The importance of smells in the cats‘ life 

Daniela Hypšová

Cats can be said to think primarily through their nose and Jacobson's organ, which allows them to take in odours and oral through the oral cavity. The reception of odours through the oral cavity is called phloemation and is also found in other species. Whereas humans have approximately 5 million olfactory cells in their nasal mucosa, in cats this number is 200 million olfactory cells.

To feel safe and in control of its environment, the cat needs to saturate the environment with its scents. This is particularly important when a cat changes homes, moves house or when a new member of the family joins the household - be it a child, a partner or another animal friend. If we understand this concept of feline reasoning, we are one step away from living with a happy and confident cat who doesn't destroy our home.

Leaving scents in the environment is one way of communicating, especially in territorial and reproductive behaviors. Cats mark their territory in several ways. Scent marking has the advantage over visual or auditory communication advantage of being more permanent. Scent is usually attached to fat, which ensures that the marks are resistant to rain washout in outdoor environments, are 'readable' in low visibility or at night, and allow cats to avoid direct physical contact, which can sometimes mean a fight.

Cats have scent glands on the head around the muzzle, above the eyes, behind the paws between the toes and near the tail. In the home, cats mark their territory by rubbing against objects or people, rolling on them, stepping over them (milk-stepping) and scratching. 

They also leave visual marks by scratching. Another way - certainly the least popular with cat owners of leaving scent marks - is marking with urine or faeces.When furnishing a cat's home, we should always keep in mind the importance of scent in a cat's life. Cats need to have a
their environment with beds, blankets and scratching posts made of porous materials that can absorb their scent. 

In addition to these items, of which there should be more available to the cat, the most important place to leave odours is the cat's litter box. Although it is of course, we should not use hypochlorite-based disinfectants (Savo), or other perfumed cleaning products. We should also avoid heavily perfumed bedding that can be such a barrier to a sensitive cat's sense of smell that it will refuse to use the cat's litter box. 

When washing the cat's litter box, it is advisable to use vinegar cleaners, natural-based cleaners or boiling water.The cat's litter box should also be kept near air fresheners should not be placed near the cat¨s litter boxes.

Marking urine and feces around the perimeter of the apartment or excessive destructive scratching are usually signs of insecurity, which the cat feels and the feeling that it has absolutely no control over its environment. As we know from behavior modification theory, the need to control the environment as a means of ensuring safety. It is one of the most important behavioral reinforcers. 

So if a cat is marking its environment in this undesirable way, we need to look for the cause and help the cat gain confidence and a feeling of "owning" the environment. If the marking is occurring as part of a reproductive behaviour and is not a breeding individual, castration is in order.

Also in felinotherapy, the importance of scents in the life of cats needs to be worked on. This relates to the pads we use to protect the clients and their beds, but also the environment itself, which the cat must first go through calmly and ensure its safety by leaving scent marks.