Pheromones (Feline) — Cat Behaviour Glossary

Pheromones

Pheromones — chemical signals secreted by one individual that trigger a physiological or behavioural response in another member of the same species. In cats, pheromones are produced by glands on the face, paws, flanks, and around the tail base, and are deposited through rubbing, scratching, and urine spraying.

Where cats produce pheromones

Facial glands

Cheeks, forehead, chin, and lips. Deposited by face-rubbing (bunting). Associated with familiarity, comfort, and territory marking. This fraction is the basis for Feliway and similar products.

Interdigital glands

Between the paw pads. Deposited during scratching. Marks preferred scratch sites and communicates presence to other cats.

Perineal and tail glands

Around the anal area and at the tail base. Active in social encounters between cats — often the basis for the classic "sniff" greeting.

Urine

Contains a complex chemical profile including proteins (major urinary proteins) that encode individual identity. The primary medium for territory advertisement and reproductive signalling.

How cats detect pheromones

Pheromones are detected primarily through the vomeronasal organ (VNO), accessed via the flehmen response. The VNO feeds directly into the accessory olfactory bulb — a neural pathway separate from ordinary smell, dedicated to processing social-chemical information.

Some pheromone fractions are also detectable by the main olfactory system. The relative contribution of each pathway to pheromone perception in cats is still an active area of research, reviewed in Tirindelli et al. (2009), Physiological Reviews.

Synthetic pheromones in cat management

Since the early 2000s, fractions of feline facial pheromones have been isolated and synthesised for use as calming aids. The most widely studied is the F3 fraction — the compound deposited when cats rub their faces on familiar objects. Synthetic F3 (marketed as Feliway Classic) has been used for:

Reducing urine spraying inside the home
Easing the stress of new environments (travel, veterinary visits)
Supporting cat introductions
Reducing hiding and anxiety in multi-cat households (Feliway Multicat, which mimics the "cat appeasing pheromone")

Evidence quality varies by application, but the interventions are generally well-tolerated and low-risk. The Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery review (2015) provides a balanced summary of the clinical evidence.

Pheromones are information, not decoration. When a cat sprays, scratches, or rubs its face on something, it is leaving a message for other cats. Cleaning it away without addressing the underlying need — for territory security, social stability, or stress reduction — often results in the behaviour being repeated.

Frequently asked questions

What are feline facial pheromones?

Cats have scent glands on their cheeks and forehead that produce a complex mixture of compounds known as feline facial pheromones. When a cat rubs its face on objects or people (see bunting), it deposits these chemicals. Fraction F3 of these pheromones — associated with familiarity and comfort — is the basis for synthetic products such as Feliway. Research by Pageat and Gaultier (2003) established the clinical applications of these fractions.

Do synthetic pheromone diffusers (like Feliway) really work?

Clinical evidence is mixed but generally positive for stress-related behaviours. A review in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2015) found synthetic feline facial pheromones reduced urine spraying and hiding in a significant proportion of cats. They are not a cure-all, but are a reasonable low-risk intervention for anxiety-related issues.

Can humans smell cat pheromones?

The specific compounds that cats detect as pheromones (detected largely via the vomeronasal organ — see flehmen response) are generally undetectable to humans at behavioural concentrations. Humans have largely non-functional vomeronasal organs and lack the neural wiring to process these signals in the same way.

Why do cats spray urine?

Urine spraying is primarily a pheromonal communication behaviour, not a toileting failure. The urine of intact male cats is particularly rich in chemical signals that communicate identity, status, and sexual availability. Neutering dramatically reduces spraying in most cats. In neutered cats that still spray, anxiety or resource conflict is the usual trigger. The International Cat Care guide on urine spraying covers the full differential.

Do cats leave pheromones when they scratch furniture?

Yes. Cats have interdigital scent glands between their paw pads. Scratching both leaves a visible mark and deposits chemical information. This is one reason cats return to the same scratch sites repeatedly — and why deterring scratching works better when a new, approved scratching post is placed in the same location as the unwanted scratch site.