Cats possess a more developed and sensitive sense of smell than humans. This heightened olfactory capability significantly influences how felines interact with their environment and communicate.
The Feline Olfactory System
A cat’s superior sense of smell stems from its specialized anatomy. The feline nasal cavity features a complex network of bony structures called conchae or turbinates, increasing the surface area for scent detection. Within this intricate structure, cats have a larger olfactory epithelium, the tissue responsible for detecting odors.
Cats also have a vomeronasal organ, or Jacobson’s organ, located in the roof of their mouth behind the upper incisors. This secondary olfactory system detects chemical signals called pheromones. When a cat exhibits the “Flehmen response”—curling its upper lip and slightly opening its mouth—it draws air and cues into this specialized organ for analysis.
How Cats Perceive Scents
The advanced feline olfactory system allows cats to perceive scents with remarkable sensitivity and discrimination. They detect odors at concentrations far lower than humans, identifying subtle environmental changes. This includes discerning faint traces left by prey. Cats also differentiate between scents from other cats, humans, and inanimate objects.
Their ability to detect pheromones through the vomeronasal organ provides additional information about their environment and social interactions. These chemical signals convey details about a cat’s health, mood, and reproductive status. Cats use their sense of smell to identify familiar versus unfamiliar humans, investigating unfamiliar scents more.
The Purpose of a Cat’s Superior Smell
A cat’s developed sense of smell serves important evolutionary and behavioral functions. It plays a significant role in hunting, allowing them to locate prey and assess food quality. Olfactory sensitivity explains why a blocked nose due to illness can reduce a cat’s appetite, as hunger is stimulated by smell rather than taste.
Scent is a primary form of communication for cats. They use scent marking, through glands on their cheeks, paws, and urine, to establish territory and communicate with other cats. These scent marks convey messages about ownership and familiarity. Detecting pheromones helps cats identify potential mates, assess rivals, and recognize offspring. Their keen sense of smell also helps them detect dangers and navigate their environment effectively.
Comparing Cat and Human Olfaction
Cats generally exhibit superior sensitivity and a broader range of detection compared to humans. They possess significantly more odor-sensitive cells; some estimates suggest their sense of smell is approximately 14 times stronger than a human’s. While humans have around 5 to 6 million olfactory receptors, cats have up to 200 million. This allows cats to detect and distinguish scents imperceptible to the human nose.
Additionally, cats have about 30 variants of the V1R receptor, which controls the ability to differentiate scents, whereas humans only have two. This gives cats a better capacity for distinguishing complex odors. While cats excel in raw sensitivity and detection range, human scent perception has strengths, such as discerning nuanced aromas and appreciating complex odor profiles. Humans also possess a vomeronasal organ, but it is considered vestigial or non-functional.