Semiochemicals from Domestic Cat Urine and Feces Reduce Use of Scratching Surfaces
Scratching is a natural behavior in cats but can cause damage to household furnishings. In this work, we sought to identify potential semiochemicals in the urine and feces of domestic cats that may modify cat scratching behavior. Sex differences among adult, intact cats were examined for volatile mo...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/520 |
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| author | Lingna Zhang Edgar O. Aviles-Rosa Zhaowei Bian Kaz Surowiec John J. McGlone |
| author_facet | Lingna Zhang Edgar O. Aviles-Rosa Zhaowei Bian Kaz Surowiec John J. McGlone |
| author_sort | Lingna Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Scratching is a natural behavior in cats but can cause damage to household furnishings. In this work, we sought to identify potential semiochemicals in the urine and feces of domestic cats that may modify cat scratching behavior. Sex differences among adult, intact cats were examined for volatile molecules in their urine (<i>n</i> = 7 females, 7 males) and feces (<i>n</i> = 8 females, 10 males) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Males had seven times more 3-Mercapto-3-Methyl Butanol (MMB, <i>p</i> < 0.001) in the urine and 98% more butanoic acid (<i>p</i> = 0.02) in the feces than females. One mL of mineral oil without (i.e., control) or with MMB (0.1 µg/mL) and butanoic acid (100 µg/mL; i.e., treatment), which corresponds to the estimated biological amount in a single elimination from a male cat, were evaluated for their effectiveness in modifying the use of scratching devices by cats. Two identical cardboard standing scratchers, treated with either the control or the solution containing both semiochemicals delivered through a hanging cotton sock were placed side by side in a home/shelter environment. The preference test consisted of exposing individual cats (<i>n</i> = 28) to both scratchers for 20 min and recording the duration and frequency they interacted or scratched each scratcher. The semiochemical solution significantly decreased scratching time (21.19 ± 3.8 vs. 6.08 ± 3.8 s; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and interaction time (31.54 ± 5.9 vs. 12.90 ± 5.9 s; <i>p</i> = 0.0001) and tended to reduce scratching frequency (1.49 ± 0.3 vs. 0.82 ± 0.3 times; <i>p</i> = 0.07) compared with the control solution. The male-representative solution of MMB and butanoic acid was aversive to cats and might have future applications in protecting furniture from the destructive scratching or in modifying behavior of domestic cats. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:01:30Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-5046b527ff474fff90aa797bd1863fea2024-02-09T15:07:04ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-02-0114352010.3390/ani14030520Semiochemicals from Domestic Cat Urine and Feces Reduce Use of Scratching SurfacesLingna Zhang0Edgar O. Aviles-Rosa1Zhaowei Bian2Kaz Surowiec3John J. McGlone4Laboratory of Companion Animal Science, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaAnimal & Food Sciences Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USALaboratory of Companion Animal Science, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Texas Tech University, 1204 Boston Ave, Lubbock, TX 79409, USAAnimal & Food Sciences Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USAScratching is a natural behavior in cats but can cause damage to household furnishings. In this work, we sought to identify potential semiochemicals in the urine and feces of domestic cats that may modify cat scratching behavior. Sex differences among adult, intact cats were examined for volatile molecules in their urine (<i>n</i> = 7 females, 7 males) and feces (<i>n</i> = 8 females, 10 males) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Males had seven times more 3-Mercapto-3-Methyl Butanol (MMB, <i>p</i> < 0.001) in the urine and 98% more butanoic acid (<i>p</i> = 0.02) in the feces than females. One mL of mineral oil without (i.e., control) or with MMB (0.1 µg/mL) and butanoic acid (100 µg/mL; i.e., treatment), which corresponds to the estimated biological amount in a single elimination from a male cat, were evaluated for their effectiveness in modifying the use of scratching devices by cats. Two identical cardboard standing scratchers, treated with either the control or the solution containing both semiochemicals delivered through a hanging cotton sock were placed side by side in a home/shelter environment. The preference test consisted of exposing individual cats (<i>n</i> = 28) to both scratchers for 20 min and recording the duration and frequency they interacted or scratched each scratcher. The semiochemical solution significantly decreased scratching time (21.19 ± 3.8 vs. 6.08 ± 3.8 s; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and interaction time (31.54 ± 5.9 vs. 12.90 ± 5.9 s; <i>p</i> = 0.0001) and tended to reduce scratching frequency (1.49 ± 0.3 vs. 0.82 ± 0.3 times; <i>p</i> = 0.07) compared with the control solution. The male-representative solution of MMB and butanoic acid was aversive to cats and might have future applications in protecting furniture from the destructive scratching or in modifying behavior of domestic cats.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/520caturinefecessemiochemicalscratching |
| spellingShingle | Lingna Zhang Edgar O. Aviles-Rosa Zhaowei Bian Kaz Surowiec John J. McGlone Semiochemicals from Domestic Cat Urine and Feces Reduce Use of Scratching Surfaces Animals cat urine feces semiochemical scratching |
| title | Semiochemicals from Domestic Cat Urine and Feces Reduce Use of Scratching Surfaces |
| title_full | Semiochemicals from Domestic Cat Urine and Feces Reduce Use of Scratching Surfaces |
| title_fullStr | Semiochemicals from Domestic Cat Urine and Feces Reduce Use of Scratching Surfaces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Semiochemicals from Domestic Cat Urine and Feces Reduce Use of Scratching Surfaces |
| title_short | Semiochemicals from Domestic Cat Urine and Feces Reduce Use of Scratching Surfaces |
| title_sort | semiochemicals from domestic cat urine and feces reduce use of scratching surfaces |
| topic | cat urine feces semiochemical scratching |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/520 |
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