Does the little plug-in thing actually work?

I’ve been letting the little plug-in thing hum in the living room for about three weeks now. It’s supposed to mimic the calming scent of a mother cat. I noticed Sparrow, who is usually quite bouncy, has been spending more time lying near the diffuser rather than chasing the feather wand.

Willow, my other girl, hasn’t really changed much. She is naturally very still and observant. I’m wondering if I’m just imagining the effect on Sparrow, or if the synthetic scent is actually shifting their baseline stress levels? Has anyone else seen a tangible change in their cats' behavior with these devices?

Interesting question. I’ve been hesitant to try anything new because Bella is asthmatic and I worry about any added scents or chemicals in the air, even if they are synthetic. See Bella wheezing again for the context on her sensitivity.

Charlie, my younger mixed, seems fine with most things, but I’m cautious. Do you know if these diffusers release any particulates that could aggravate respiratory issues? I’d hate to make things worse for Bella.

I use one for Brutus. He’s a big Maine Coon and gets anxious when I’m working on projects. The diffuser is next to his favorite scratching post, which I talked about in Need a post that survives Brutus.

Honestly, I can’t tell if it’s the scent or just the routine. But he does seem less likely to shred the curtains when I’m away for long shifts.

I’m not sure it’s the scent itself, but more about the consistency. Pearl is getting older and has some hearing loss, so she relies heavily on smell. I mentioned her recent hiding habits in Pearl is hiding more lately.

When I put the diffuser on, she seems to settle into a nap faster. It’s a small thing, but with a senior cat, small things count. Maybe it’s just that the room feels 'occupied' to them in a safe way?

Oh, I love this topic! I tried these for Loki and Freya when we moved. They are two very different personalities, as you can see in Getting Loki and Freya used to changes.

Loki went wild at first, rubbing all over the plug-in like it was a toy. Freya ignored it completely. But after a week, they both stopped meowing in the hallway at night. I think the novelty wears off and then the calming effect kicks in? Or maybe they just got used to the new house. Hard to say!