Animals have many ways to communicate with each other, they can connect through sight, sounds, vocalizations, body positions, odors or pheromones, among others. However, in this article on our site, we will focus on pheromones, specifically of the feline species, to provide information to those people who have a "multi-cat" home (2 cats or more) and often find themselves facing problems of aggression between them. This fact is very frustrating and saddening for the human who lives with them, since all they want is for their cats to live in harmony.
If you don't know what pheromones are for cats or how they use them, continue reading this article and you will solve your doubts.
What are cat pheromones?
Pheromones are biological chemical compounds, mainly formed by fatty acids, which are produced inside the body of animals, they areSecreted to the outside by special glands or by joining other body fluids such as urine. These substances are chemical signals released and captured by animals of the same species and influence their social and reproductive behavior. They are constantly released into the environment or at specific times and places.
Pheromones are very present in the world of insects and vertebrates, it is known that they also exist in crustaceans and molluscs, but they are unknown in birds.
Why do cats rub their heads? - Feline facial pheromone
Cats capture pheromones through a special sensory apparatus located on the palate called vomeronasal organ Have you ever noticed that your cat does a small pause when sniffing and leaves the mouth ajar? Well, at that moment, when the cat opens its mouth when he smells something, he is smelling pheromones.
Glands that produce pheromones are found in the area of the cheeks, chin, lips, and whiskers These glands exist both in dogs as in cats. As a curiosity, the dog has two more glands, those of the ears, one in the auditory canal and another in the external ear. In the cat, it has been possible to isolate five different facial pheromones in the sebaceous secretions of the cheeks. At this time, we know the function of only three of them. These pheromones are involved in the territorial marking behavior and in certain complex social behaviors.
The cat appears to mark some spots around its preferred paths in its territory by rubbing its face against them. In doing so, he deposits a pheromone, which can calm him down and help him organize the environment by classifying it into “known objects” and “unknown objects.”
During sexual behavior, to detect and attract females in heat, the male cat rubs his face in places around where the cat is there and leaves another pheromone different from the one used in the previous case. It has been observed that in sterilized cats the concentration of this pheromone is minimal.
Other pheromones in cats
In addition to facial pheromones, other pheromones are distinguished in cats for specific purposes:
- Urine Pheromone: The urine of male cats has a pheromone that gives it its characteristic odor. Urine marking is undoubtedly the best-known behavior in cats and is considered the main behavior problem of cats that live with humans. The posture that cats assume during marking is typical, standing up and spraying small amounts of urine on vertical surfaces. This hormone is linked to the search for a partner. Female cats in heat often mark as well.
- Scratch pheromone: cats release it when they scratch an object with their front paws, and they also attract other cats to do the same behaviour. Therefore, if your cat scratches the furniture and you don't know what to do, consult the article "How to prevent my cat from scratching everything", understand his behavior and guide him.
Pheromones for aggressive cats
Feline aggressiveness is a very common problem observed by ethologists. It is quite a serious fact because it endangers the physical integrity of other animals, including humans and other pets. A cat in a home can achieve high well-being by sharing the territory with humans or other animals such as dogs, but they are little tolerant to the presence of other feline companions in places closed. Feral cats that live in social groups with a lot of food form matrilineal groups, that is, the females and their daughters are the ones that remain in the colonies. Young males often leave the group, and adults, if tolerant of one another, may overlap their territories, but generally keep their territory actively defended. Also, a social group will not allow another adult cat to join. On the other hand, a feral cat can have a territory of between 0.51 to 620 hectares, while the territory of a house cat has artificial limits (doors, walls, walls, etc.). Two cats living in a house must share space and time, as well as tolerate each other without showing aggression.
In the case of aggressiveness in cats, there is a pheromone called " calming pheromone". It has been observed that in cats living together or between a cat and a dog or a cat and a human being, when the cat is sociable to these species, this pheromone decreases the probability of a behavior aggressive between the cat and the other individual that has been sprayed with this hormone. There are also diffuser pheromones that promote a relaxed and calm environment, making cats appear calmer. This is how the hormones that are sold on the market work, however, we recommend consulting a specialist to find out which one is the most suitable for our specific case.
Homemade pheromones for cats
One of the most commonly used home remedies to calm a hyperactive or aggressive cat is growing catnip at home. Most cats are irresistibly attracted to this herb, though keep in mind that not all are equally attracted (approximately 70% of the population cat world yes it is and it is due to genetic factors) and that not all cats have the same effects after ingesting it.
We can use this herb as a treat, rub it against objects or new animals to make them attractive. This homemade "pheromone" for cats also works as a relaxant for hyperactive cats or as an insect repellent.
