Research published in the journal Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition indicates that the odor strength of cat urine may be influenced by the breed and hair length of the cat. Conducted by Dutch researchers, the study found that shorter-haired breeds produced higher levels of felinine, the chemical responsible for the distinct "catty" odor in urine, compared to longer-haired breeds.
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Felinine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that is excreted in cat urine and is most prevalent in the urine of intact males. Neutered males and female cats, whether altered or not, produce less of this odorant. Sulfur compounds, like those found in felinine, are known for their strong smell, similar to the odor associated with flatulence.
The researchers evaluated the urine from 83 intact male cats, aged 3 to 4.5 years. The breeds included Abyssinian, British Shorthair, Birman, Norwegian Forest, Persian, Ragdoll, Siberian, and the hairless Sphynx. Results showed a marked difference in felinine levels based on hair length, with the Abyssinians and Sphynx displaying the highest levels. Interestingly, Persian cats produced more felinine compared to other long-haired breeds, though still less than the short-haired breeds.
This study suggests that longer-haired breeds may have adapted to prioritize the use of cysteine, an amino acid important for hair growth, over the production of felinine. This adaptation could have been beneficial in a natural environment with limited dietary cysteine. Cats with shorter hair may require less cysteine for fur growth, enabling them to excrete higher amounts of felinine.
While the findings about Persians were unexpected, as their diets were not deficient in cysteine, researchers have proposed further studies to explore felinine production in Persians under cysteine-deficient diets.
Dr. Ken Tudor, who has operated a cat-only veterinary hospital, expressed interest in the varied urine smells he observed among hospitalized cats, noting that these odors were not typically due to urinary diseases which can alter urine scent.
The study referenced is titled "Felinine excretion in domestic cat breeds: a preliminary investigation" by Hagen-Plantinga EA, Bosch G, and Hendriks WH.