Cats have always possessed astonishing abilities and senses that exceed human capabilities. One of the most intriguing of these is their vomeronasal, or Jacobson’s organ. An anatomical feature that affords cats an additional sensory capacity when compared to humans.
I understand that’s a little technical, basically when your cat is intensely staring at something with their mouth partially open. Their Jacobson’s organ is in full swing.
What is the Jacobson’s Organ?
Jacobson’s organ is an olfactory (smell) sense organ situated on the roof of a cat’s mouth. It holds special sensory receptor cells that detect pheromones.
Pheromones carry information about identity, social status, territory marking, and when a female is in season.
To cats, Jacobson’s organ serves as a kind of sixth sense, enabling them to decipher a wealth of information from smells that us humans can’t detect.
When a cat rubs its face on objects or other animals, it uses this organ to glean more information about them. The Jacobson’s organ also triggers the well-known flehmen response (you’ve seen this plenty of times, the open mouth I mentioned earlier) when a cat encounters a fascinating odour.
Specialised Taste and Smell Abilities
The Jacobson’s organ is connected to the nasal cavity and works with a cat’s usual sense of smell.
While this organ isn’t used specifically with their everyday smell activities, outdoor cats rely on their Jacobson’s organ to catch prey and to identify any mates that may be close by. Especially males.
Researchers theorize that Jacobson’s organ evolved to assist cats in identifying territory markings and locating mates. However, cats today likely utilize it to gather information from the humans in their lives – information to which we remain oblivious. It acts as a potent sensory tool for decoding social cues.
Conclusion
The next time you see your cat with an oddly curled grimace on its face, remember they are not simply making a humorous expression. Instead, they are employing their captivating sixth sense to analyze intriguing odours in their environment that humans can only dream of perceiving. The secret of cats’ Jacobson’s organ unveils an entirely different sensory world beyond our comprehension.