Cats may be able to distinguish which cat a urine sample belongs to by detecting specific chemicals in the urine, according to an international research team, including Iwate University.
It is known that cats exhibit the Flehmen response – opening their mouths slightly and adopting a dazed expression after sniffing urine – and it is believed they make this determination at that moment.
The paper was published in the international scientific journal of biology, Current Biology.
The research team used a technique to separate the various components in cat urine.
They confirmed that the Flehmen response occurred only when the cats were exposed to a specific chemical substance known as branched-chain fatty acids (BFAs).
The research team confirmed that there are 13 types of BFAs, including newly discovered ones.
They concluded that cats identify individuals based on the type and combination of BFAs.
“Cat urine serves, so to speak, as a ‘scented business card,’” said Prof Masao Miyazaki of Iwate University, who specialises in molecular biological functions.
“The mechanism by which individuals are identified by distinguishing between chemical substances could also be useful in research on dogs, which are known for their marking behaviour.”
“This is a significant study that has identified the substances that trigger the Flehmen response,” said Prof Haruki Takeuchi from the University of Tokyo, an expert in animal olfaction.
“It can be considered an important achievement that scientifically explains cat communication.” — The Yomiuri Shimbun/ANN
