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Pheromones key to harmonious pet relationships – study
Pet owners in the study noted a fall in undesirable interactions, such as their dog chasing the cat.
Researches assess the effects of pheromone products on cat-dog interactions.

A first-of-its-kind study led by the University of Lincoln has revealed that pheromones could be the key to a harmonious cat-dog relationship.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, analysed the effects of two different pheromone products – Feliway Friends (Cats) and Adaptil (Dogs) - on cat-dog interactions. Researchers found that both products had a positive impact on the interactions between cats and dogs living in the same household.

Over six weeks, pet owners noted a decrease in undesirable interactions, such as their dog chasing a cat, or their cat hiding from the dog. Adaptil users also noted a rise in some desirable behaviours, such as friendly greetings between cat and dog, and time spent relaxing in the same room.

Professor Mills, a professor of veterinary behavioural medicine in Lincoln's School of Life Sciences, said: "Although we are all aware of the perceived tensions between cats and dogs, we believe this is the first study of its kind to explore the use of pheromone products to improve the relationship when the two species are living in the same household.

“Many cat and dog owners report that their animals are comfortable in each other's company, but where this isn't the case, a poor relationship between a resident cat and dog can have serious consequences for the welfare of individual animals.”

In the study, pet owners were split into two groups and randomly assigned an unlabelled pheromone. The group reported weekly on the frequency of 10 specific undesirable interactions and seven specific desirable interactions between their cats and dogs.

Researchers were aware that, in many households, the comfortability of the cat seemingly has a stronger influence over the quality of the cat-dog relationship. They were therefore surprised to learn that it was Adaptil - the product releasing dog pheromones - that increased specific desirable interactions.

Dr Miriam Prior, who undertook the work as part of her PhD, said: "While it might be expected that Feliway Friends would be more effective in multi-species homes given the apparently stronger contribution of the cat's comfortability to the quality of the cat-dog relationship, this did not appear to be the case. Our results might be explained by the behaviour of the dog being the primary determinant of the cat's quality of interaction with it.

"We would like to investigate this further to really tease out the effects of these pheromone products individually and also to investigate their use in combination with each other. We suggest that Adaptil may have had such a beneficial effect because a more relaxed dog may be less likely to disturb the cat (e.g. by chasing it), resulting in a cat that is less stressed and more willing to form some form of social bond with the dog."

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
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RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."