What Are Cat Pheromones and How Do They Work?
- Rachel
- Feb 20
- 11 min read
Updated: Aug 9
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In this article:
What Are Cat Pheromones?
Pheromones are chemical signals or "scent messages" that cats use to communicate with their environment and other cats or individuals, even when they're no longer around. They're released from various glands around their bodies, including the face and paws; as well as being excreted through urine and poop. Only cats are able to produce and detect feline pheromones.
Although odourless, pheromones are most commonly used for scent marking, whereby cats rub their faces on objects around the home to enhance familiarity and safety. This helps with identification so they can easily recognise other animals or people - and more importantly, whether they're friendly or not!
Different pheromones have different purposes and impacts on feline behaviour, which will be covered in more depth further on. They contain information about a cat's age, sex, health, reproductive status and other things.
How Are Pheromones Detected?
Since pheromones are odourless, cats have a specialised organ for detecting them, called the vomeronasal organ (VNO). This is located in the roof of the mouth where it connects to the nasal cavity via two ducts and, finally, the brain to "decode" the information. In simple terms, the function of the vomeronasal organ, sometimes referred to as the Jacobson's organ, is to taste scents.
So, how does it work?
If you've ever seen your cat sniffing with its mouth open, which looks something like a grimace, it's performing what's known as the Flehmen response. This is when a cat curls or retracts its upper lip and pushes its tongue up to the roof of its mouth - what it's actually doing is flicking the scent molecules up into the ducts.
While cells in the nose detect smells, chemoreceptors in the VNO perceive chemicals - specifically, pheromones.
I've had many cats over the years, but I first became aware of the Flehmen response when my current boy, Simba, started "sniffing" everything his brother sat on. This is nothing unusual for our butt-obsessed felines, but the grimace was new to me - and pretty comical.
Types of Pheromones
Feline Facial Pheromones (FFP)
The facial glands are located:
Behind the ears on the outer flaps (pinna).
The area between the eyes and ears where fur is sparse (temples).
On the cheeks.
Around the lips or lip margins (perioral).
Under the chin (submandibular).
As mentioned, the glands produce what are known as "calming pheromones" that cats deposit to mark stuff as theirs, and they contain many different chemicals. Next time you catch kitty rubbing its lips on the kitchen utensils - I'm looking at YOU, Simba - know that it's feeling very happy and relaxed.
Another marking behaviour you might have seen is bunting, which occurs when a cat presses or bumps its face against something - or someone, including other cats and humans. This is a gesture of acceptance and a form of social bonding.
Bunting can also be a way to grab our attention, so next time you're headbutted on the back of the legs, it's possible that kitty is asking to be petted or thinks it's dinner time. Perhaps this explains why cats prefer to be stroked around the facial area, since it's where many important scent glands lie.
If you have multiple cats, you've probably seen them rubbing heads to greet each other. This is usually followed by presenting the anus and taking it in turns to have a good whiff. Many mornings, I've been woken by Simba doing his best Michael Jackson impression by moonwalking onto my face - which is less than ideal for me but, for cats, the butt contains a wealth of information. This is a huge sign of trust, as cats are putting themselves in a very vulnerable position by turning their backs.
Cats also have glands on their tongues so they can transfer their scent when licking each other. This behaviour is called allogrooming and occurs in all social animals, from monkeys to humans. It allows cats to establish a communal scent and bond with other colony members (or housemates!).
Some of the chemicals found in feline facial pheromones have been artificially replicated to formulate calming products, namely plug-in diffusers and sprays. These are used by veterinary professionals and owners to help reduce problem behaviours linked to stress and anxiety. If you're familiar with this site then you'll have seen many articles based around these products, but here's a brief recap.
Scientists have identified five specific pheromones in the lip, cheek and chin sebaceous secretions, known as F1-F5.
F1: Unknown function.
F2: Released by males as a form of sexual marking. This allows cats to be more effective at securing a mate.
F3: Associated with territorial behaviour or the "object rubbing" we spoke about previously that makes cats feel happy and secure, thus reducing anxiety.
F4: Released through rubbing onto other cats in social settings (and in some cases, humans). Marking familiar individuals means there's less chance of conflict erupting.
F5: Unknown function.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Feliway Optimum plug-in diffuser contains a new pheromone complex for enhanced serenity. It helps to solve common signs of stress including spraying, scratching, fear and conflict. Recommended by vets and behaviourists.
F3 was the first pheromone to be synthetically reproduced and has proven to be effective in reducing most stress-related behaviours. These include urine spraying, scratching and meowing during short car journeys - making it a good option for those dreaded vet visits.
Using Feliway as an example, studies show that the brand's original diffuser (Feliway Classic) helped to reduce urine marking in 9 out of 10 cats after four weeks. The Feliway Optimum diffuser boasts a new pheromone complex, with users reporting improvements in scratching, urine spraying, conflict, fear, hiding and stress associated with new situations.
F4 has also been replicated and is sometimes used to introduce new additions to households. This helps to maintain harmony by essentially tricking cats into thinking a newcomer is someone they've met previously - sneaky!
Other Glands Around the Body
Base of the tail and along the tail (supracaudal).
Around the anus.
Area surrounding the teats (mammary).
Between the pads of the paws (interdigital).
Feline Appeasing Pheromone (CAP)
Also known as the "mother" or "cat" appeasing pheromone, these are released by a queen after giving birth.
Cats don't have to learn what pheromones are, they're born with the response. In fact, pheromones are first released to establish the mother and kitten bond. Remember, cats are born with their eyes closed so rely on other forms of identification and communication methods, including pheromones released by their mother.
The feline appeasing pheromone is secreted in the glands around a queen's teats during lactation and has several functions: making kittens feel happy and secure, maintaining harmony within the litter and aiding identification in case kittens are separated. The CAP pheromone has been replicated for use in commercial calming products in the same way as F3 and aims to reduce tension and conflict between cats living in the same household.
Feliway Friends (also known as Multicat) is the brand's third type of diffuser that targets behaviours such as blocking, chasing, stalking and staring. Feliway Friends and Optimum are only available in diffuser forms, whereas Classic has both a diffuser and spray version.
Related post: 6 Best Cat Calming Sprays
Feliway Friends plug-in diffuser mimics the pheromones that a mother cat releases to her kittens to help reduce tension and conflict in multi-cat households.
Urine
Urine contains a pheromone known as MMB which contributes to its distinctive odour. This is so cats can mark their territory and alert other cats of their presence, particularly intact males or females in heat. Spraying is more common in outdoor settings but may be observed within the home. This can be problematic for owners and often indicates that a cat is stressed.
Anus
Cats, and many other mammals, have two anal sacs that are located either side of the butthole just inside the sphincter. The anal glands fill these sacs with fluid which is released as an oily substance when they poop. This can be used to mark territorial boundaries in a behaviour called middening, where cats deliberately poop outside of the litterbox without burying it. It's similar to urine spraying but not as common and mostly seen in outdoor cats.
The main purpose of anal pheromones goes back to the butt sniffing that all cats are known for. The anal glands produce a scent that's unique to the individual cat. This is used to identify one another and communicate information such as age, health and mood.
Be careful, as fluid from the anal sacs can be ejected when cats are frightened or stressed and is described as having a pungent, fishy aroma. Cats can also develop complications if the anal glands don't empty properly, which over time can lead to swelling, abscesses and infection. In some cases, they may need expressing by your vet.
Paws
Cats have interdigital glands between the pads of their paws so they can deposit pheromones when they scratch. Similar to those found in urine, they're used as a form of territory marking. This is why scratch posts and mats are essential resources within the home. Wild cats use trees for the same purpose, as well as leaving visual markings to alert other cats.
Related post: Why Do Cats Scratch and How to Stop It?
Tail
The supracaudal gland is located at the base of the tail on the upper surface and is involved in scent marking, attracting mates and social signalling. There's also a behaviour that cats engage in known as tail wrapping, which is used for bonding and scent swapping. You might think of tail wrapping like a handshake that humans use to greet each other.
There's a popular video floating around the internet that captures two cats, one blind, running around the streets with their tails linked together. The non-blind cat, having taken on the role of escort, never leaves its buddy's side and ensures the path ahead is clear at all times. A heart-warming gesture that humans could learn a lot from!
Scientific research shows that pheromones have a role in this friendly interaction. If your kitty decides to hug you with its tail, this is a super cute gesture of affection.
Stud tail is a condition that causes greasiness, blackheads, hair loss and crusty or inflamed skin due to increased secretion of the supracaudal gland. It's most common in unneutered males but can occur in all cats.
Pheromones and Aggression
We know that pheromones impact social behaviour, and one study found a link between inflammation of the vomeronasal organ and aggression. This involved a necropsy of 20 cats, and those that had inflammation of the sensory epithelium (smell-detecting tissue) of the VNO were more likely to be aggressive towards other cats - but not humans.
This fits in with the theory that pheromones are specific to feline-feline communication. Since behaviours like urine spraying and scratching are used to mark territorial boundaries, it seems that pheromones play a crucial role in avoiding unpleasant encounters and confrontation with other cats.
Feliway Classic Spray contains pheromones that help to reduce common signs of stress. Can be used during major changes including renovations, travel and vet visits. Available in 20ml or 60ml bottles that are suitable for use at home or on the go.
Those that live in colonies, which is common amongst feral and stray cats, are known to mark each other, as well as marking over each other's scents to keep non-colony cats away. This isn't a desire for companionship - as we know, cats are solitary by nature - but somewhat comparable to being in a lion pride.
Colonies are typically found in towns and cities where prey is sparse, and many rely on humans for food or otherwise scavage human trash. These resources serve as gathering points for colony members, but that doesn't mean conflict won't erupt. It's more about survival, and cats know when they're onto something good!
Back to the study, this evidence doesn't imply that all cats with aggressive tendencies have an inflamed VNO; but it's interesting as far as my own experiences with inter-cat aggression go, which you can read about here for more background.
Simba's sniffing (Flehmen response) increased during and after a prolonged spell of redirected aggression, where he was under constant attack from his brother, Drax. This caused so much damage to their relationship that it was many months before Simba was ready to forgive - although I'm not convinced he'll ever truly forget!
Related post: 3 Reasons Why Your Bonded Cats Are Fighting
I noticed that his "sniffing" was most prominent around the litter trays and, thanks to this funny little grimace, I was able to put my research hat on in order to comprehend exactly what was occurring. I can only surmise that he was overly sensitive to the pheromones in Drax's pee - as urine marking is typically territorial behaviour - it might have added to the stress he was already experiencing.
In actual fact, with his big hobbit feet, Drax had a habit of collecting damp litter and trampling it around the house. Based on this, I took the initiative to disinfect the floors with a pet-safe cleaner. To my amazement, the sniffing stopped and the change in Simba's behaviour was instant. For the first time in months, the boys were hanging out and playing like old times. There was still a lot of work to do, but it was a huge leap forwards.
The point to note is that by observing one simple behaviour, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of what Simba was doing, why he might be doing it and, most importantly, how to solve it. If my story helps just one stressed out kitty then it's a story worth telling!
Comfort Zone plug-in pheromone diffuser for single or multi-cat homes. Creates a calm, relaxing environment to help reduce stress and other problem behaviours, as well as tension and fighting between household cats.
Pheromone Products
As discussed, there are a range of pheromone products on the market including diffusers, sprays and collars. As well as targeting stress-related behaviours, they're commonly used in the short-term when making changes to a cat's environment; or during frightening events where their security might be compromised. Renovations, moving house, travel, fireworks and thunder are less than ideal situations for our feline friends.
It's important to remember that pheromone therapy isn't a cure. Choosing the type of pheromone that's best suited to the behaviour you want to eliminate is a good start, but it may not be the right solution for all cats.
You should always seek veterinary advice if cats are acting out of character, as stress-related behaviours - including aggression - can be a symptom of underlying health conditions. Pheromones are most effective when used as part of a treatment plan, which might include working alongside a behaviourist; medication or environmental changes.
Aside from pheromone diffusers and sprays, you can use your own cat's scent to boost comfort and happiness. To do this, rub a soft cloth over kitty's cheeks to collect their pheromones and then rub the cloth on objects around the home that they'd mark naturally: the corners of furniture, sofas, table and chair legs, etc. If your cat isn't impressed with having a cloth waved in its face, try offering it for inspection to see if they scent it themselves (most will be happy to!).
You can use the reference image above to locate other facial glands and let kitty think you're petting it. For example, rubbing the cloth over its temples or under the chin where they enjoy being touched. If the cloth is really offensive - and believe me, it'd send my two wimps running from the room - then you could wear a glove so kitty doesn't know any better. You should mark objects a couple of times a day.
Mentioned Products
Feliway Classic 30 Day Starter Kit
Comfort Zone Cat Calming Pheromone Collar
Have you tried any pheromone products that you think are worth sharing? Help out fellow cat parents by listing them in the comments.
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