Is Feliway Spray any good?

[ladybirder]

Some of you may recall a post I made some time ago about my 18 yr old cat Maggie who had the nerve to pee on my bed. Well I thought I had solved the problem but she has now done it 6 or so times, the last 3 times on me as I lay sleeping. Yesterday she woke me up at 6.10am and today at 5am by peeing on my legs. I have to leap out of bed and wash sheets, blanket, bedspread plus the towel she was lying on and I've got washing hanging everywhere as I live in a 1st floor flat. Then I have to put bicarbonate of soda on the mattress and then have a bath and I am sick of it all. So I am wondering if spraying Feliway on the bottom area of the bed might stop her doing it. BTW she is having treatment for kidneys and Hyperthyroidism.
So has anybody used Feliway, and for what reason, and did it work? Would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.

[Ratty2E]

I think that would only work if she was marking but it sounds as if her medical problems and age could be causing it. Does she have to sleep on your bed? I would find her somewhere else easier to clean to sleep.

[ladybirder]

Hi ratty. Yes, her medical condition is probably causing this. She has always slept on my bed from 6 weeks old and believe it or not it is the best place for her I think. If I shut her out she could pee on one of the sofas or armchairs and I can't put them in the washing machine can I:-( Are you saying that because she is completely eliminating her bladder, instead of just marking, that Feliway won't work?

[Ratty2E]

As I understand it the spray is used for behavioural problems to make them feel more secure and less stressed and I don't think it would work in this case. Her apparent incontinence could well be a symptom of her medical problems in which case she's not doing it 'on purpose'. You say she's having veterinary treatment so it's probably best to ask the vet wether incontinence is known side effect of her medication or (most likely) caused by her kidney problems. I didn't mean that you just shut her out of the bedroom rather that you shut her in somewhere easier to mop up i.e bathroom or kitchen. You may think the bed is the best place for her but it's not the best place for you at the moment.

[bunkmoreland]

we had to put our old baby into the kitchen at night for this very reason.He just didnt have proper control and it was so much easier to clean both no1and no2s from the tiles.It means you're less stressed too,which is better for her.

[ladybirder]

Thank you for your answers. I have been out and bought some Feliway Spray (£30 Eeek!) as it's my only option, I don't have a plan B. Perhaps I haven't been clear about the bed being the best place for her to sleep. It's best for her because she has slept there all her life and I don't want to upset her, and best for me because although it's a nuisance washing all the bed clothes I can keep an eye on her and react the minute she does it. Anywhere else in the flat isn't really an option for the reasons I have stated. I don't think she is incontinent as she uses her little trays at all other times no problem. I don't want her to do it somewhere else I want her to stop doing it. Felipedia says that when a cat marks personal items, the stress may be related to that person. The stressful feeling can range from dislike to possessiveness. So I shall try the Feliway tonight. After what you both have said I don't hold out much hope but I have to try. And thanks for your help.

[angepj1]

My 19 yr old cat did that latterly. I had to shut her out of my bedroom and she didn't do it anywhere else. Have you taken her to the vet? Maybe they could advise. Sometimes these expensive over the counter remedies don't work. I paid £30 for a pheronome plug-in to calm them at night but it didn't work.

[ladybirder]

ange thanks for your reply. Yes I have spoken to the vet as Maggie's there regularly and they weren't very helpful at all. It's really difficult for them to identify the cause of the behaviour, it's more of a Behaviourist thing I think. Well let's hope I haven't wasted £30 as well, tonight will tell.

[wolf63]

Try looking around this site to see if they have any hints or suggestions -

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/index.php

[ladybirder]

Hmm thanks wolf, been reading that since you posted. Very interesting.

[Prudie]

If you want to keep her on the bed at least try to make things a bit easier for yourself - get a waterproof mattress cover and also put a waterproof barrier between your bedding and her towel. It probably isn't helped that the smell probably isn't completely eliminated to her just by washing, especially if it's got into the mattress.

[lankeela]

I would buy a plastic cat/dog carrier like the airline ones and put her a blanket/vet bed in it and put it beside your bed for her to sleep in- on a chair if she needs to see you. You can then just wash the blanket or vet bed and easily wash out the carrier. Letting her sleep on the bed and keep peeing isn't really an option for her or you - she must feel uncomfortable if she has been clean all her life. I am sure she can't help herself at her age and with her medical problems.

[divegirl]

Hi, could I ask why you say ''my 18 yr old cat Maggie who had the nerve to pee on my bed''. She is an old lady with obvious health problems. I would think there are no ifs and buts as to why she is doing this.
I would have thought that Feliway will only put her in to a calmer state that would make her less likely to try to warn you of her impending mishap.
It is an unfortunate by-product of being owned by a 'pet'. We take these animals into our homes for life and this is just one of the unfortunate side effects of this.
My last Great Dane lost the control of his bowels in the last few months of his life and I would just clean up after him with as much dignity as I could give him, his face told me how ashamed he was :0(
I would go with a plastic incontinence cover on my bed cover with an easy to wash and dry blanket.

Lisa x

[ladybirder]

Well I'm amazed. I sprayed the bed with Feliway and it was still dry this morning. At some point during the night she used her litter tray in the bathroom. So we are very pleased with ourselves today. I'll do as it says on the bottle and continue spraying for 45 days and hopefully that will be enough to stop the bed peeing becoming a habit. She's been a lovely cat all her life, not one bit of trouble so if its palliative care she needs now, well that's what she's getting.
Thanks for all your advice which I may take up if the spraying eventually fails and divegirl the 'nerve' comment was my feeble attempt at humour.

[bunkmoreland]

glad to hear you had such success ladybirder! Everything's relative,as they say.I remember being so pleased too,the mornings i came down and didnt have to clean all manner of nasties from the floor!

[ladybirder]

Thank you bunkmoreland.

[ladybirder]

We'll have to take it day by day RH, not much else we can do. x

[wolf63]

Have you considered something like this?

http://www.pampers.co...pampers-bedmats/id/12

I don't suppose Maggie would appreciate a nappy but the above mat is basically the same idea.

Good luck - have had a similar experience with an old dog. :-(

[ladybirder]

Wolf thank you, that's a brilliant idea. I could just put them on the bottom third of my bed as that's where she does it. Just checked and Argos stock them so I shall order some today and see how we go. We've had our second good night now, although she did pee on the bathroom floor during the night, between her two litter trays. But at least she got off the bed to do it. Thanks again.