A recent study by a Japanese university has concluded that domestic cats can distinguish between the owner’s smell and strangers. More research will be necessary to assess whether, in fact, felines can identify specific people only for the smell, but researchers ensure: “Cats use smell to recognize humans.”
The investigation of the capital of Japan, involved 30 cats, which were exposed to plastic tubes with samples of owners of the owners and strangers. The study concludes that it was possible to observe a behavior that suggests that cats can distinguish between familiar and non -familiar smells.
The tubes to which the felines were exposed contained three types of samples: One with the odor of the owner, another with the odor of an unknown person of the same -sex and a third with a clean, smelled cotton swab. The samples with human smells were obtained by friction of the armpits in the armpits, behind the ears and between the parties of the participants.
The investigators observed that the Cats spent significantly more time to smell the pipes with odors from unknown people than those with the smell of owners or without smell. This behavior suggests that cats can distinguish between family and non -familiar smells, although they are not yet proven that they can recognize specific people only for the odor.
“It is not yet possible to conclude that cats can identify people in particular, such as their owners”he explains one of the authors of the study.
According to the investigator, New tests with various odors of known people are needed to see if cats react specific to the owner’s smell.
Serenella d’Areo, specialist in felines at in Italy, that did not participate in this study, warns of the complexity of the interpretation of these behaviors.
“We do not know how the animal felt when it was smelling – if it was relaxed, curious or tense,” says D’Acheo and added that the fact that they were the owners themselves to present the tubes to the Felins may have intensified the interest of cats in unknown odors.
During the experience, it was also recorded that some cats brushed the muzzle in the tubes after smelling, a typical behavior of olfactory marking, which It may indicate that the act of smelling is part of an exploration process before territorial marking.
Many owners of household cats have reported behaviors that point to exceptional felines capabilities at smell.
The authors of the Japanese study also concluded that “Cats use smell to recognize human beings,” but they underlined the need to More research to understand if they can actually identify specific people only for the smell.
Curiosities about cats in Japan
Cats are andXtrely popular in Japan, overcoming dogs in number of pets. In 2024, it was estimated that there were about 8.83 million domestic cats in the country, compared to 7.05 million dogs.
Cats occupy a Special place as well as pets and cultural and spiritual symbols.
There are even islands in Japan, as Tashirojima and oushima, known as “Islands of Cats”where the population of felines surpasses the human. On these islands, cats are considered good luck symbols and attract tourists from around the world.
Also Urban Life in Japancharacterized by small apartments and rules that often prohibit dogs, It favors the adoption of cats, which are more independent and adaptable to reduced spaces.
