Scientists uncover how cats identify each other by urine scent
A multinational research team has discovered that cats identify each other through unique chemical profiles in their urine. The study identifies specific fatty acids that allow felines to recognize individual scent marks.
Why it matters
Understanding feline olfactory communication provides insights into animal behavior and potential applications for veterinary medicine and wildlife monitoring.
The findings, electronically published in Current Biology this week, may be applied to suppressing urine odor or monitoring rare feline species.
Listen TOKYO - Domestic cats identify each other by sniffing their urine, as their urinary composition profiles are individually distinctive, according to a study published in a scientific journal.
A multinational research team including Japanese researchers has analysed urinary components that trigger flehmen grimace, also known as the “stinky face”, among cats, while observing their response when they sniff the urine of other individuals during experiments.
It was already known that cats obtain information of other individuals from sprayed urine but the details including specific components had been unclear.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in