Research overview: flank, tail, and other body gland marking in cats

Beyond the face and paws, cats have scent glands on other parts of the body, including along the tail and flanks, that contribute to chemical marking. This overview surveys these additional glandular sources, which deposit scent when a cat rubs its body or tail against surfaces, people, or other cats. A gland near the base of the tail, sometimes prominent in intact males, can produce noticeable secretions. The survey relates these body glands to the broader system of feline scent marking and to the affiliative head and body rubbing by which cats spread familiar scent. It discusses how full-body rubbing distributes these chemicals widely. Understanding flank and tail gland marking expands the map of feline scent sources beyond the well-known facial and paw glands. It shows that the cat's whole body participates in chemical communication, contributing to the layered system of marks by which cats label their territory and social partners.