Domestic cat nose functions as a highly efficient coiled parallel gas chromatograph

I’m pleased to share our latest publication titled Domestic cat nose functions as a highly efficient coiled parallel gas chromatograph, which has just been published in PLoS Computational Biology. 

This research is the result of a collaboration between Ohio State University, Monell Chemical Senses Centre, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Waltham Petcare Science Institute using a range of complementary approaches to study olfaction in the domestic cat (Felis catus).

We developed an anatomically-accurate nasal model of the domestic cat to study airflow and how aroma compounds move through the intricate and convoluted nasal anatomy of a cats’ nose. This was achieved through novel use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (or CFD), usually used to solve engineering questions related to how fluids flow.

In our virtual model, we simulated air and odour flow through the cats’ nose and the results indicated that it functions similarly to a parallel coiled gas chromatograph, with the efficiency boosted by multiple tubes branching off the main air stream. Interestingly, there was also evidence to suggest that cats may experience retronasal olfaction, which is the perception of odours coming from the mouth during eating and drinking (as opposed to orthonasal olfaction, which occurs during sniffing). Retronasal olfaction is an important aspect of flavour perception for humans and may also contribute to the flavour experience of cats during eating.

Our team’s sensory science work at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute aims to further our understanding of the senses of smell and taste in cats and dogs.  Indeed, this research expands our understanding of cats’ enhanced sense of smell and has potential for future computational and behavioural studies on the palatability of cat food. If you would like to read more about some of our other research on taste and smell perception of cats and dogs, check out these links:

Kokumi taste perception is functional in a model carnivore, the domestic cat (Felis catus) | Scientific Reports (nature.com)

Aging cats prefer warm food - ScienceDirect

Bitter taste sensitivity in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) and its relevance to bitter deterrents of ingestion | PLOS ONE