Changes

==F3==

==F3==

The pheromone F3 ([http://www.feliway.com Feliway]) is a synthetic analogue of pheromones from feline cheek glands, known as the ‘familiarisation pheromone’. It can be used to reduce general anxiety in stressful situations (such as moving house, transport, presence of other animals) so that the home or environment is less threatening. It has been particularly beneficial in supporting cohabitation and alleviating tension in multicat households and is thought to provide a sense of reassurance for cats in new or stressful circumstances. It can also be used to help control urine spraying in the home by cats <ref>Mills, D.S., Mills C.B. Evaluation of a novel method for delivering a synthetic analogue of feline facial pheromone to control urine spraying by cats. Veterinary Record 2001;149:197-199 doi:10.1136/vr.149.7.197</ref>.

The pheromone F3 ([http://www.feliway.com Feliway]) is a synthetic analogue of pheromones from feline cheek glands, known as the ‘familiarisation pheromone’. It can be used to reduce general anxiety in stressful situations<ref>C.A. Griffith, E.S. Steigerwald, C.A.T. Buffington. Effects of a synthetic facial pheromone on behavior of cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 217 (2000), pp. 1154–1156</ref><ref>Y. Kakuma, J. Bradshaw. Effects of a feline facial pheromone analogue on stress in shelter cats: Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress on Veterinary Behavioural Medicine. British Columbia, Vancouver (2001), pp. 218–220</ref> (such as moving house, transport, presence of other animals) so that the home or environment is less threatening. It has been particularly beneficial in supporting cohabitation and alleviating tension in multicat households and is thought to provide a sense of reassurance for cats in new or stressful circumstances. It can also be used to help control urine spraying in the home by cats <ref>Mills, D.S., Mills C.B. Evaluation of a novel method for delivering a synthetic analogue of feline facial pheromone to control urine spraying by cats. Veterinary Record 2001;149:197-199 doi:10.1136/vr.149.7.197</ref><ref>W. Hunthausen. Evaluating a feline facial pheromone analogue to control urine spraying.Vet Med, 95 (2000), pp. 151–155</ref><ref>D.F. Frank, H.N. Erb, K.A. Houpt. Urine spraying in cats: presence of concurrent disease and effects of a pheromone treatment. Appl Anim Behav Sci, 61 (1999), pp. 263–272</ref>.

The use of F3 diffusers (Feliway) can simulate the effect of dense facial and flank marking within an environment, whilst the cats re-establish their own marks and exchange odours that identify them.

The use of F3 diffusers (Feliway) can simulate the effect of dense facial and flank marking within an environment, whilst the cats re-establish their own marks and exchange odours that identify them, usually a behaviour carried out when the cat feels relaxed in their environment<ref>P. Pageat, E. Gaultier. Current research in canine and feline pheromones. Vet Clin N Am (Small Anim Pract), 33 (2003), pp. 187–211</ref>

==F4==

==F4==

F4 (Felifriend) is a synthetic pheromone analogue used by cats to identify familiar individuals and when applied to unfamiliar individuals this can increase the cat’s tendency to approach and show affiliative behaviour. This can also be useful because it reduces escape responses. Combinations of pheromone therapies are especially helpful when the target of aggression is a member of the family or regular visitor to the household of a cat that has been recently re-homed. F4 may produce dissonant emotional states (which can induce a panic reaction) when the person or animal to whom F4 has been applied is already familiar to the cat from some aversive encounter and therefore invokes visual triggering of hostile responses. Further work in this area is essential but at the moment F4 should be used with care, applying it only to unfamiliar individuals, preferably from species with which the cat was socialised as a kitten.

F4 (Felifriend) is a synthetic pheromone analogue used by cats to identify familiar individuals and when applied to unfamiliar individuals this can increase the cat’s tendency to approach and show affiliative behaviour. This can also be useful because it reduces escape responses. Combinations of pheromone therapies are especially helpful when the target of aggression is a member of the family or regular visitor to the household of a cat that has been recently re-homed. F4 may produce dissonant emotional states (which can induce a panic reaction) when the person or animal to whom F4 has been applied is already familiar to the cat from some aversive encounter and therefore invokes visual triggering of hostile responses. Further work in this area is essential but at the moment F4 should be used with care, applying it only to unfamiliar individuals, preferably from species with which the cat was socialised as a kitten.

The pheromone F4 ought to be very useful for treating inter-cat aggression within the household <ref>Pageat, P., Tessier Y. Usefulness of the F4 Synthetic Pheromone for Prevention of Intraspecific Aggression in Poorly Socialised Cats. AGRIS Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, but unfortunately there have been problems with its practical use. F4 signals indicate familiarity, but with cats that have already had a number of aggressive encounters there may be a dissonance between the memory of the visual appearance of the aggressor cat and the chemical ‘familiarity’ signal. This has been seen to trigger apparent panic and violent outbursts. F4 is not recommended for treating inter-cat aggression within the household, but is very useful for reducing fear of unfamiliar people and other animals and for helping in the introduction of a new member of the household. In a professional context such as veterinary clinics, catteries or hairdressers the pheromone can be applied to the individual performing the consultation to provide a positive first contact with the cat.

The pheromone F4 ought to be very useful for treating inter-cat aggression within the household <ref>Pageat, P., Tessier Y. [http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/1880/13/1_12.pdf Usefulness of the F4 Synthetic Pheromone for Prevention of Intraspecific Aggression in Poorly Socialised Cats]. AGRIS Records, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations</ref>, but unfortunately there have been problems with its practical use. F4 signals indicate familiarity, but with cats that have already had a number of aggressive encounters there may be a dissonance between the memory of the visual appearance of the aggressor cat and the chemical ‘familiarity’ signal. This has been seen to trigger apparent panic and violent outbursts. F4 is not recommended for treating inter-cat aggression within the household, but is very useful for reducing fear of unfamiliar people and other animals and for helping in the introduction of a new member of the household. In a professional context such as veterinary clinics, catteries or hairdressers the pheromone can be applied to the individual performing the consultation to provide a positive first contact with the cat <ref>Tessier, Y., Pageat, P., 1997. [http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/1880/21/2_2.pdf F4 synthetic pheromone: a means to enable handling of cats with a phobia of the veterinarian during consultations]. AGRIS Records, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations</ref> .

==Proper Use of Pheromone Products==

==Proper Use of Pheromone Products==