Research overview: predator odor and prey foraging suppression

An overview of how the scent of felid predators alone can suppress prey foraging, movement and reproduction, demonstrating nonconsumptive effects without any direct attack. Prey detect chemical cues of cats, such as urine, faeces or fur, and respond with reduced activity, heightened vigilance, avoidance of scented areas and physiological stress, sometimes with measurable effects on body condition and breeding. This survey synthesizes experimental studies using lion, leopard, lynx and domestic-cat odors on rodent and ungulate prey, the chemistry of the cues involved, and how scent-mediated fear contributes to landscapes of fear and trophic effects. It connects chemical ecology to predator-prey behavior. The topic shows that the mere olfactory presence of cats can shape prey behavior and potentially populations, independent of predation itself.