GB2345635A

GB2345635A - Compositions for modifying animal behaviour

Info

Publication number: GB2345635A
Application number: GB9828873A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Xavier Aubry; Michael David Kirk-Smith; Max Andre
Original assignee: Dynavet Sarl
Current assignee: Dynavet Sarl
Priority date: 1998-12-31
Filing date: 1998-12-31
Publication date: 2000-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-31
Also published as: GB2345635B; GB9828873D0

Abstract

A composition comprises microencapsulated fatty acid or mixture of fatty acids (or their derivatives) cat attractant. The fatty acid(s)/derivatives(s) are released when the cat marks or brushes the area where they are applied, thus giving a release of the mixture that relates to the cat's behaviour. Another composition comprises one or more fatty acids and/or their derivatives and a 7-methylcyclopentapyrone and/or a 4-methyl benzofuranone that are attractive to cats. These compositions prevent aberrant cat behaviour such as urine marking.

Description

COMPOSITIONS FOR MODIFYING ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to compositions for correcting behavioural defects in domestic cats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Domestic cats exhibit various problematic behaviours, particularly urine marking in owners'homes and house-soiling. More than 10% of all adult cats spray, and this is the most frequent behavioural problem a vet has to face in a cat.

Other behavioural abnormalities include anxiety and anxiety related symptoms (licking, self-mutilation, digestive disorders, sleep disorders) as well as intraspecific and heterospecific aggression.

Most of these problems are associated with malfunction of normal communication and environmental/territorial perception. It is known that different extracts from cats'cheek glands containing fatty acid mixtures are able to lessen of these behaviours.

As disclosed in WO-A-96/23414, synthetic analogues, which include the fatty acids found in these cheek gland extracts, are provided in aqueous emulsion form with extracts of a variety of Valeriana, specifically an extract of Valeriana officinalis. The function of the extract of Valeriana officinalis is said to be to attract the cat towards the odour of the synthetic analogues, thus enabling them to exert their effect.

Two separate problems have been identified with this approach and their respective solutions constitute first and second aspects of the present invention. The first problem arises from the way in which the ingredients are formulated. The second problem arises from the choice of the Valeriana extract as the attractant component in the composition.

The first problem is that in use, the emulsion composition of WO-A-96/23414 is sprayed directly on and around the affected areas. The release of the odour has the disadvantage of not being related to the cat's behaviour and of being continuous (and thus dissipated rapidly).

The second problem is that the extracts of Valeriana used in the compositions of WO- A-96/23414 have the following disadvantages: 1. Side effects : Extracts of Valeriana are used clinically as sedatives and include pharmacologically active components such as the valpotriates acvaltrate, didrovaltrate isovaltrate and valtrate and isovaleramide. Combined with the synthetic analogues they may therefore exert a sedative effect on cats, either through ingestion, if cats lick the surfaces on which they are applied, or through absorption from the air via the olfactory epithelium or lungs.

This unintended sedative side effect is counter-productive, because it alters the proper evaluation of behavioural problems. For example, if an anxious cat shows urinary marking when another cat is introduced into its home, the use of a sedative such as Valerian will alter the cat's emotional and behavioural state, thus giving the impression that the problem is solved, until the treatment is stopped. Giving a sedative to animals to lessen a given behavioural problem does not solve the cause of the problem.

2. Instability : Components of Valeriana, such as the valepotriates, are rapidly decomposed by the effects of heat, light and moisture to form isovaleric acid. This is a foul smell to humans, and detracts from long-term storage and the use of products compounds containing valerian extracts within enclosed spaces such as the home.

3. Reaction ofattractant and fatty acids: There is no published scientific evidence that valeriana is attractive to cats. However, it has been suggested that the active component is actinidine. The combination of actinidine (a weak base) and the carboxylic fatty acids as disclosed in WO-A-96/23414 yields protonated actinidine and the carboxylic acid anion. On the basis of the pKa values for pyridine (pKa = 5 for pyH+) and acetic acid (pKa = 4-5), therefore a substantial proportion of the actinidine is likely to be present as the non-volatile (and possibly insoluble) salt. The proportions used indicate that the carboxylic fatty acids will be present in large excess, which will increase the proportion of actinidine present as a salt. This means that much of the actinidine present will not be available as an attractant.

DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composition for modifying the behaviour of cats, the composition comprising one or more fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives and one or more cat attractants, wherein at least part of the fatty acid (s) and/or fatty acid derivative (s) is microencapsulated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition for modifying the behaviour of cats, the composition comprising: (a) one or more fatty acids and/or one or more fatty acid derivatives; (b) a cat attractant component comprising: (i) one or more 7-m ethyl cyclopentapyranones ; and/or (ii) one or more 4-methyl benzofuranones.

For the avoidance of doubt, the first and second aspects fo the present invention are separate from each other and neither depends on the other to deliver its benefit.

However, it is possible to use the encapsulation techniques of the first aspect of the invention in compositions according to the second aspect and it is possible to use the special cat attractant (s) of the second aspect of the present inventions in compositions according to the first aspect.

In the first aspect of the invention, at least part of the fatty acid or fatty acid derivative component is incorporated into microcapsules.

This method of presentation has one or more of the following advantages.

When the cat cheek marks or brushes against the surface, more mixture is released, thus providing a release mechanism dependent on the cat's behaviour to the object.

The purpose of applying the mixture is to encourage the cat to cheek mark rather than urine mark. With encapsulation, the cat will be attracted to the where the mixture is applied, and will brush or cheekmark the area, thus releasing more pheromone mixture, which elicits more marking behaviour. The behaviour-related release of the odour thus provides a means to encourage the preferred habit of cheek marking.

Since release is dependent on the cat's behaviour rather than continuous, it means that less applications of the mixture are required.

If required, the cat's owner may also subsequently release more material from the surface by rubbing it.

The hydrophobic fatty acids are stabilised by incorporation into the micro-capsule which increases storage life time. As well as being sprayed, the mixture material may also be applied as a water-based damp wipe, in which application to the solid surface causes some capsules to fragment.

A water-based microencapsulated formulation is less injurious to domestic surfaces than one based on organic solvents or oils and has no volatile organic compounds.

A water based formulation is cheaper to produce.

The second aspect of the present invention comprises the addition to a fatty acid or derivative component, of 7-methylcyclopentapyranones and/or 4methyl benzofuranones.

The advantages of the second aspect of present invention are one or more of the following: No major side effects : These lactones have few known deleterious side effects, and these only occur when large quantities are ingested.

Stability : The lactones are stable compounds, thus allowing both long-term storage and use.

No reactivity : The lactones, unlike actinidine, are not bases and will not react with the fatty acids, and will therefore be fully available as volatile attractants.

Specific and known attractiveness : In comparison to the lack of evidence regarding the attractiveness of extracts of Valeriana, the lactones have a well-evidenced and characterised high attractiveness to cats, which is known to be for the single lactone alone. A synthetic product also provides reliable and consistent effects not possible with the variable batch quality of plant extracts.

Small amounts : The lactones can elicit attraction at levels down to the parts per billion or even trillion, thus reducing product volume (and distribution costs).

The synthetic mixture and the attractant may be in solubised (via emulsion, solvent, microencapsulation, hydrotrope or gel) or solid forms (via binding to a surface or incorporation in a solid).

The attractants may be used by themselves (i. e., whether synthetic or extracted from plants) or in combination or in extracts from the plants containing them (including Nepeta cataria or Actinidia polygama).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As used herein, the term'microencapsulated'means that the relevant component is 'encapsulated'by another component of the composition, rather than 'macroencapsulated', i. e. incorporated into discrete polymer capsules or similar which are pre-filled with that component. The techniques for microencapsulation are well known in the art and generally comprise either formulation of a coacervate, in which typically, the component to be encapsulated (which is normally a volatile liquid) is incorporated as droplets which are coated with another (usually particulate solid) material, or else formulation of a liquid-crystalline-like phase such as a lamellar (e. g. lamellar droplet) phase or liposomes. The latter approach also includes forming micelles with the aid of a surfactant and polymerising them with electromagnetic radiation (e. g. light) or by use of a polymerisation catalyst.

Some preferred materials for formulation of the coacervate kind of microencapsulate include: 1. gelatin and gum arabic ; 2. starch, whey or soy protein; or 3. polysaccharides (e. g. maltodextrin, acacia gum, agarose, xanthan gum, sodium or calcium alginates, cellulose derivatives such as hydroxypropyl cellulose or ethyl cellulose, and beta cyclodextrin); 4. colloidal silica; or 5. other polymers such as polyureas, (meth) acrylic polymers and copolymers.

Mixtures of such materials can be used.

Generally speaking, the weight ratio of the material being encapsulated to the encapsulating additive is from 1 : 8 to 8: 1, preferably from 1 : 4 to 4: 1.

Typical weight average particle sizes for the encapsulating additive are from 0.001 to 1. 0 microns, e. g. from 0.004 to 0.2 microns.

Some suitable materials and techniques for microencapsulation are disclosed in the following references: Miles et al. (1971) Encapsulated perfumes in aerosal products. Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, 22,655-666.

Gutcho, M. (ed.) (1976) Microcapsules and microencapsulation, Noyes Data Corp., Parkridge NJ. (BNB) Dept. Trade and Industry/Royal. Soc. Chem.-Proceedings of Conference on Controlled Release, 2 December.

"Spray dried fragrances"from Miles et al. (1971) Encapsulated perfumes in aerosal products. Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemistry, 22,655-666.

Deasy, PB (1984) Microencapsulation and related drug processes. Marcel Dekker, Inc., NY and Basle. isbn 0-8247-7162-1 Bakan, JA (1994) Microencapsulation. In: Swarbrick, J and Boylan JC (Eds) Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Technology. Marcel Dekker, Inc., NY and Basle. isbn 0-8247-2808-4.

The microcapsules are preferably formulated so as to be able to (a) be dispersed in aerosol form, e. g. spontaneously from the surface to which the composition is applied, or upon rubbing ; (b) to be fracturable to release their contents upon rubbing ; and (c) to stick to surfaces to which the composition is applied.

Depending on the method used to encapsulate, it is also possible to engineer the microcapsules to have the following properties: First, the remaining microcapsules may be rendered less permeable with time, by incorporation of catalysts that increase the degree of cross-linking upon exposure to light. After initial application the odour diminishes and the cat will gain confidence to overmark and hence render the surface part of its territory.

Alternatively, the remaining microcapsules may be rendered more permeable with time, by incorporation of catalysts that decrease the degree of cross-linking upon exposure to light. Light application of pressure and/or spontaneous fragmentation will increase release rate At least part of the fatty acid (s) and/or fatty acid derivative (s) is in the microcapsules.

The cat attractant (s) may be in the composition but outside the microcapsule, i. e. in a continuous phase of the composition, in order readily to be released into the atmosphere. However, some or all of the attractant (s) may be incorporated in the microcapsules, particularly if the microcapsules are'leaky', i. e. semi-permeable.

Clearly, the choice of, and order of mixing of the paticular components must be chosen according to which of these alternatives is desired.

Compositions according to the first aspect of the present invention contain one or more fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives and these correspond to analogous materials found in cat facial secretions, or in any event are capable of mimicing such secretion compounds. Generally speaking, such fatty acids are branched, but preferably straightchained having from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and one or two carboxyl groups, and may be saturated or unsaturated. In the case of fatty acid derivatives, these will usually be selected from esters thereof. The fatty acid (s) and/or derivatives (s) will be chosen according to their ability to inhibit cats from one or more chosen aberrant behavioural traits, such as urine spraying, anxiety disorders, aggressive behaviour etc. The ability of any compound or mixture to elicit this effect can be determined by testing the approach and investigative behaviour and times of cats to stimuli with and without the compounds present, with suitable counterbalancing of such stimuli and controls for confounding factors such as residual cat odours per Hatch 1972; Todd 1963,1962: Hatch, RC (1972) Effect of drugs on catnip-induced pleasure behaviour in cats.

Amer. J. Veterin. Res. 33, 143-145.

Todd, NB (1962) The inheritance of the catnip response in domestic cats. J. Heredity, 53,54-56.

Todd, NB (1963) The Catnip Response., Phd Thesie, Harvard University, Cambridge Massachusetts.

Preferred are those materials disclosed in WO-A-96/23414, namely one or more materials selected from oleic acid, azelaic acid, pimetic acid, palmitric acid, caproic acid, 5-amino valeric acid, n-butyric acid, isobutyric acid, a-methylbutyric acid, propionic acid, p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and 5 -cholestone-3 -ol acid. However, the invention must not be contrued as limited to any of these materials.

One typical mixture of these materials (on a volume, i. e. v%/v% bass) comprises : (i) from 30% to 50% oleic acid (preferably from 34% to 41%) ; (ii) from 15% to 40% caproic acid (preferably from 18% to 32%); (iii) from 5% to 15% 5-aminovaleric acid (preferably from 6% to 15%) ; (iv) from 5% to 25% n-butyric acid (preferably from 5% to 15%); and (v) from 5% to 15% a-methylbutyric acid (preferably from 6% to 9%).

Another typical mixture may comprise (as % v/% v) :- (i) from 10% to 35% 5 -cholestane acid 3p-ol (preferably from 13 / to 27%) ; (ii) from 30% to about 45% oleic acid (preferably from 33% to 39%) ; (iii) from 10% to about 45% oleic acid (preferably from 11% to 24%) ; (iv) from 10% to 40% n-butyric acid (preferably from 14% to 30%).

Yet a further typical mixture may comprise (as v%/v%) :- (i) from 25% to 45% palmitic acid (preferably from 28% to 37%) ; (ii) from 10% to 30% isobutyric acid (preferably from 11% to 18%) ; (iii) from 5% to 25% 5-aminovaleric acid (preferably from 9% to 15%); (iv) from 1% to 20% n-butyric acid (preferably from 2% to 12%); (v) from 5% to 15% a-methylbutyric acid (preferably from 5% to (vi) from 5% to 30% azelaic acid (preferably from 7% to 19%); and (vii) between about 5% to 30% of p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (preferably from 8% to 19%).

Optionally, a suitable amine such as trimethylamine, may be added in an amount typically of from 1% to 10% (% v/% v), preferably from 2% to 6%, more preferably from 3% to 5% to any of these fatty acid mixtures, the percentages of the other components then remaining as stated above.

The compositions according to the first aspect of the present invention also include any one or more cat attractants selected from those compounds known to possess such a property, for example various extracts of vegetal origin or synthetic analogues thereof, such as appropriate extracts from the genuses Valeriana (e. g. Valeriana officinalis), Nepeta (e. g. Nepeta cataria) or Actinidia (e. g. Actinida polygama). Suitable specific compounds include 7-methyl-2-pyridines, such as actinidine and boschniakine.

Particularly preferred are the materials utilised by the second aspect of the present invention, namely the 7-methylcyclopentapyranones and 4-methyl benzofuranones, for example those specifically recited by name, hereinafter.

However, it is important to understand that the inventive step of the present invention resides in the microencapsulation technology and compositions according to the first aspect of the present invention are in no way to be construed as limited to use of any of the aforementioned specific cat attractants but may employ any compound which can be shown to attract cats, for example by eliciting approach and investigate behaviour and various behaviours indicative of the induction of a positive affect, e. g., sniffing and face rubbing and components of sexual behaviour per Hatch 1972; Todd 1962,1963 infra.

The total amount of fatty acid (s) and/or derivatives) relative to the total amount of cat attractant is typically from 1 : 4 to 4: 1, more preferably from 3: 7 to 7: 3 by volume.

The total amount of fatty acid (s) and/or derivatives relative to the total amount of cat attractant is typically from 0. 5ml : 50ml to 8ml : 320ml, more preferably from 5ml : 80ml by volume, in 1 litre water.

The compositions of the second aspect of the present invention contain one or more 7 methylcyclopentapyranones and/or 4-methyl benzofuranones. Amongst the former (7 methylcyclopentapyranones) suitable compounds may conveniently be classified as falling within classes termed herein as'Type 1'and'Type 2'A non-exhaustive list of suitable Type 1 compounds includes iridomyrmecin, isoiridomyrmecin, boschnialactone, teucriumlactone, and dolicholactone C.

Similarly, a non-exhaustive list of suitable Type 2 compounds includes nepetalactone, epinepetalactone, dihydronepetalactone, isodihydronepetalactone'neonepetalactone, cis, cis nepetalactone, 5,9 dehydronepetalactone, onikulactone, mitsugashiwalactone and dolicholactone D.

Amongst the suitable 4-methylbenzofuranones are included actinidiolide and dihydroactinidiolide.

Compositions according to the second aspect of the present invention preferably contain the same fatty acid (s) and/or fatty acid derivatives (s) as those stated hereinbefore as preferred for compositions according to the first aspect of the present invention. Also, preferred amounts of total fatty acid (s) and/or fatty acid derivatives relative to total cat attractant (s) are the same as those preferred for compositions according to the first aspect fo the invention.

Compositions according to either aspect of the present invention may be provided as dispersions/solutions is non-aqueous or aqueous media, or as emulsions. It may be necessary to employ a surfactant to achieve emulsification or a hydrotrope to achieve (aqueous) solution. However the medium of choice must not attack the microcapsules in the case of compositions according to the first aspect of the invention.

Compositions according to either aspect of the present invention may be provided in liquid paste, gel or waxy stick form, e. g. in a bottle or spray to be applied to the surface or area of choice. They may alternatively be provided on a substrate e. g. of paper or plastics material to be applied to a chosen surface, e. g. by self-adhesive means.

The present invention will now be explained in more detail by way of the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1 A mixture of 68% oleic acid, 8% azelaic acid, 9% pimelic acid and 15% palmitic acid with 0.5% Nepata cataria was microencapsulated using a gelatin and acacia coacervate.

As well as inhibiting urine marking, this fatty acid composition may be used to inhibit stress reduction during transport, scratching, and to increase exploratory behaviour and food intake. Encapsulation was effected according to the following method.

The mixture of fatty acids and attractant (Unibios, Trecate. Italy) was put in a 10% (w/v) gelatin solution at 40 degrees C, and the suspension was homogenised with Ultraturrax (Janke & Kunkel Labortechnik, Staufen, Germany) at 10,000 rpm for 2 min. Then, an equal volume of a 10% (w/v) acacia (Nuova Astrochimica, Milan, Italy) solution at 40 degrees C was added to the suspension, and the system was rehomogenized under the same conditions. The final weight ratio between the mixture and the two polymers altogether was 1 : 1. This new suspension was next diluted with distilled water (prewarmed at 40 degrees C) to reach a concentration of 1.5% (w/v) for each colloidal polymer. Finally, the addition of a volume of a 1096 acetic acid solution (always prewarmed at 40 degrees C) necessary to reduce the pH vale to 4.5 gave rise to the coacervation process. After 30 min the system was cooled to 5 degrees C and left for 1 hr at this temperature before drying and recovering the free-flowing microcapsules. During this process, the system was continuously stirred at 150 rpm except during homogenisation with the Ultraturrax.

Microcapsules were recovered by freeze-drying using an FTS Dura-Dry FD-14-84 freeze-drying apparatus (New York, USA). The gelled system was shared into borosilicate glass containers which were plunged in liquid N2 for a while and then put inside the freeze-dryer chamber previously cooled to-30 degrees C. When the glass temperature was stablised, the condenser temperature was set to-90 degrees C and the vacuum pump was switched on. After the process had set out, the freeze-drying room was heated in the right proportion in order to avoid further cooling of the congealed mass, which could slow down or stop the sublimation process. When primary drying finished, the temperature of freeze-dryer chamber was increased to 20 degrees C and maintained for 30 min before stopping the process, and the microcapsules collected.

The formulation was then diluted in 11 water and sprayed onto the affected area.

Example 2 A mixture of 68% oleic acid, 8% azelaic acid, 9% pimelic acid and 15% palmitic acid with 20mg nepetalactone was microencapsulated using calcium alginate according to the following method. Ten ml of the fatty acid and attractant mixture was dispersed in 100ml of a 0.6% w/v aqueous solution of sodium alginate. The solution was then gelled by dropwise extrusion into an excess of 2.5% w/v aqueous calcium chloride solution. The spherical microparticles formed are then filtered and dried.

The formulation was then diluted in I litre of water and sprayed onto the affected area.

Example 3 A mixture of 68% oleic acid, 8% azelaic acid, 9% pimelic acid and 15% palmitic acid with 0.5% Valeriana officinalis extract (source of nepetalactone) was microencapsulated using hydroxypropyl cellulose in a manner analogous to Example 2.

The formulation was then diluted in 1 litre of water and sprayed onto the affected area.

Examples 4 (a)- (c) to 7 (aJ-(c) In a similar manner, as in Example 1,2, and 3 (variants (a)- (c)) the following fatty acids were made into formulations with the attractants and methods of encapsulation specified for each: Example 4 -oleic acid : 38% -caproic acid : 28% -trimethylamine : 4% -5-aminovaleric acid : 5% -n-butyric acid : 9% -alpha-methylbutyric acid : 15% Example 5 -oleic acid : 50% -palmitic acid : 30% -propionic acid : 11% -p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid : 9% This composition may be used to increase cats'sexual behaviour.

Example 6 -5- -cholestan acid-3- --ol : 20% -oleic acid : 35% -pimelic acid 20% -n-butyric acid 25% This composition may be used to reduce aggression, e. g., for the introduction of a cat to another cat or to other species, and to allow easier handling of cats by vets and owners.

Example 7 -palmitic acid : 35% -isobutyric acid : 11 % -5-aminovaleric acid : 4% -n-butyric acid. 3% -cr-methyibutyric acid : 6% -trimethytamine: 6% -azelaic acid : 16% -p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid 14% Example 8 A 68% oleic acid, 8% azelaic acid, 9% pimelic acid and 15% palmitic acid were mixed and then diluted in 1 litre distilled water or saline to form an emulsion having a concentration of about 8% fatty acids. To this emulsion was added 0.1 mg of iridomyrmecin. The solution was then stirred until an aqueous solution was produced.

As well as inhibiting urine marking, this fatty acid composition may be used to inhibit stress reduction during transport, scratching, and to increase exploratory behaviour and food intake.

Example 9 A 68% oleic acid, 8% azelaic acid, 9% pimelic acid and 15% palmitic acid were mixed and then diluted in 1 litre distilled water or saline to form an emulsion having a concentration of about 8% fatty acids. To this emulsion was added 5 ml/1 of Nepata cataria. The solution was then stirred until an aqueous solution was produced.

Examples 10 (a), (b) to 13/a). (b) In a similar manner, as in Example 8 and 9 (variants (a), (b) respectively), the following formulations were made using the same attractant in each case : Example 10 -oleic acid : 38% -caproic acid : 28% -trimethylamine: 4% -5-aminovaleric acid : 5% -n-butyric acid : 9% -a-methylbutyric acid : 15% Example 11 -oleic acid : 50% -palmitic acid : 30% -propionic acid : 11% -p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid : 9% This composition may be used to increase cats'sexual behaviour.

Example 12 -5-P-cholestanacid-3-P-ol : 20% -oleic acid : 35% -pimelic acid : 20% -n-butyric acid : 25% This composition may be used to reduce aggression, e. g., for the introduction of a cat to another cat or to other species, and to allow easier handling of cats by vets and owners.

Example 13 -palmitic acid : 35% -isobutyric acid : 11% -5-aminovaleric acid : 4% -n-butyric acid : 3% -cr-methyibutyric acid : 6% -trimethytamine : 6% -azelaic acid : 16% -p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid 14%

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A composition for modifying the behaviour of cats, the composition comprising one or more fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives and one or more cat attractants, wherein at least part of the fatty acid (s) and/or fatty acid derivative (s) is microencapsulated.
2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the microencapsulation is effected by formulation of a coacervate.
3. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the coacervate is formed by an encapsulating additive selected from one or more of :- (a) gelatin and gum arabic; (b) starch, whey or soy protein; or (c) polysaccharides (e. g. maltodextrin, acacia gum, agarose, xanthan gum, sodium or calcium alginates, cellulose derivatives such as hydroxypropyl cellulose or ethyl cellulose, and beta cyclodextrin); (d) colloidal silica; or (e) other polymers such as polyureas, (meth) acrylic polymers and copolymers.
4. A composition according to claim 3, wherein the weight ratio of the fatty acid (s) and/or fatty acid derivative (s) to the attractant (s) is from 1: 4 to 4 : 1.
5. A composition according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the encapsulating additive has a weight average particle diameter from 0.001 to 1.0 microns, preferably from 0.004 to 0.2 microns.
6. A composition for modifying the behaviour of cats, the composition : (a) one or more fatty acids and/or one or more fatty acid derivatives ; (b) a cat attractant component comprising : (i) one or more 7-methylcyclopentapyranones; and/or (ii) one or more 4-methyl benzofuranones.
7. A composition according to claim 6, wherein the 7-methylcyclopentapyranone is irodomyrmecin and its isomer.
8. A composition according to claim 6, wherein the 7-methylcyclopentapyranone is nepetalactone.
9. A composition according to claim 6, wherein the 4-methyl benzofuranone is actinolide.
10. A composition according to any of claims 6-9, wherein the fatty acid and attractant mixture is dispersed or dissolved in water as emulsion, by use of a hydrotrope or as a gel.
11. A composition according to any of claims 6-10, bound to a solid matrix.
12. A composition according to any of claims 6-11, wherein the fatty acid mixture comprises : (i) from 62% (v% v%) to 86% (v%/v%) of oleic acid; (ii) from 6% (v% v%) to 13% (v%/v%) of azelaic acid; (iii) from 9% to 12% (v%/v%) of pimelic acid ; and (iv) from 13% (v% v%) to 24% (v%/v%) of palmitic acid ; and and the attractant is a 7-methylcyclopentapyranone lactone.
13. A composition according to any of claims 6-11, wherein said fatty acid mixture comprises: (i) from 13% (v% v%) to 27% (v%/v%) of 5beta-cholestane acid 3beta-ol ; (ii) from 33% (v% v%) to 39% (v%/v%) of oleic acid; (iii) from 11% to 24% (v%/v%) of pimelic acid; and (iv) from 14% (v% v%) to 30% (v%/v%) of n-butyric acid; and the attractant is a 7-methylcyclopentapyranone lactone.
14. A composition according to any of claims 6-11, wherein fatty acid mixture comprises : (i) from 25% to 45% palmitic acid (preferably from 28% to 37%); (ii) from 10% to 30% isobutyric acid (preferably from 11% to 18%); (iii) from 5% to 25% 5-aminovaleric acid (preferably from 9% to 15%); (iv) from 1% to 20% n-butyric acid (preferably from 2% to 12%) ; (v) from 5% to 15% a-methylbutyric acid (preferably from 5% to 8%); (vi) from 5% to 30% azelaic acid (preferably from 7% to 19%) ; and (vii) between about 5% to 30% of p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (preferably from 8% to 19%).
15. A composition according to any of claims 6-14, wherein the 7-methylcyclopentapyranone is incorporated in the form of a plant extract.
16. A composition according to any of claims 6-15, wherein the 4-methyl benzofuranone is incorporated in the form of a plant extract.