![]() Intriguingly, this same dominant instinct takes an adorable - and less aggressive - twist with allogrooming. Fighting for mates (particular in unneutered tomcats).Blocking the other cats access to the food bowl, bed, litter box, or water bowl.Aggressive ambush attacks that aren’t playful.Two naturally dominant cats may face a power struggle that leads to: While this can be a scent marking ploy and a subtle social hierarchy suggestion, alpha cats don’t take kindly to being on the receiving end. Because both of these facial areas hold pheromone-releasing scent glands, this bunting is a cat’s way of overpowering the other kitty’s scent and claiming dominance. Cats may ‘escalate’ this introductory gesture by rubbing their cheeks or foreheads along the other cat’s face. If it’s a four-legged pal that comes and goes (or returns home before dinner), these nose boops alone are merely friendly greetings.īut in many scenarios, the nose touching follows other feline instincts: The urge for dominance. Cats instinctively ‘greet’ wandering kitties with the classic nose-to-nose gesture to gauge who this cat is and why it’s here. Often dubbed ‘nose-sniffing,’ these cat-to-cat nose bumps can be more like a quick investigation into a fellow feline. That’s especially true as these new friends rub the shared pheromones on door frames, coffee tables, and shed siding (creating mock territorial boundaries where everyone inside feels safe). Simply carrying this mixed scent around helps cats to feel at home and comfortable. This ‘kiss’ also doubles as anxiety relief for cats wary of turf wars and invading tomcats looking to cause trouble. These gentle nose touches allow both cats’ pheromones to mix and create a more blended communal scent. A More Affectionate MessageĬats may be solitary beasts by nature, but that doesn’t mean they don’t build lifelong bonds with their fellow housemates, colony members, or neighborhood pals. On top of roughly translating to, ‘Nice to meet you’ or ‘Welcome back,’ cats will touch noses when a fellow colony cat returns from a voyage or a littermate comes in from another room. ![]() With that, Fluffy can decipher who this cat is, where her travels led her, and whether she’s friendly. This bizarre sniffing position allows the unknown cat’s pheromones (a 40-chemical concoction unique to each cat) to seep into Jacobson’s organ between the nasal cavity and mouth roof. A cat will slightly gape her mouth open as she inhales the scent lingering on the other cat’s nose. Cats continue these nose-led habits well into adulthood and rely on these nose-to-nose touches as the unofficial feline ‘handshake.’ĭuring those few tense and curious seconds, a cat’s olfactory sense accelerates into overdrive. When a mother cat returns to the nest after a successful hunt or exploring her acre-wide territory, she’ll sniff each kitten one-by-one - a learned friendly greeting or ‘hello.’ĭeaf and blind newborn kittens also rely on their robust sense of smell (some 14 times better than humans) to locate their mother when they’re ready to nurse or craving warmth. If the nose-to-nose gesture lasts several seconds without escalating, it might be: A Feline HandshakeĬats learn this nose-touching behavior from the moment they enter the world. ![]() There’s no way to decipher whether this cat is feisty or planning a brawl until the first hiss, swat, or bite makes contact. ![]() When a strange cat prances into your yard and comes face-to-face with your fluff ball, it can be quite nerve-wracking. ![]()
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