They have the ability to use their nose, far more than a human nose.
They aren't wired to use it for hunting or defense. Unlike canines.
They do, however, use their noses for territorial and social purposes.
It's a technique, but not typically for the hunt you're on. It's a trick extolled by a former (shall we say...) "outspoken" Arizona lion caller, to use cat territorial urine scent (he actually used housecat) to get lions to follow certain ridgelines and bottoms. Over time they became well traveled, and he'd call those areas when he found hot sign.
It'd be a total fluke to have it work on the outing in question, but over a period of time it can direct a cat to an area more frequently so you can get it in to your caller.
