Can your cat recognize you for the smell? Scientists followed the answer

New research suggests that felines respond differently to the smells of their owners in relation to those of strangers

Report published by the newspaper The New York Times Information about a study published in the magazine Plos One As for the behavior of cats, he showed that the felines respond differently to the smells of their owners than to the smells of strangers.

According to the The New York TimesThe researchers recruited 30 cats and their owners to participate in the study. The owners of the cats then captured their smells by rubbing the cotton behind the ears, between the fingers of the feet and under the arms. Other people who have no pets and did not know that the cat owners were recruited to be “smell of smells”.

Each of the cats of the study was presented to a series of test pipes containing the smelling cotton of its owner, a stranger and one of control. A camera mounted on the experimental apparatus recorded cat reactions to the test pipes.

The cats spent more time smelling the strangers compared to their owners – an indication that cats could recognize the smells of their owners and dedicate more time to explore those who had never felt the smell before.

Hidehiko Uchiyama, professor of animal sciences at the University of Agriculture in Tokyo in Agriculture (Tokyo di Agricultura), and his colleagues further analyzed the video recordings of cats who had a test smell and observed cats using their straight ourselves to smell the strange test pipes, regardless of where the tube was found in everything. These results seem to confirm previous studies of other animals, including dogs, who have also used their direct nostrils exploring strange smells.

“The left nostril is used for family smells and the right nostril is used for new and alarming smells, suggesting that the smell can be related to brain function,” said Uchiyama. “The right brain is likely to be preferred to process emotionally alarming odors.”

Syracuse provided caution in the interpretation of the fact that the behavior of the smell of cats refers to the functioning of the brain. “The study has not shown that the right side of the brain is activated,” he said. Taking this will require cats willing to cooperate to scan the brain while smelling things.

Dr. Carlo Siracusa, associated professor of animal behavior at the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, who was not involved in the study, said that although further research is needed to confirm that the nostril that cats use to smell people is a window for the feline mind, this type of study is important to make human understanding on feline behavior, providing better care.

TO The New York TimesSyracusa also commented on the logistical company of the design of a study protocol considered acceptable by its happy participants. “Applaudo really to this group of scientists because they manage to involve 30 cats in this activity,” said Syracuse. “Most cats don’t want to have anything to do with their research.”

Source: Terra

Rose

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