Feliway vs Pet Remedy: Which Calming Plug In Is Best? (2026)

Last updated: March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

If you have got an anxious cat at home, you have probably come across two big names in calming plug ins: Feliway Optimum and Pet Remedy. We bought both, tested them side by side, and paired them with smart plugs to squeeze more value out of each refill. In this Feliway vs Pet Remedy comparison, we share our honest experience, including what worked, what didn't, and a couple of bonus products that made a real difference.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our opinions remain entirely our own.

Two great products, two different approaches

Both Feliway Optimum and Pet Remedy are well-made, clinically backed calming diffusers. However, they work in fundamentally different ways. Feliway uses a synthetic feline pheromone complex that mimics the natural calming signals cats produce when they rub their face against objects. As a result, it speaks directly to cats and only cats. Pet Remedy, on the other hand, uses a natural blend of valerian, vetiver, basil, and clary sage essential oils. These oils mimic GABA, a calming neurotransmitter found across all mammals, birds, and reptiles. That means Pet Remedy works for dogs, rabbits, birds, horses, and more.

If you only have cats, either product is a solid choice. But if you run a multi-pet household, Pet Remedy covers everyone in one go. For dog owners specifically, there is also Adaptil, which uses dog-specific pheromones in much the same way that Feliway targets cats.

How we tested them

We tried both the Feliway Optimum starter kit and the Pet Remedy plug in diffuser in our home, which has two cats. One is pretty chilled out; the other is noticeably nervous, especially around vet visits, loud noises, and new people. We ran each diffuser for a full cycle in the main living room before switching.

We also paired both plug ins with Tapo P110M smart plugs, which turned out to be a genuinely useful hack. On top of that, we connected an Eve Motion sensor to the setup. The motion sensor triggers the smart plug to switch on whenever it detects movement in the room, then turns the diffuser off again after one hour of no activity. When we left the house for longer stretches, we simply set the plug to stay on continuously through a scheduled routine.

This combination effectively doubled the life of each refill. The diffusers only ran during the hours our cats were actually in the room, rather than heating away into an empty house. Given the ongoing cost of refills, this small investment in smart home kit pays for itself within a couple of months.

Our experience with Feliway Optimum

Feliway Optimum is odourless, which is a big plus. You plug it in and forget about it. Within a few days, we noticed our more anxious cat was less reactive and spent more time in the living room rather than hiding. The effect was subtle but consistent. According to Feliway, 93% of cat owners report enhanced calming, and that broadly matched our experience at home.

The downside is cost. Each 48ml refill lasts around 30 days, and at roughly £20 per refill, that is £240 a year if you leave it running non-stop. Using a smart plug to schedule it brought our effective usage down significantly.

Our experience with Pet Remedy

Pet Remedy was also effective, and it lasts far longer per refill. Each 40ml bottle provides up to eight weeks of use, which is a big win on the value front. However, we need to be honest about the smell. There is a definite herbal scent that takes some getting used to. For the first couple of days, we genuinely thought our damp washing had gone off. Once we realised it was the diffuser, the smell became much less noticeable, and after about a week we stopped registering it altogether.

In terms of calming effect, our nervous cat was noticeably more settled with Pet Remedy too. Because it works through a different pathway (essential oils mimicking GABA rather than feline pheromones), it is hard to say one was clearly better than the other. Both helped. If anything, the effect with Pet Remedy felt slightly milder but longer-lasting once you got used to leaving it on.

The recycling problem

One thing that frustrated us about both products is the waste. The plastic diffuser refill bottles and vials cannot easily be recycled through standard kerbside collection. Neither Feliway nor Pet Remedy currently offers a post-back refill scheme, and we think they should. For brands that market to pet-loving, often environmentally conscious consumers, a return-and-refill programme would go a long way. It is a missed opportunity for both.

What worked for our most nervous cat

The plug ins were brilliant for keeping the house calm day-to-day. But our most anxious cat's biggest triggers happened outside the home, particularly vet visits. For those situations, the diffusers obviously cannot help. That is where the Feliway Happy Snack calming licks were a genuine game changer.

These lickable treats contain alpha-casozepine, a natural milk protein with calming properties. We started giving them a couple of days before each vet visit, and the difference was noticeable. She was still nervous, and she still peed in the carrier box, but she was visibly calmer and less frantic. It was the first time we had found something that took the edge off for her on the move. We now keep a box in the house at all times.

Feliway vs Pet Remedy: which should you buy?

There is no single answer here, because the two products target different things. If you only have cats and want a targeted, odourless pheromone approach, go with Feliway Optimum. If you have multiple pet species or prefer a natural essential oil blend at a lower price point, Pet Remedy is an excellent choice. And if you have a dog, take a look at Adaptil, which does for dogs what Feliway does for cats.

Our honest advice? Try a few different things. No single product will solve every anxiety issue. Combine a plug in at home with calming treats for travel, and consider pairing your diffuser with a smart plug to manage running costs. We genuinely think both Feliway Optimum and Pet Remedy are good products that earn their place in an anxious pet's toolkit.

Buy Feliway Optimum on Amazon UK Buy Pet Remedy on Amazon UK

Feliway vs Pet Remedy FAQs

Can you use Feliway and Pet Remedy at the same time?

There is no known interaction between the two, since they work through entirely different mechanisms. However, using both simultaneously in the same room is unlikely to provide double the benefit. It makes more sense to try one at a time and see which your cat responds to best.

Does Pet Remedy smell bad?

It has a noticeable herbal scent, especially in the first few days. Most people describe it as earthy or slightly medicinal. It is not unpleasant once you are used to it, but it caught us off guard initially. Feliway Optimum, by contrast, is completely odourless.

Is Feliway worth the extra money?

It depends on your situation. Feliway Optimum costs more per month than Pet Remedy and each refill lasts half as long. However, it targets cat-specific pheromone pathways that Pet Remedy does not. If your cat has specific behavioural issues like spraying or inter-cat tension, the targeted approach may justify the price difference.

Can you use a smart plug with a calming diffuser?

Yes, and we recommend it. Both Feliway and Pet Remedy diffusers work by gently heating a liquid, so pairing them with a timed smart plug lets you run them only when needed. We went a step further and added an Eve Motion sensor to trigger the plug whenever our cats entered the room, with an auto-off after one hour of no movement. When we went out for the day, we switched to a simple always-on schedule. This roughly doubled each refill's lifespan.

What about calming products for dogs?

Feliway only works for cats. Dog owners should look at Adaptil, which uses canine-specific pheromones. Pet Remedy, meanwhile, works for all pets, including dogs, so it is a good all-rounder for multi-pet homes.

Do calming plug ins actually work?

Based on our experience, yes, but they are not a silver bullet. Both products made a noticeable difference to our more anxious cat at home. For out-of-home stress, we found Feliway's calming lick treats more useful. The best results come from combining several approaches rather than relying on one product alone.

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