I have a 6 month old male kitten...I noticed that when he smells my feet that he opens his mouth. He will sometimes lick your toes and feet then open his mouth too...I just adopted another kitten he is about 6 weeks old and he is doing it aswel. At first I thought it was because my feet stunk bad...but they do it when they are clean and right out of the shower...why do they do this? Are they sick?...They also pant sometimes when they play..They are both indoor male cats and don't have there shots yet. Any info would be great...thanks. :)
2006-08-06 17:47:50 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
This reaction is called the Flehmen response. He is drawing in air, capturing the scent, and transferring it to a small specialized sac called the 'vomeronasal organ' or 'Jacobson's organ.' This organ is located high up in the roof of the mouth, and has a large blood supply. It traps the odor molecules and sends signals to the brain regarding the scent.
Your cats are basically just enjoying the scent even more by letting the fragrance wash over their Jacobson's organ. My kitty does it when he smells old books. If I'm reading, he will jump up, and push his nose into the book and inhale and exhale until the book gets wet from his nose! It's perfecly normal, and it's quite cute to think that your kitties like the smell of you so much!
Cats also pant if they are playing - It's slightly disturbing when you see it the first time, because it just doesn't seem right! But I think that it's a good sign because it means that they are getting a lot of exercise. My black boy pants if I play hard enough with him, and I think it's so cute to see his little pink tongue come out when he's hot!
2006-08-08 02:00:43 · answer #1 · answered by Karring Kat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cats have a scent gland inside of their mouths. It is just inside, right behind their front upper teeth. They open their mouths so that they can smell things better. They must just have a thing for feet!
2006-08-06 17:55:06 · answer #2 · answered by wondering 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have 3 cats and 6 kittens, my older cats do this when they smell a lot of stuff feet, the floor where a stranger has stepped if we have company, but i think they do it when they smell something nasty, no offence, but they also do it when they smell eachothers butts its nasty!! sometimes we have to clean under our toenails with say a cutical pusher or a pair of tweezers cuz this nasty gunky stuff hardens under the nail between the nail and skin and you gotta clean it or itll keep building up thats what the cats r smelling on your toes a shower wont help this problem, you gotta scrape it out, or cut your toenails really short and scrub your toe nails witha fingernail brush ,sorry , just true, happens to us all. as for the panting, thats just what hes doin, its just cuz hes played rough and got tired out !! there is nothing wrong with your cats hon.!!
2006-08-06 18:02:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Opening of the mouth means their letting scent in panting means theyre hot or tired.
2006-08-06 17:54:44 · answer #4 · answered by Kelsi W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cat and dog like to lick their own feet too.
By the way maybe they think that your feet is his mother nipple, so chasing for milk.
2006-08-06 17:54:09 · answer #5 · answered by MATTHEW Wong 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cats like feet
2006-08-06 17:52:18 · answer #6 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry my guy does that too but he bites my toes and attacks my feet. hey will pant, temperature in room may be warm and since they do not sweat they pant
2006-08-10 15:11:37 · answer #7 · answered by Binky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cat loves smelly feet.
2006-08-06 19:57:06 · answer #8 · answered by Boober Fraggle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my cats did the same. it is because the are teething and they want something to chew on. or maybe it is because skin taste salty and the like the taste.
and the pant when they play because they are hot. cats are like dogs no sweat glands. the pant to cool off.
2006-08-06 17:53:03 · answer #9 · answered by Liz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋