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VetVine Client Care

Posted On Jun 16, 2025

Updated On Jun 25, 2025

Feliway And Urine Spraying

Behavior

This question was submitted during a past webinar on the topic of "Behavior Problem Triage" ...

Question:
Have you ever had a problem with urine-spraying cats selectively spraying on the Feliway diffuser? Any thoughts about a spraying cat that responded to a Feliway diffuser in that way?

Answer by E'Lise Christensen, DVM, DACVB:

No, I haven't, but there is scuttlebut that it happens. My guess would be rarely. If I thought it was happening, I would remove the diffuser. There would be ways to test if it was really the pheromone causing it, but I don't think any of my clients would go for trying them out. You could buy a new diffuser set up and not add the pheromone container, for instance.  

Things to keep in mind:

  • Some cats mark novel objects
  • Feliway diffusers may be not only be novel, but also make a new vertical surface for markers
  • Feliway diffusers (the old model) used to collect some residue on the top that looks a lot like cat urine and can be mistaken as such.

Hope that helps!