a lot of possible answers, a lot of solutions at hand. Feliway products are one of the most useful tools in my belt. Your kitty problem may have a more complex solution involving medical care, drugs, or behavioral training, but this stuff is definitely worth a try!

This thing works. I was skeptical, but kind of desperate. I have a 1 1/2 year old siamese that began peeing on things 5 months ago when we brought a foster child into our house. The foster child went back to his biological father some weeks ago and I hoped the marking would stop. No such luck. My cat was still stressed. Then my husband was stressed. It's no fun having your dirty clothes peed on. Or your shoes, or anything else. And that smell is so pungent! The DH threatened to throw kitty outside. But kitty has been declawed. I did not know what to do. I did a random search on Amazon thinking I would find a book with suggestions. What I found was Feliway. I read the reviews and thought it was likely a scam, but at this point had nothing to lose (except money). It arrived 2 days after ordered. It has now been over a week and the cat has not peed on anything except in his litter box. The unexpected side effect is that my cat has a new personality. He is friendlier, cuddlier, and much more interested in the family than he ever was (even before the foster child came). He now rubs my legs and my chin like cats I have had in the past (something he never did before). This thing works. My only complaint is the cost. By the time you add in shipping you are looking at(...). Although this is still cheaper than a trip to the pet psychic or a year's supply of prozac.

We began using Feliway Comfort Zone about a year ago, after a feral cat took up residence under our deck. (Our cats stay indoors, but could sense him through a sliding glass door.) The oldest cat, aged 16 years and normally a sweetheart, began attacking our 7-year-old cat so badly and so often that the 7-year-old was covered in scabs. He responded by "going outside the box" several times a week.

I work at home, so I was here when the fights happened; but the oldest cat was so agitated that he even attacked me a few times. He continued this behavior after the feral cat left, and stopped responding to being squirted with water. It was heartbreaking; I asked the vet for advice, asked friends, etc. I did NOT want to have him "put down."

In an effort to try everything, I ordered Feliway Comfort Zone. It began working within hours, calming the older cat. I ordered another unit for the second floor. (Each unit covers 650 sq. ft.) Now, the fights are very rare and the 7-year-old only goes outside the box when we're on vacation. I feel like we got our pets back.

I would recommend this product to anyone who wants to see the sweet personalities of their cats restored. It really seems to calm them and give them a sense of well-being. The only downside is the cost. Locally (at Petco), refills cost double the price on the internet, so it's worthwhile to plan ahead and order online.

If you have a cat who goes outside the box, I would strongly recommend Nature's Miracle for getting rid of the odors. It's available as a spray (for carpets and upholstery) and as laundry detergent. It works when you think nothing could possibly work -- on pillows, coats, etc.

Feliway is wonderful. My cat has been "inappropriately urinating" and marking for years. We've tried everything. Feliway finally did the trick. There's no way I have time to spray everything in every room every day, so I tried the Comfort zone kit. No more peeing outside the box, no more marking. As an added bonus, he was much easier to get in the cage for the vet visit when I set it next to the unit, and upon return from the vet, was immediately loving again (instead of hiding the rest of the day). I'm now getting a diffuser for every room in my home.

I have 5 cats, all who got along very well as they were from the same litter. When I adopted another cat 2 years later, it messed up the "balance", and everyone started hissing at each other.
I tried Feliway because of all the great reviews I read on a couple websites. I used the product for 2 1/2 months, but finally decided to stop. My cats had always used their litterbox (even with the newcomer in the house because they had separate litterboxes). A couple days after I plugged in the Feliway, they started peeing on the rug in the living room, on the couch, the sofa bed, and finally in my own bed!! I tried everything to get them to stop, even to the point of throwing out all my bedding, yet nothing stopped them. The hissing got worse, they started having little "cat fights" (which they had never had before) and after 2 1/2 months, I finally unplugged the 2 Feliways I had purchased (note that I changed the refill every 30 days as suggested). It's been a week now, and things are a little better, but not back to the way it was before Feliway. I think it will take some time. My advice to you : Be very careful to monitor your cats if you use any artificial products. These things don't work for all pets.

This is Sally before, and after three weeks of Feliway:
1) Petrified of people walking close by. A little better.
2) Not on good terms with her littermate: Now much more tolerant, but not lovey dovey. No more spats.
3) Terrified of going outside. No change.
4) Not too interested in coming downstairs to the main floor. 75% better now.
5) Minimally playful. A bit more playful.

I'm certain that this product has made a positive change in our cat.