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What are Feline Pheromones

Wednesday, March 21st, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

If you recognize the word “pheromone,” you know that you will be reading about the chemicals released by cats to send a message to other cats. Usually, the pheromones that are studied have to do with procreation but these chemicals can be used to send many different messages. Cats send at least three important messages with their pheromones – not including the romantic signals.

Cats and their pheromones

No matter how much a cat likes using the litter box, cat lovers find to their dismay that most cats will spray urine in various places around the house. In a healthy well-trained cat this behavior is used to mark its territory. The urine that is sprayed contains feline pheromones used to send a territorial message. The signal to other cats is to stay away or be prepared for a fight. To the cat itself, it signals that he or she is at home and can relax.

A cat’s claws can release feline pheromones that signal a warning to other cats. A cat scratches to release the chemicals and send its message. A third type of feline pheromones is released by the cat’s face. When you see a cat rubbing its face against an object or person, it is marking its favorite things as a message to itself. These feline pheromones show the cat that this person or object is safe to be around. Science has shown that these facial feline pheromones cause a cat to relax and cause a reduction in its aggression chemicals. Behaviorists know that a cat will not rub the same objects that it sprays.

Scientists have been able to synthesize the facial feline pheromones. They are sold in the form of spray and plug-ins similar to room fresheners. By using these synthetic feline pheromones, a cat owner can help to reassure his cat without having to tolerate spraying and scratching behaviors. This can be very valuable when moving to a new place with a cat.

Using pheromones to welcome cats

An owner can use the plug-in to make the cat feel at home in a new place. This has been shown to eliminate the need for spraying and scratching in most cats while making the cat feel safe and happy. Because the pheromones are intended to send a message, using the synthetics is a way that an owner can tell his cat that everything is all right. These feline pheromones help humans communicate to cats in a language they understand.