Smelling rear ends

When a cat smells another cat's rear end, is it possible for the cat to tell the difference between an intact cat and one that has been neutered?

Interesting question..... one I have wondered myself actually.

Kizzy (neutered) pays loads of attention to Kitchi and Kiwis rear ends (they are intact untill they hit 6mos). But the roles don't seem to be reversed.... the kittens could care less about Kizzys rear.

From what I've read the answer is yes, but I've always wondered how the researchers can really know WHAT an animal knows, sees, smells or whatever is being discussed. How can you know what even another member of your own species is aware of, let alone one that functions totaly differently from yourself? That's the kind of question that sent me into panic attacks in Science class as a kid.

I agree - not just cats but almost all animals can tell all sorts of things from sniffing the glands at the rear end - sex, including neutering, whether a female is in or near heat, agression or friendship - the area gives off many pheromones so all htese things are possible.

Thanks for the replies everyone!