Scientists discover a hidden “ID card” in cat urine

Cats may identify one another through a surprisingly durable chemical “calling card” made from 13 unusual fatty acids in their urine. The compounds appear linked to mysterious fat droplets in the kidneys and may represent a scent-recognition system shared across the cat family. Scientists discover a hidden “ID card” in cat urine.

Scientists discover a hidden “ID card” in cat urine Science News from research organizations Scientists discover a hidden “ID card” in cat urine Scientists have uncovered a hidden chemical “ID card” in cat urine that may let cats recognize one another long after a scent mark is left behind. These chemical traces can continue communicating long after the animal that produced them has moved on. Many odor molecules evaporate, break down, or change with time.

If a scent is constantly evolving, how can another animal still determine who originally left it. Researchers from Japan, Germany, and Spain, led by Iwate University, may have found part of the answer in domestic cats. Their experiments point to a group of unusual fatty acids that could serve as a lasting chemical signature in cat urine.

The scientists identified 13 branched-chain fatty acids (BFAs).