Scientists at the University of California Davis are sniffing out the complex communication behind animal scent, beginning with the butts of domestic cats.

By analyzing the anal gland secretions of 23 pet cat ‘participants’ from the UCD veterinary medical teaching hospital, the team of researchers has shown a correlation between some types of bacteria and the synthesis of certain odorant molecules.

The findings hint at the possibility that bacteria in and around the cat anus can produce smelly volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which could convey vital information to fellow feline butt-sniffers.