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Ask Dr. Universe pheromones
Ask Dr. Universe > pheromones

Why do boy dogs go potty on fire hydrants and trees? — Michael, 5, Minnesota

The urine a dog leaves behind is like a smell fingerprint. It’s full of chemical messages like hormones. One whiff of another dog’s urine tells my dog roommate important stuff—like the other dog’s age, sex and health information. Read More ...

Why do cats rub their cheeks on stuff? – Lara, 10, New York

Dear Lara,

Sometimes I get an overwhelming urge to rub my face on things I love—like my microscope. Other times I’m so happy to see my tortoiseshell roommate that we bump our heads together.

I talked about why I do that with my friend Dr. Jessica Bell. She’s a veterinarian at Washington State University.

She told me that cats rub their cheeks on things when they’re happy or want to say that thing belongs to them.

Read More ...