A novel research has found that mice that are exposed to cat urine are less likely to escape from cats. The researchers affirmed that the mice that get exposed early in life do not avoid the same odor. In fact, they do not escape from cats.

Study researchers have found the molecule in the urine that led mice to feel positive reinforcement. The molecule is known as L-Felinine and due to its presence mice do not escape the cats.

Study’s co-author Vera Voznessenskaya said, “Early exposure to cat odor changes behavioral reactions to, but not physiological (hormonal) responses in the mice, which remain elevated. In fact, mice that had experienced the odor showed stress response (elevated corticosterone) to cat odors the same way as controls”.

The researchers said they are aware of the fact that this molecule can stop pregnancy in females and can reduce the litter size. As part of the study, the researchers conducted an experiment in which they exposed mice to the smell of cat urine and pure L-Felinine.

The mice were exposed to the same for the first two weeks of their lives. It is the time when young animals choose important information about the new world they have come in. Voznessenskaya said that young mice were fed milk while they were exposed to the odor.