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Why do cats pull that stinky face?

Nov 14 2022, 16:20
Our feline friends are one complicated species aren’t they? Do you ever wonder… Why does my cat rub their face on me and inanimate objects? Why do they sniff everything and pull that strange ‘stinky face’ like they have just smelled something pretty awful? Demonstrating that ‘stinky face’, officially called the Flehman response, is domestic assistant Lisa’s cat Chuffin, isn’t she beautiful? Cats use pheromones, commonly known as scent hormones, to communicate with other cats. Each cat has its own unique set of pheromones, which can signal different messages to other cats. For example, a cat will rub its cheek against an object or person and release pheromones to mark its territory. Pheromones in cats' urine signal their gender, entire(unneutered) males are commonly seen doing this. A cat will trap pheromones in its tongue when sniffing, they then flick-transfer the pheromones to the roof of its mouth, that's when the Flehmen response occurs: The cat curls the upper part of its mouth in what appears to be a sneer and opens its mouth. All cats use this second sniff-mechanism to analyse pheromones. Cat's will also mark their favourite humans with pheromones as well; you should feel honoured should you receive a headbutt or cheek rub from a cat is its way of saying "this human is mine." It's a sign of true affection from your feline companion.  The Flehman response is seen in lots of species of animal, another common one being the horse.