Update - Feliway Vs. Lavendar

[Sieden]

I have 3 Feliways now going upstairs, it's plenty to cover the entire upstairs area and I've been using it for a little over a week now and I have to honestly say that I don't see any difference at all and perhaps I've even seen an increase in attacks from Phoebe. She growls at the boys (mainly Ginger) for no reason and then she makes a screaming scene like they're trying to kill her when they haven't even touched her, she's just being over dramatic. Even without the Feliway she will eat side by side on the same plate with Peanut and not make a single fuss, the Feliway has not changed that either but she just doesn't want anything to do with Ginger, it's strange. Anyway, I'm just saying that they aren't working. This morning she was putting up a fuss so I plugged in my essential oil diffuser with Lavender oil and within 10 minutes everything was quiet. The other day, I sprayed things down with the Lavender water and used the diffuser again and got the same reaction so to me, I think that the diffuser is working 10 times better than the Feliway and it's a fraction of the cost. I'm going to be selling these plugs for the Feliways after they run out. Has anyone else experienced them not working for them as well?
And before I get this question, yes I'm sure that I got the correct one, the multicat one for combative control etc. I forgot what the package said.

 

[Tracey&Jones (GA)]

I recently got the multicat one based upon the vets advice that it would be better than the regular one. I didn't like it as it seemed I had more spats with that one then just the plan feliway. My DH kept asking me if they were out but they were not. Went back to the regular one and harmony again.

You need to use what works.

Have you tried the reintroduction with total separation then reintroducing? How did that go?

 

[Sieden]

no I haven't tried the reintroduction yet, I haven't had time for it to be honest. Plus, I'm not sure which cat I should lock up in the room, I'm kind of thinking that the resident cat should be since she has the biggest attitude issue to work out but what do you think?

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

Do keep in mind that cats are missing an essential enzyme for processing some of the constituents of essential oils. Over the long haul, this might lead to problems.

 

[Squalliesmom]

Do keep in mind that cats are missing an essential enzyme for processing some of the constituents of essential oils. Over the long haul, this might lead to problems.

I won't use them around my cats, they can cause serious problems, especially to the liver. Some are worse than others, I don't know where lavender falls.

 

[Tracey&Jones (GA)]

I'm kind of thinking that the resident cat should be since she has the biggest attitude issue to work out but what do you think?

I would actually put Ginger away in his own room as Phoebe seems to have the most issues with him right? Let her regain her space. Then slowly let them back together by switching who is in the time out room. Or move Ginger from one room to another and let Phoebe investigate his scented room at her leisure. Have them eating through the closed door, then slowly open during feeding time. I actually done a switch out of litter boxes - just so everyone's scent got co-mingled.

When I brought my sister's cat to my place - it took me about 4 weeks to get it so nobody was not hissing at each other when within sight of each other. It is still gets a little tense every now and again with her and the other ones, but I just do a ugly sound in my throat and it stops. The feliway takes away the constant tension which does help in my case.

 

[AlphaCat]

I'm not sure it matters which is where as long as the one being bullied is in a space where they can gain confidence. The room swap is also a good idea, so that neither are locked away all the time.
I've had luck limiting attacks by using a lavender collar on cat who's being the aggressor. (I bought mine in packs of 3 from Amazon, they were cheapest that way.)

 

[Sieden]

I would actually put Ginger away in his own room as Phoebe seems to have the most issues with him right? Let her regain her space. Then slowly let them back together by switching who is in the time out room. Or move Ginger from one room to another and let Phoebe investigate his scented room at her leisure. Have them eating through the closed door, then slowly open during feeding time. I actually done a switch out of litter boxes - just so everyone's scent got co-mingled.

When I brought my sister's cat to my place - it took me about 4 weeks to get it so nobody was not hissing at each other when within sight of each other. It is still gets a little tense every now and again with her and the other ones, but I just do a ugly sound in my throat and it stops. The feliway takes away the constant tension which does help in my case.

No I can't do that, I can't separate him from Peanut. I know it's real easy to say and to imagine but Ginger and Peanut are from the same litter and are best buds, they are totally inseparable so if I did that it would only cause more tension with Ginger than there is already. Ginger is the one that is growling and hissing at her right now and Peanut is not so I think it would be better to put her in the room and keep the pair of boys outside so that Ginger has the comfort of Peanut and Phoebe also has the comfort of Peanut. Hell he just sits there like "man, what's going on, can I get my food now?" it's so cute. It would force Phoebe to come close to the gate if she wants her food. On the down side, Ginger has a willpower like no other and if she chooses to eat and he doesn't feel like being close to her, he'll leave so I don't know how to force him to be close to her. I guess I'll really 100% have to start over and make them eat from the gate without seeing each other and then get closer and closer. I think I could put Phoebe and Peanut in the room together so that when Ginger finally sees them, he'll not only see her but he'll see Peanut too, that might be the best Plan. This is so stressful.

Not to say that she is not at fault, she hisses at Ginger but not at Peanut

 

[Tracey&Jones (GA)]

that might be the best Plan

You know them best and what their dynamics are. You have a plan! I wish you luck with it! Remember to switch around who is locked in which room....I did that after the first week of sniffing under the door. It really let me see who sniffed and was upset and who like meh, ok, there is a newbie here. It was fun to watch when putting the resident cats in the room and letting the newbie wonder around the house for a few hours. Man, that was fun to watch everyone and see their reactions.

Slow and steady. Patience pants are going to be needed. And like I said before - they may not be best friends but if you have piece that may have to be good enough.

 

[Sieden]

I'm not sure it matters which is where as long as the one being bullied is in a space where they can gain confidence. The room swap is also a good idea, so that neither are locked away all the time.
I've had luck limiting attacks by using a lavender collar on cat who's being the aggressor. (I bought mine in packs of 3 from Amazon, they were cheapest that way.)

I saw those and she doesn't mind wearing a collar so I'll look into that. Thanks.

 

[Sieden]

You know them best and what their dynamics are. You have a plan! I wish you luck with it! Remember to switch around who is locked in which room....I did that after the first week of sniffing under the door. It really let me see who sniffed and was upset and who like meh, ok, there is a newbie here. It was fun to watch when putting the resident cats in the room and letting the newbie wonder around the house for a few hours. Man, that was fun to watch everyone and see their reactions.

Slow and steady. Patience pants are going to be needed. And like I said before - they may not be best friends but if you have piece that may have to be good enough.

I think I'll just follow what you said and also try that lavender collar and see what happens. It's Phoebe that's causing the most commotion, she won't even let me pet for too long or get too close, she has attacked me 4 times since I've lived here on April 30th (2 months). I try to hand feed her treats, give her food, give her toys, pet her when she allows me to but for some reason she will just snap and attack me and mind you, this used to be my cat. I'll insert a photo of me holding her before I gave her to Joe back when I couldn't keep her. AND a photo of her and Peanut snuggling back when they were boyfriend and girlfriend lol.