{"id":440383,"date":"2023-11-15T14:54:31","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T19:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=440383"},"modified":"2024-07-05T10:15:38","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T14:15:38","slug":"what-is-the-flehmen-response-in-cats-vet-answer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/ask-the-vet\/what-is-the-flehmen-response-in-cats-vet-answer\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Flehmen Response in Cats? Our Vet Answers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n <\/span>\n \nCat Communication and the Role of Pheromones<\/a>
\nCharacteristics<\/a>
\nCauses<\/a>
\nEvolution<\/a>
\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/a>
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Have you ever looked over at your cat and watched them pull a face as if they have smelt something disgusting? Interestingly, this is a natural reflex they possess called the Flehmen response. It also goes by the name Flehmen grimace or Flehmen reaction. It is a technique that has been developed to aid in the processing of certain scents and smells.<\/p>\n

For example, cats do a great deal of their communication through the release of chemical compounds called pheromones. They secrete these pheromones to help them relay important messages to other cats. These messages give the other cats information about where their territory is, mating rituals, and identification of each other and whether they are friend or foe. Other animals also partake in this strange-looking ritual, including goats, llamas, tigers, lions, horses, and hippopotamuses.<\/p>\n

This article will discuss in depth what the Flehmen response in cats is and how it is used.<\/p>\n

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Cat Communication and the Role of Pheromones<\/h2>\n

It is impossible to talk about the Flehmen response without first discussing pheromones. Cats use pheromones in many ways to communicate with each other 1<\/sup><\/a>. Pheromones are scent chemicals that get released by scent glands spread over the cat’s body. They are located in many different places, including their paws, their chin, and their cheeks.<\/p>\n

Cats can pick up and respond to other species’ pheromones as well, such as potential predators or prey animals, but they usually focus on their own species. Cats have their own set of pheromones that they use to send signals and messages to other cats.<\/p>\n

Ways they use pheromones include:<\/div>
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