Cats have an incredible olfactory system that is about fourteen times more sensitive than a human’s. With such a heightened sense of smell, they can get maximum information about the environment from smells, experts say. However, new discoveries are not the only reason why the cat suddenly starts sniffing everything, the Belnovosti portal writes.
Of course, if there is a new thing in the house (for example, a new piece of furniture), the cat will most likely start sniffing it. This way she learns more about the unfamiliar object, such as whether it belongs to another cat, what it is made of, and whether it is safe.
Moreover, after the cat carefully sniffs the object, it can rub its muzzle against it in order to leave its own smell on it and thus declare its rights to the object. Over the next few days, she can be seen approaching the same object from time to time, sniffing around, and resuming her “claims” on it. In this case, an unfamiliar object does not have to be large or obvious. For example, it could be a blanket that the cat has not seen before, or a coat.
Also, with the help of smells, cats control their territory. If a person has brought a new scent home with them, the cat may start sniffing, trying to determine if its area of influence is under threat.
Cats are always sniffing new people or pets because their scents are different from what they are used to. If the owner brought home a new pet, the cat will take time to get used to the new smells. And if the cat smells another animal from the guests, it can start sniffing its territory, leaving repeated marks.
Also, the cat may begin to sniff the air if it smells food, but does not see it. This also applies to potential prey: if a cat thinks it has smelled prey, such as a rodent, it will not stop sniffing until it finds it.
In addition, cats are good at recognizing the smells of other cats and even determine their reproductive status by smell. So if there is a cat in the house and someone brought home the smell of a cat, he will sniff around to find out more about a potential new partner. In particular, the cat will try to determine if this cat will be a suitable match and, of course, where it can be.
Finally, cats sniff around for “news” and for communication. By sniffing, cats can learn a lot, from understanding the boundaries of another animal to checking health. For example, if a person is sick, he emits new smells. The same goes for the other cat in the house, which may be unwell. Also, gently sniffing a person’s hands or shins can be a cat’s way of saying hello. Other times, she may expect a person to feed her, or ask to be petted.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
