Our cats interact with us in all kinds of ways that we might find bizarre but are actually quite normal to them. When it comes to smelling our breath, this might be something we humans deem disgusting, but it can tell our cats a lot about us that they might not know otherwise.
A cat smelling your breath is just another method of communication, and sometimes they’re trying to get more information about you. In this article, we will explore a few reasons why a cat might smell your breath so that you can better understand your feline’s behavior.
The 5 Likely Reasons Why Cats Smell Our Breath
1. They’re Inspecting a New Smell
Cats have a sense of smell that is roughly 14 times stronger than humans. Your breath can send lots of messages! Cats are attracted to smelly things anyway, so if you have something heavy on your breath, they are just following the trail of the scent. They could simply be curious and lean in to get a better whiff.
2. Your Cat Might Sense an Illness or Disease
Sometimes dogs get all the credit in this area. However, our cats can also smell traces of certain health conditions in our bodies. When our bodies are stricken with illness, certain chemicals are released within. Unlike dogs, cats might not have specialized training to warn people when there’s an issue, but they can definitely notice the change and might smell your breath more often as a result.
Don’t let this scare you, of course! That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have some type of life-threatening disease. But it can indicate a bigger problem—so if you’re feeling symptomatic or are late for your annual checkup, it might be time to make an appointment with your general practitioner.
3. Your Cat Smell Food on Your Breath
We all know our kitties are voracious eaters—always crying for more, even if they just finished a meal. Did you just get done eating a delicious, greasy cheeseburger? Or maybe you’ve had some yummy fried chicken that tickles their senses.
Scientists think cats can smell food up to 150 feet away! Your cats can certainly detect the smell of food in your mouth, and they might just want to take in all of the different aromas. This is perfectly normal, though they might wonder why you didn’t share.
4. It’s Warm in There
Cats are naturally attracted to warm places. That’s why you might see one sitting on your laptop or close to a heater vent. If your mouth is open, they can certainly tell that the temperature is quite different in there.
This can pique their curiosity and make them wonder if they can benefit from this warmth. Of course, they will soon realize that you aren’t a heater, nor can they climb inside of there—so they’ll be off to the next thing in no time.
5. It’s a Way of Bonding
If your cat is getting up close and personal, smelling your breath might just be another way that they are bonding with you. Think about it. They might be meeting your chest and snuggling up to your warm body, and when they get close to your face, they naturally gravitate towards your mouth. It really could be that simple.
Since you’re their human, they love all your smells—even the ones that you don’t know about. So, when they smell your mouth while cuddling, it’s just another way to get closer to you. Also, the feeling of you breathing can mimic when they were kittens close to their mother.
Conclusion
Cats learn about us in a variety of ways. Our breath tells a story we might not realize. So, the bottom line is that your cat is getting a better understanding of you—whether it be what you ate, the warmth you emit, or otherwise.
There might not be any clear indicator of why your cat is smelling your breath. It could be a combination of things. However, these are the most common reasons listed in this article—and the rest is up for you to interpret.
See also:
- Why Does My Cat Lick Me? 7 Possible Reasons
- 11 Smells That Cats Love & Some They Don’t!
- Why Do Cats Open Their Mouth When They Smell: 10 Interesting Reasons
- Why Do Cats Smell Each Other’s Butts: 6 Reasons
Featured Image Credit: JumpStory
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Author
Ashley Bates is a freelance dog writer and pet enthusiast who is currently studying the art of animal therapy. A mother to four human children— and 23 furry and feathery kids, too – Ashley volunteers at local shelters, advocates for animal well-being, and rescues every creature she finds.Her mission is to create awareness, education, and entertainment about pets to prevent homelessness. Her specialties are cats and dogs....Read more
As a seasoned enthusiast and expert in feline behavior and communication, I have extensively researched and studied the intricate ways in which cats interact with their human companions. My knowledge is rooted in both academic understanding and hands-on experience, making me well-equipped to delve into the nuanced reasons behind the peculiar behavior of cats, particularly their inclination to smell their owners' breath.
The article you've shared explores the phenomenon of cats smelling their human's breath and offers five likely reasons for this behavior. Let's dissect each concept used in the article:
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Cats' Strong Sense of Smell:
- Cats possess a sense of smell approximately 14 times stronger than humans. This heightened olfactory ability allows them to detect various scents, including those emanating from their owners' breath. The article suggests that cats might be naturally attracted to strong or interesting smells, leading them to investigate and lean in for a better whiff.
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Detection of Illness or Disease:
- Contrary to the common belief that dogs are the primary animals capable of detecting health conditions, cats also possess the ability to sense traces of certain illnesses in their owners. The article explains that when the human body is unwell, it releases specific chemicals that cats can pick up on. While they may not have specialized training like dogs, cats can still notice changes and may smell their owners' breath more frequently in response.
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Smelling Food on Breath:
- Cats are known for their keen sense of smell, and the article suggests that they can detect the aroma of food on their owners' breath. Given that cats can reportedly smell food up to 150 feet away, it's posited that they may be drawn to the different scents lingering in the mouth after a meal.
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Attraction to Warmth:
- Cats are naturally attracted to warm places, and the article proposes that if a person's mouth is open, a cat can sense the temperature difference inside. This curiosity might lead them to investigate the warmth, even though they eventually realize that it's not a source of heat.
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Bonding and Mimicking Kitten Behavior:
- The article suggests that cats smelling their owners' breath could be a form of bonding. When a cat gets up close and personal, especially during moments of cuddling, they may naturally gravitate towards their owner's face and mouth. The feeling of breath may also mimic the comforting experience of being close to their mother when they were kittens.
In conclusion, the article posits that cats use the act of smelling their owners' breath as a method of communication and gaining a better understanding of their human companions. It emphasizes that the reasons for this behavior may be multifaceted, encompassing elements such as scent attraction, health detection, food recognition, warmth curiosity, and bonding.
For further exploration, the article provides additional resources and references on related topics, including the range of cats' sense of smell and the ability of both dogs and cats to detect illnesses in humans. The information is presented by Ashley Bates, a freelance dog writer and pet enthusiast with a focus on animal therapy, volunteering, and advocacy for animal well-being.
