Ever notice your cat rubbing its face on the couch or freezing mid-step to sniff the air? These behaviors are part of a silent chemical language built around pheromones. This blog unpacks how cat pheromones work, how they’re detected, and why they play such a big role in your cat’s stress, mood, and relationships.
Cats may not use words, but they are constantly sending signals. One of the most powerful ways they communicate is through pheromones. These natural chemicals help cats feel safe, mark their space, and interact with other cats in ways we humans are just beginning to understand.
Let’s take a look at what pheromones are, how cats detect them, and why they matter for both their daily lives and their emotional health.
Pheromones are chemical messages that cats release from different glands on their body. These messages are picked up by other cats and used to communicate things like comfort, fear, territorial claims, or social bonding.
In cats, pheromones come from several areas, including:
-The cheeks
-The area around the mammary glands
-The paws
-The base of the tail
-Urine and feces
Each pheromone has a different purpose. When your cat rubs its cheeks on the corner of your couch, it is leaving behind facial pheromones that say, "This place is safe." When it scratches the carpet, it is releasing signals from glands between its toes to mark territory.
These messages are subtle, but to your cat, they are packed with meaning.
The magic of pheromone communication happens through a special organ called the vomeronasal organ, or VNO. It sits on the roof of your cat’s mouth, just behind the front teeth.
When your cat makes that strange open-mouth face after sniffing something, it is using the VNO to "taste-smell" the pheromones in the air. This reaction is called the Flehmen response.
The VNO sends these chemical signals directly to parts of the brain that control emotion and instinct. One 2014 study found that the VNO has strong links to the amygdala and hypothalamus. These are the same brain areas that handle fear, stress, and bonding, which is why pheromones can have such a strong emotional impact.
Over the years, scientists have identified specific pheromones that play important roles in feline behavior. The most researched types are:
This pheromone is released when a cat rubs its cheeks on a surface. It helps mark an area as familiar and safe.
Synthetic versions are used in diffusers and sprays to calm cats during moves, vet visits, or other stressful events.
This comes from the area around a mother cat’s mammary glands and helps kittens feel secure.
Synthetic CAPs are used to reduce conflict in multi-cat households or ease anxiety in newly adopted cats.
These are released through the glands between a cat’s toes when it scratches something.
They act like a combination of a "No Trespassing" sign and a scent-based social post.
Each of these pheromones communicates something unique, and all of them play a role in how cats navigate their world.
Studies across the last decade have confirmed that pheromones can change a cat’s behavior in real, measurable ways.
A 2021 study showed that cats exposed to a synthetic version of the F3 facial pheromone were calmer and showed fewer signs of stress during car travel. A 2023 review of multiple trials found that pheromones helped reduce the amount of sedative medication needed during vet procedures.
Another study in 2022 showed that cats exposed to synthetic CAPs were less likely to display avoidance or aggression in multi-cat homes.
While not every cat will respond the same way, the results show clear patterns. For many cats, pheromones act as emotional signposts that help them feel grounded and safe.
Understanding how pheromones work can make a big difference in how you care for your cat. Whether you are trying to help your cat adjust to a move, calm down during thunderstorms, or ease tension between pets, pheromone products offer a science-backed way to help.
They are not medications and do not change your cat’s personality. Instead, they support natural feline instincts and behaviors.
You can find pheromones in sprays, plug-in diffusers, collars, and wipes. They are often used during:
-Vet visits
-Travel
-Multi-cat conflicts
-Moving homes
-Introducing new pets or babies
-Post-surgery recovery
Written by Milind Patel
Designed by Lexin Yuan
References:
Zhang, H. et al. (2022). Neural Circuitry of the Cat Vomeronasal System.
Shu, H. & Gu, X. (2021). Effects of Feline Facial Pheromone on Transport Stress.
De Jaeger, X. et al. (2021). Evaluation of Pheromone Complex in Multi-Cat Settings.
Crump, E. (2023). Review of Synthetic Pheromone Use in Clinical Settings.
