The answer is a definitive YES!
They know more about that “other cat’s”
personal profile than you do.
Image from: Baidu
No Cheating Escapes the Cat’s Nose
A cat’s nasal membrane contains approximately 40 million to 80 million odor receptor cells, with the highest reaching around 200 million. This dramatically dwarfs the 5 million we humans possess, meaning a cat’s sense of smell is several times more powerful than ours.
Beyond the nose, the vomeronasal organ (or Jacobson’s organ), located on the roof of their mouth, helps them heighten their perception of other creatures’ pheromones (chemical messages).
The greater the mutation variety of V1Rs in the vomeronasal organ, the stronger the scent identification ability.
Humans: The function is vestigial (degraded).
Dogs: Have about 9 V1R mutations.
Cats: Possess a powerful 28 V1R mutations!
Image from: Genome Research
So, when you return home and your cat runs over to sniff you relentlessly, stop struggling. The pheromones you carried back have already told them everything.
What Information Can Your Cat Decode?
Every cat releases its unique set of pheromones from special glands located between the eyes, on the lips, cheeks, paws, and near excretory organs.
If you were petting another cat and were repeatedly rubbed by these areas, you brought back a ton of information, allowing your cat to easily gather:
▌ Gender: Is the “other cat” male or female?
▌ Maturityd: Are they an adult? Are they in heat/breeding season?
▌ Health Status: Are they generally healthy (especially gut health)?
▌ Personality: Are they a mean troublemaker or a gentle sweetheart?
▌ Territory: Are they highly aggressive or possessive of their own territory?
▌ Affection: Were they cold toward you or overly enthusiastic?
Image from: sohu
How Does Your Cat Feel About It? Watch Their Reaction
Bringing home the scent of an outside cat is perceived as a passive sharing of resources (their territory and you).
▌ Some cats feel their resources are plentiful. They won’t mind that their human was “borrowed” by another cat for a moment.
▌ Some cats may initially be suspicious and sniff intensely. If they determine the other cat was non-aggressive and you didn’t physically bring a rival home, their anger will slowly dissipate.
Image from: Giphy
▌ Other cats have strong possessive instincts. They won’t get mad at you, but they will relentlessly rub you and lick you, using their own scent glands to re-stamp their ownership all over you.
Image from: Giphy
▌Some cats smells a crisis and perceives the scent as a serious territorial invasion. This can lead to them getting angry and biting, hissing aggressively, or even stress-urinating to re-mark their territory.
Image from: Youtube
How to Comfort Your Cat After You’ve Petted Another Cat？
▌ Wash your hands and use a lint roller to remove any stray fur.
▌ Change your shoes at the door, and use a large towel (one that already has your cat’s familiar scent) to gently wipe yourself.
▌ If possible, put your clothes straight into the washing machine and take a quick shower to completely remove the lingering pheromones.
▌ Use catnip, an engaging toy, or high-value treats to distract your cat and help them forget the unpleasant scent quickly.
Image from: Youtube
If you have any other questions about cat care,
feel free to leave a comment below!
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