Research overview: olfactory and pheromone receptor genetics in cats

Cats rely heavily on smell and on the vomeronasal system for detecting pheromones in social and reproductive communication, including the flehmen response. This overview surveys the genetics of feline chemosensation, the repertoire of olfactory and vomeronasal receptor genes in cat genomes, and how the size and composition of these gene families reflect the importance of scent in a largely solitary, territorial lifestyle. It discusses comparisons with other carnivores, the molecular basis of responses to catnip and silver vine, and how chemosensory gene evolution complements taste-gene losses in painting a picture of how cats perceive their chemical world.