Feliway Overheating? (Why? Hazard? Or is it Fine?)
If you have a Feliway diffuser you may be worried, or experience it overheating, but why is this? And, should you be worried?
Why is the Feliway overheating?
There could be several reasons why your Feliway is overheating. One of the biggest reasons is using it with an incompatible outlet or attempting to use it with an extension lead. So it’s worth checking this first.
My Top Feliway Products
Description | Image | My Rating |
01. Feliway Plug-in Diffuser (My Best) Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad |
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02. Feliway Spray Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad |
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03. ThunderEase Diffuser Kit Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad |
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So, now you know why. But, is it supposed to get hot? Is it possible to overuse it? Can the pheromone vapor affect humans? Keep reading to get these answers, and much more…
Is a Feliway diffuser supposed to get hot?

Temperature gauge.
The diffuser can get warm, which is normal. But, it shouldn’t get too hot. If you fear your unit is getting too hot or overheating unplug it right away and contact the vendor you purchased it from. Depending on its age they may offer a replacement or refund.
The Feliway device is like any other device powered by electrics, it will have faults or issues. So, don’t be alarmed if this happens. The good thing is it is easily sorted once you identify this.
What is Feliway?
Click here to see the price, on Amazon #Ad
Feliway is a brand that is known for its popular Feliway diffusers (Click here to see the reviews, on Amazon #Ad). This diffuser emits a synthetic version of your cat’s natural pheromones. These pheromones are used to mark their territory and make them feel calm and secure.
This diffuser copies this natural process and allows you to simply plug in the diffuser and emit the pheromone fumes into your cat’s domestic environment. The advantages is it can calm your cat down, and helpful with aggressive cats, etc.
What are these Pheromones?
Pheromones are natural chemicals that cats use to mark their territory. They are emitted from various locations around their body such as their mouth, paws, urine, chin, etc. You may have seen it spreading these pheromones by rubbing its head on you, call head bumping, or urinating on your furniture (Click here if it’s peed on your couch).
The concept of these pheromones can be a bit difficult to understand sometimes because it is so different to us humans. But, once you do you can see how a Feliway diffuser can be beneficial for cat owners.
Could the Feliway become a hazard?
According to a recent post, it is believed that it is not. They claim that the diffusers comply with the International Electrotechnical Commission, etc. The key thing to note is that they should not be used with a plug outlet that does not match your local country.
Also, there should be no voltage transformer used to make it work for you, this could cause problems. Also, no adapters should be used to make it work whatsoever. Basically, follow the guidelines on the documentation provided.
Does Feliway have side effects?
According to this site, some people, who specifically have issues with paraffin may find that it could cause headaches. But, I would assume this is a minority of people.
Before you use any product especially one that emits vapor around your home it is normal to be concerned or research potential side effects. So, hopefully, this gives you an idea of some to look out for.
Can you use too much Feliway?
According to this site, it is not possible to overdose on pheromone products. This is because it is not taken into your bloodstream. And, they only affect cats. For example, if you have a dog or another pet they won’t respond to cat pheromones.
Because the pheromone diffuser is plugged in all the time it is easy to be worried if the fumes will be too much overtime or affect your other pets. But, as you have learned, this is not a concern.
Can you smell Feliway?
You cannot smell the vapor from the Feliway diffuser, this is normal. Some people may claim to smell it as it heats but this is more likely their perception, but not really a real smell.
If you have assumed that the Feliway diffuser will cause a weird smell in your home you will be happy to learn that this is not the case. It is only detected by your cat. To us, it is just plugged in and forgotten.
The fact that it does not smell can make some people get concerned that it is not doing anything. But, this is the way it has been designed.
Can Feliway affect humans?
Feliway diffusers cannot affect humans. They only affect cats. To us humans it is odor-free. However, as discussed earlier, there are some possible side-effects for a small minority of cat owners.
It can sometimes be a bit difficult to get your head around the fact that you can have this device plugged in all the time without it affecting you. And, to be fair, that is a reasonable concern to have. But, it is not a concern for us.
Can you leave Feliway plugged in all the time?
Feliway suggests that you can leave the diffuser plugged in all the time. In fact, this is how it was designed. Once you get it follow the instructions and leave it plugged in.
Feliway has different products such as the spray (Click here to see the reviews, on Amazon #Ad), but regarding the diffuser, it is designed to be plugged in all the time.
How long does it take for the Pheromones to work?
The pheromone diffuser will start to extract the vapor once it is plugged in. But, for it to take effect you will need to wait for at least 24 hours. Depending on what you need it for it could be more than this. To really make a call on the effectiveness it’s worth leaving it for 30 days.
The reality is if your cat has severe aggression it is not realistic for it to cure this problem overnight. It could take some time. And, each cat responds differently. So, you need to try it and see how it responds.
Can you leave your windows open with these diffusers?
You can have your window open with the Feliway diffuser. But, it may impact the length of use. So, let’s say you expect it to last for 30 days and have it in a room with the window open all day in the summer. The chances are it will not last as long as you expected.
If you plan on leaving the windows open a lot in one particular room it’s better to think about relocating it to another room. This will extend the usage so you can get maximum usage from it.
Can kittens use this Feliway Diffuser as well?
Kittens can use Feliway diffusers. According to this site, there is no minimum age. Kittens, like their adult counterparts, can detect and respond to these pheromones in the same manner, so it could be beneficial for you as well.
If you have kittens you may have wondered if these diffusers will be beneficial. Well, now you know that they can.