When it comes to scent, we often think about how important it is to dogs, but most people don’t consider its significance for cats. Just like dogs, a cat’s sense of smell is very important in their daily life, influencing everything from their sense of security to their curiosity.
A Cat’s Sense of Smell
Do you ever wonder what makes a cat’s sense of smell so powerful? Not only do cats have about 200 million olfactory cells in their nose, but they also have special adaptations that make their sense of smell exceptional.
- Jacobson’s Organ: This organ is made up of 2 sacs that sit at the top of the back of the mouth. It is connected to both the nose and the mouth. When a cat breathes in a scent, it opens its mouth slightly to pull in the scent and moves its tongue to the roof of its mouth. This sends the scent to the Jacobson’s Organ where the scent is processed and the information is sent to its brain.
- Flehman Reaction: We have all seen cats pick up a scent and sit there with their mouths partially open as they process the scent. What we are observing is known as the Flehman Reaction. During the reaction, what we might not notice is the cat breathing quickly, which speeds up the process of the scent being sent to the Jacobson’s Organ. This allows the cat to quickly identify the scent and respond based on its instincts.
Pheromones Do The Talking
In a cat’s world, they use pheromones to communicate everything, from marking their territory to forming mother and kitten bonds and even marking their humans. You may be wondering, what exactly is a pheromone? A pheromone is a chemical that is released by a cat through glands located along its body and helps to communicate with other cats and the environment in which they live.
- Cats have glands on their forehead, chin, lips, and the underside of their front paws that produce pheromones. When a cat head-bunts you, rubs its cheek on you, presses its lips against your finger, or kneads you, it is leaving its scent behind. This is its way of marking you as part of its group.
- You might notice a cat rubbing its head and body along objects in your home or yard. This is how it marks those areas as its territory, and the pheromones it leaves behind communicate this to other cats. Similarly, when a cat scratches objects like furniture or a scratcher, it is not just grooming its claws but also marking the area with its scent.
How Can Scent Be Enriching?
Not only can scent be used for communication, but it can also provide mental enrichment for a cat, especially those who live indoors. It’s always important to provide daily enrichment for your cats, but you might not have considered scent enrichment. Here are some ideas to incorporate scent into your cat’s enrichment routine:
- Catnip: Most people have offered their cat catnip, but never realized that it is enrichment. Instead of placing catnip in front of your cat, you can hide catnip in areas throughout the home for your cat to find, which can be exciting and stimulating to your cat.
- Scent Enrichment Kit: You can purchase a scent enrichment kit that is full of safe botanicals for your cat to enjoy. By placing a small amount of a few types into bowls, you can offer your cat a buffet of scent enrichment.
- Bring the Outdoors Inside: Collect cat safe plants, sticks, grass, flowers, and leaves from the outside and place in a shallow cardboard box for your cat to explore. Not only does each item have its own scent, but the scent of the outdoors adds an extra boost of stimulation.
Understanding how a cat’s sense of smell works can help us better care for them and provide an environment that stimulates their natural instincts. Incorporating scent enrichment into your cat’s routine can offer new levels of mental stimulation and joy. By tapping into the power of scent, you can enhance your cat’s quality of life and strengthen the bond you share with them.