Research overview: pheromone detection and feline chemical communication

Pheromones are chemical signals that convey information between members of a species, and cats rely heavily on them for social and territorial communication. This overview surveys how cats detect pheromones, primarily through the vomeronasal organ, and how these signals influence behavior such as marking, reproduction, and social bonding. Cats deposit pheromones through facial rubbing, scratching, and urine marking, then read others' deposits to learn about territory, identity, and reproductive state. The survey relates pheromone detection to the anatomy of the vomeronasal system and to commercial synthetic pheromone products used to influence feline behavior. It frames chemical communication as a primary social channel for a species that is often solitary and relies on scent to mediate contact at a distance in time. Understanding pheromone detection reveals an invisible layer of feline social life conducted entirely through chemistry.