Cat pheromone

A cat pheromone is a chemical molecule, or compound, that is used by cats and other felids for communication.[1] These pheromones are produced and detected specifically by the body systems of cats and evoke certain behavioural responses.[1][2]

Cat pheromones are commonly released through the action of scent rubbing.[2] As such, one of the main proposed functions of pheromone release is to allow the cat to familiarize itself with its surroundings and other individuals, both in the newborn and adult stages of life.[3][4][5]

Specific cat pheromones that have been chemically identified include the feline facial pheromones F1-F5, the feline appeasing pheromone, and MMB in urine, most of which are associated with distinct feline behaviours.[2][4][6] Some of these chemical makeups have been synthetically reproduced and may be used by cat owners or veterinary professionals looking to change problematic or stress-induced behaviours.[7][8]

  1. ^ a b Wyatt TD (October 2010). "Pheromones and signature mixtures: defining species-wide signals and variable cues for identity in both invertebrates and vertebrates". Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 196 (10): 685–700. doi:10.1007/s00359-010-0564-y. PMID 20680632. S2CID 16824968.
  2. ^ a b c Vitale KR (November 2018). "Tools for Managing Feline Problem Behaviors: Pheromone therapy". Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 20 (11): 1024–1032. doi:10.1177/1098612x18806759. PMC 11343345. PMID 30375946. S2CID 53115782.
  3. ^ Shreve KR, Udell MA (2017). "Stress, security, and scent: The influence of chemical signals on the social lives of domestic cats and implications for applied settings". Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 187: 69–76. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2016.11.011. ISSN 0168-1591.
  4. ^ a b Pageat P, Gaultier E (March 2003). "Current research in canine and feline pheromones". The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice. 33 (2): 187–211. doi:10.1016/s0195-5616(02)00128-6. PMID 12701508.
  5. ^ Weiss E, Mohan-Gibbons H, Zawistowski S (2015). Animal behavior for shelter veterinarians and staff. Ames, Iowa. ISBN 978-1-119-42131-3. OCLC 905600053.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference felinine was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Hewson C (2014). "Evidence-based approaches to reducing in-patient stress – Part 2: Synthetic pheromone preparations". Veterinary Nursing Journal. 29 (6): 204–206. doi:10.1111/vnj.12140. ISSN 1741-5349. S2CID 85015744.
  8. ^ Hargrave C (April 2021). "Pheromones and 25 years of pheromonotherapy: what are they and how do they work?". The Veterinary Nurse. 12 (3): 116–122. doi:10.12968/vetn.2021.12.3.116. ISSN 2044-0065. S2CID 238042295.