Why do cats smell each others faces

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Cats are usually such graceful and delicate creatures, so it can come as a real surprise when they suddenly lean over to a fellow cat and get a good whiff of their rear. Why do cats do this?

It seems pretty weird, especially considering how humans communicate, but it’s actually an important part of feline behavior. Here’s why.

Butt sniffing is a very natural, instinctual, and basic form of cat-to-cat communication. Strangely enough, it is how cats greet and get to know each other, along with sniffing of the chest and neck. Even cats that know each other well will sniff butts to “see what’s new” and reinforce their bond and communication.

The cat butt sniff is the feline equivalent of “hello, how do you do?” and similar to how humans use a handshake when meeting and being introduced to someone. Cats communicate with each other using their strong sense of smell and detect signals in the chemicals in smelly oil from the anal glands.

What a Sniff Can Reveal

To understand what a sniff can tell a cat, it is important to understand how cats are different. There are four main differences in the ways that cats communicate in comparison with human communication.

• The first difference between cats and humans is a cat’s amazing sense of smell. They are reported to have approximately 40 times more smell-sensing cells in their nasal passages than we do. With such a super ability to smell, cats rely on this sensory information far more than humans. It’s so strong that a cat entering a room can perceive if another cat previously in the room was happy, stressed, scared, or in heat. Although it is difficult for humans to completely understand exactly how this works, the “sniff” can somehow also tell the cats if the encounter is likely to be friendly or not friendly.
• Cats have prominent and active scent glands on their head, neck, paws, chest, and base of the tail, as well as active anal glands. These apocrine glands, which sit on each side of a cat’s rectum, produce strong-smelling secretions intended to send chemical signals about that cat’s identity to other animals. These signals include information like the sex of the cat, what the cat is eating, and even some clues about a cat’s emotional state.
• The third difference of note is the presence of the Jacobson’s organ (also known as the vomeronasal organ). This is a small piece of olfactory nerve tissue filled with extrasensory receptors that perceive odors transmitted through the air. Also present in many animals including dogs, snakes, and even elephants, it transmits information to the brain from its position just inside the nose and mouth. You might notice a cat is activating their Jacobson’s organ when they make a funny face called the “Flehman response.” Cats will often tilt their nose up and curl their lip to optimize their ability to “smell” in this way.
• The last big difference is that unlike humans, cats will reintroduce themselves frequently, sometimes several times in a day or even an hour. Any change or stimulus will often lead to the butt sniff. Some believe the “sniff” can actually relieve tension and stress by helping an individual feel more comfortable about the other cat. Two cats living in the same house may smell each other when one comes in from the outside or comes back from the vet to confirm information about the cat’s state including diet, stress, availability for mating, and mood.

What You Should Do During Butt Sniffing

Behaviorists suggest that because the butt sniffing routine is a normal part of cat behavior, it’s best not to interrupt it if the cats seem friendly. Interrupting this behavior is equivalent to you stopping a friend from shaking hands with someone they are meeting: it can annoy or upset the friend and can make the introduction awkward. In fact, lack of this butt sniffing communication between cats can create stress between the cats.

With that being said, some cats are more aggressive “sniffers” than other cats and not every cat that meets will actually like each other. If the sniffing gets intense and you notice any other signs of aggression, then it is appropriate to pull your cat away from the other.

Cats can be super affectionate with their humans and tend to be clingy, too.  If your cat always follows you around and would sit on your lap, you are one fortunate pet parent. Your cat may even smell your face and proceed to lick your nose. 

Why does my cat sniff my face?

Your cat may be sniffing your face to greet you just as they would sniff the faces of their fellow cats. She may also sniff your face to smell you and commit your scent to memory to help build trust and familiarity. 

Cats have a good sense of smell, thanks to the more or less 45 to 200 million olfactory receptors. They use it to gather information from the environment. They utilize their nose to signal danger, display affection, mark their territory, and for grooming. Felines are also able to detect danger and other threats through the Flehmen response, a type of sniffing wherein they inhale the air through an open mouth. 

Let’s dive a little deeper into the reasons why your cat sniffs your face:

It is your cat’s way of greeting you. 

Just as humans greet each other with a handshake, a cheek-to-cheek kiss, or a bow, cats use their noses to touch a fellow cat or their human to say hello.  You may have noticed how cats sniff each other’s faces as a means of greeting. The sniffing may not only mean they are smelling you but first and foremost as a way of saying hello to you. 

She may be sniffing your face as a way of building familiarity and trust. 

Cats have unique body language that signifies particular meanings. Just as sniffing your face is her way of saying hello, she may also be doing it to commit your scent to their memory as a way of building familiarity and trust. Some cats may also sniff your face and rub their face against yours, also called bunting. They do this to leave their scent since they have scent glands around their mouth, cheeks, and chin. 

Why does my cat sniff my face when sleeping?

Your cat may sniff your face when sleeping for the following reasons:

• she wants  to play with you  
• she is bored 
• she is hungry and wants to wake you to feed her
• she wants to be close to you 
• your cat wants to stop you from snoring 
• she is checking if you are breathing, alive, and well 
• she wants to seek reassurance that you are there

Oftentimes, cats will wake their owners by sniffing their faces, nipping or biting the nose, and pawing or kneading them gently. This usually happens during early mornings when cats are already active and want to play or be fed.

Why does my cat sniff and bite my hair?

Your cat may be sniffing your hair because it detected a particular scent in it that was not there before. It could be that you just came from the hair salon and had your hair colored or permed. It may also be due to the shampoo or hair styling products that you are using lately. 

Some cats may also sniff and bite your hair and they may do this to show affection, to relieve stress, or because they like the taste of your hair. Check out our earlier article on Why does my cat bite my hair for a more detailed discussion. 

Some interesting facts about a cat’s nose and sense of smell

Here are some fascinating facts about a feline’s nose and sense of smell:

• the nose is the most important sense organ of cats 
• their sense of smell stimulates their appetite because they have few taste receptors 
• mutual sniffing is a feline’s way of greeting each other
• strong odors like citrus and tea tree oil are overwhelming and distasteful that is why cats hate their smell  
• a cat has nose prints and no two nose prints are alike
• the color of a cat’s nose is related to the color of her fur so black cats have black noses and orange cats have orange noses

Final thoughts 

Cats are unique and adorable. They have quirks and body language that may sometimes look weird but endearing like sniffing your face. Your cat may be sniffing your face to greet you and to build familiarity and trust. Sniffing your face while sleeping may mean she is checking you out or wants to play with you. Cats have various ways of expressing their affection to their owners and if you have one affectionate kitty be thankful for that, and reciprocate it with your love and attention.