FELIWAY™ is an environmental spray which contains synthetic analogues of feline facial pheromones.  It has proven to be effective in decreasing urine spraying by cats and for helping cats adjust to new environments
	ANOTHER USE FOR FELIWAY™ The use of Feliway for Scratching Problems A NEW PHEROMONE PRODUCT - FELIFRIEND™

Evaluation of FELIWAY™ for Control of Urine Spraying in Cats
Wayne Hunthausen, DVM

ABSTRACT
This study determined the effectiveness of the pheromone product, Feliway®, for the control of urine spraying in cats in 57 households. Enrollment was based on a history of urine spraying in one or more cats in the household, in the absence of underlying pathology.  Clients collected baseline data on urine spraying in the household for 1 week, followed by 4 weeks of Feliway use.  Statistical comparisons of the number of urine marks per week were made using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test.

The average number of cats per household was 3.8 at an average age of 6.7 years and an average spraying duration of 2.7 years. Males, females and sex unreported represented 39, 11 and 7 of the spraying cats, respectively.  Average numbers of marks were 13.9, 7.2, 5.8, 4.1 and 2.9 per week (n=54-57) for Weeks 0-4, respectively.  Statistically significant differences were observed compared to Week 0 for each week of product use (p<0.001) and for Weeks 2-4 compared to Week 1 (p<0.01). 

Households were further analyzed by subpopulations based on gender, age of cats (<10 years old versus >10 years old), duration of spraying (<1 year versus >1 year), and number of cats per household (1 versus >1).  Feliway was effective in reducing the number of urine marks in all subpopulations studied (p<0.01 using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test).

These data indicate that Feliway is effective in decreasing urine spraying in cats in a variety of cat populations and household settings.

INTRODUCTION

Urine spraying involves the horizontal excretion of small amounts of urine, sprayed from an upright posture.  During this behavioral sequence, the cat will typically back up to an upright target, stand with its rear end held high, tail erect and quivering, and squirt a stream of urine.  At the same time or just prior to the release of urine, the cat may alternately tread the ground with its rear paws (Bateson and Turner, 1988).  While most cats spray urine about 8 to 12 inches off the ground on upright objects, a cat may stand and spray urine that does not actually make contact with a vertical surface.  Feline urine spraying commonly occurs in two situations: 1) sexual-type marking associated with sexual excitation in male cats or the onset of oestrus in female cats, and 2) reactional-type marking, that occurs due to stressful changes in the cat's environment.

Feliway is a pheromone product, developed by Sanofi Animal Health and marketed in the U.S. by Abbott Animal Health, which contains chemical analogs of the feline facial pheromone, along with a cat attractant.  The effectiveness of Feliway in the reduction of behavioral urine marking has been shown in studies in the U.K. (White and Mills, 1997) and in France (Pageat, 1996).  In this study, the effectiveness of Feliway in reducing urine marking was examined in typical household settings in the Midwestern U.S.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Procedures

Eighteen (18) veterinary clinics in the Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri participated in the study.  The mode of action and the proper use of Feliway were reviewed to each participating veterinarian. Households were enrolled based on a history of behavioral urine spraying in one or more cats.  The investigators were asked to enroll only households of urine spraying based evidence of a cat spraying small amounts of urine from a standing position on upright surfaces (e.g. walls, sides of furniture).  They were also asked to rule out underlying pathology as seen fit (a complete physical exam and urinalysis were recommended, but not required).

After completing an initial questionnaire which included demographic information on the household and marking cat(s), veterinarians trained participating clients in the use of the product and provided them with product literature and package inserts.  Clients were asked to use Feliway in accordance with the product literature by applying the product directly (one spray daily) to vertical urine-marked spots and other prominent vertical objects within the household.  For multicat households, recommended application was 2 to 3 times daily.  Feliway was supplied to clients in 60 mL plastic-coated glass spray bottles.

Proper application of the product, urine marking behavior and outcomes were monitored by a mid-point (day 15-20) client contact (telephone call), and a final client diary and evaluation/comment form. In the mid-point telephone interview, clients were asked to confirm the marking behavior of the cat and to describe their use of the product.  In the diary, clients were asked to record the number of urine marks observed per household surface during the week prior to Feliway use (Week 0) and for each of 4 weeks of product use (Weeks 1-4) during the study.

 Analysis of Data

Based on information from the mid-point telephone interview and final diary and client evaluation/comment form, urine spraying was confirmed in individual households based on reported posture during marking and/or type of surface marked. Households providing evidence of urine spraying were considered evaluable cases (i.e. any household in which standing posture during spraying was reported or in which vertical surfaces, such as walls and doors, were sprayed was considered evaluable).

Analysis of the number of urine marks per household was based on total number of marks, regardless of surface type sprayed.  Tests for statistical significance between Weeks 1-4 and baseline and between Weeks 2-4 and Week 1 were performed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. In order to determine if demographic characteristics influenced treatment success, comparisons were made of the change in number of urine marks during the study in a number of subpopulations:  males versus females, cats aged <10 years versus >10 years, single cat versus multiple cat households and marking duration <1 year versus >1 year. The change in number of urine marks was analyzed for Weeks 1 and 4 compared to baseline (Week 0) using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test.

For purposes of this study, "total elimination" of urine spraying was considered to have occurred in a household if the number of marks at Week 4 was zero and that at Week 3 was less than that at Week 2 (showing a pattern of decline to zero).  Each household in which the number of urine marks at either Week 3 or Week 4 was greater than or equal to that of baseline was designated a "treatment failure".

RESULTS

A total of 123 households participated in the study, 89 of which returned final diaries and/or evaluation/comment forms.  Of these, 78 households provided data on the number of urine marks prior to and during product use. Based on data provided in the mid-point interviews and final diaries and evaluation/comment forms, 57 households were judged to be evaluable.  The remaining 21 households reported spraying only on horizontal surfaces, such as rugs or beds (17 households), defecation (2 households), or subsequent diagnosis with a urinary tract infection (2 households). 

For evaluable households, the number of cats in the households ranged from 1 to 31 with an average of 3.8 cats. Cats that sprayed ranged in age from 4 months to 16 years, with an average age of 6.7 years.  The duration of spraying per household ranged in time from 5 days to 10 years, with an average of 2.7 years. Males, females and sex unreported represented 39, 11 and 7 of the spraying cats, respectively.

The total number of marks/week, as recorded on the client diary, was reduced during Feliway use, as shown in Table 1.  Average numbers of marks were 13.9, 7.2, 5.8, 4.1 and 2.9 per week (n=54-57) for Weeks 0-4, respectively.  Statistically significant differences were observed compared to baseline, Week 0, for each week of product use (p<0.001) and for Weeks 2-4 compared to Week 1 (p<0.01). 

Total elimination of marking occurred in 18 of 54 households (33.3%).  Treatment failure (no reduction in urine marking with product use) occurred in 5 of 54 households in which Week 4 data is available (9.3%).  Ten (10) of the households reported that the cat began to mark at new locations after initiation of product use; however, reduction in number of urine marks occurred in all but one of these households, which was considered a treatment failure.

Results for analysis of subpopulations of spraying households are provided in Table 2. No differences in number of marks were observed at baseline for cats based on gender, age, and duration of spraying.  Statistically significant differences in baseline levels were observed in animals in multicat versus single cat households (16.1 versus 7.4 marks per week, respectively). All subpopulations showed statistically significant differences in number of urine marks at Week 4 compared to baseline levels (p<0.01).  Additionally, all subpopulations showed statistically significant differences in number of urine marks at Week 1 compared to baseline levels (p<0.01), except for female cats, which were not significantly different at that timepoint (n=11).

DISCUSSION

The results of this study are similar to those of several studies conducted in the U.K. and France.  White and Mills (1997) found an overall success rate of 91% (based on reduction of urine spraying) in a study involving 57 households.  Also, no differences were observed in treatment success based on number of cats in the household, age of cat or duration of spraying.  Two studies conducted in France (Pageat, 1996) reported the total elimination of spraying behavior through the use of Feliway in a high percentage (>89%) of study cats.  Details of the conduct of these latter studies are not available for a specific comparison with the present study.

In this study, the number of urine marks was reduced by the use of Feliway, however, in the majority of the households (approximately two-thirds), some spraying continued in the home.  Cat owners noted no adverse effects.  In comparing treatment success with Feliway, other modalities have been used with various rates of success in reducing urine spraying:  castration - 90% (Hart and Barrett, 1973), ovariohysterectomy -95% (Borchelt and Voith, 1996), olfactory tractotomy - 55% (Hart, 1981), medication - 43 to 90% (Cooper and Hart, 1992; Hart et al. 1993; Dehasse, 1997; Overall, 1997), and behavior modification/environmental strategies (no data available).  Feliway compares favorably to these methods in regards to safety, ease of use, expense and efficacy.

No placebo was included in this study, raising the possibility that the decrease in urine spraying observed may have been due, at least partially, to a desire on the part of the owner for the product to be successful.  The level of significance observed, however, is probably more than that which could be attributable to a "placebo effect", as most comparisons were significant at the <0.001 level.  Nonetheless, a placebo-controlled trial, currently underway, will provide additional information on the effectiveness of Feliway.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, Feliway proved effective in decreasing urine spraying in cats in a variety of household settings and populations.  The number of urine marks per household was significantly decreased for each week of product use.  Significant decreases in number of marks were observed within 1 week of the initiation of product use and continued throughout the 4 week study period. Urine spraying was totally eliminated during the study period in approximately 33% of the households. The use of Feliway was associated with statistically significant decreases in number of urine marks irrespective of sex, age, number of cats in the household, or duration of spraying.

REFERENCES
Bateson P, Turner D.C.: Questions about cats. In Turner DC, Bateson P (eds):  The Domestic Cat: the biology of its behavior, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1988, pp. 195.

Borchelt, P.L. and Voith V.L.: Elimination behavior problems in cats.  Readings in Companion Animal Behavior (V.L. Voith  and P.L. Borchelt, eds.), Veterinary Learning Systems, Trenton, NJ, 1996; pp 179-190.

Cooper, L.L. and Hart, B.L: Comparison of diazepam and progestin for effectiveness in suppression of urine spraying behavior in cats. JAVMA 203:254-258; 1992.

Dehasse, J,: Feline urine spraying.  Applied Animal Behaviour Science 52:365-371; 1997.

Hart, B.L. and Barrett, R.E.: Effects of castration on fighting, roaming, and urine spraying in adult male cats.  JAVMA 163:290-292; 1973.

Hart, B.L., Eckstein, R.A., Powell, K.L. and Dodman, N.H. Effectiveness of buspirone on urine spraying and inappropriate urination in cats.  JAVMA 203(2):254-258; 1993.

Hart, B.L.: Olfactory tractotomy in control objectionable urine spraying and urine marking in cats. JAVMA 179:231; 1981.

Overall, K.: Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals, Mosby, St. Louis, 1997; pp. 174-179

Pageat. P: Functions and use of the facial pheromones in the treatment of urine marking in the cat,  interest of a structural analogue.  Proc. 21st. Cong. World Small Anim. Vet. Assoc. (Abstract); 1996.

White, J.C. and Mills, D.S.: Efficacy of synthetic feline facial pheromone (F3) analogue (Feliway) for the treatment of chronic non-sexual urine spraying by the domestic cat. Proc. First Int. Cong. Vet. Behav. Med. (Abstract); 1997.

Table 1

Summary Statistics on Number of  Urine Marks per Week

a - Significantly different from baseline levels (p<0.001)

b - Significantly different from Week 1 levels (p<0.01)

Table 2

Evaluation of Treatment Success in Subpopulations of Spraying Households

 a - Significantly different from baseline levels (p<0.01)

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