Why do cats gape after they smell another cats butt?

Question

My cats do it all the time. They look funny after they sniff each others butts. They hang their mouths open and they look like you really wouldn't want to fool with them at that time. Also, you can see all of their teeth, but it only last ten seconds or so. I asked my vet why do my cats engage in this strange behavior, but he just shrugged his shoulders.

Answer 1

Next time your cat yawns look at the roof of the mouth. Those dark spots are sense glands. I don't know precisely how it works. My vet is trying to get me to go to vet-school, so He makes me learn the best way. My cat Stimpy is really in the dividends on this. LUCK

Answer 2

Butt Gape

Answer 3

its called Fleming or sometimes spelled Phleming. There are sensitory glands inside of the mouth that are capable of picking up Pheramones, scents given off by every living creature. Pheramones are like a big billboard on the side of the highway that says these things.
Im sexually mature
Im male or female
I want to mate or I dont want to mate
I am healthy and happy or I am sick and nasty
I am just your kinda gal baby, or back off boy i am not intrested in the same sex!!!
Cats open there mouth up and breath in the pheramones. These Fleming glands (Jacobsons Organ) can sort out the diffrent information better than the nasal glands. The reason being the mouth is moister and wetter than the nose. Moisture traps the scent better and thefore more stronger messages can be determined through the mouth.

Answer 4

they do this to pull the scent higher into their noses. they open their mouths so the scent can reach the jacobson's organ. It is located inside the mouth, just behind the front teeth, and connects to the nasal cavity. Opening his mouth slightly enables the Jacobson's Organ to open up the ducts connecting to the nasal cavity. The appearance of the cat as he brings air into the Jacobson's Organ has sometimes been likened to a "smile," other times to a grimace.

According to Valeriy ILYICHEV, Doctor of Biology, there are three hypotheses on the exact function of the Jacobson's Organ. The first is to perceive the smell of food; the second, as a "sixth sense" to help predict unusual occurrences, e.g., earthquake, volcanic eruption; and the third is for perception of sexual odors - pheromones.

Answer 5

The cat psychologists believe that they are remembering and enjoying the scent. My cats do it when they smell other things too. This just means that they are like, "hey, I remember smelling this before.." and they gape as they recall what/where/when they smelt it. I do not know what kind of research there is to back up this proposition; however, it makes sense.

Answer 6

When they spray they have a scent gland. My cats do the same thing. Sniff eachothers scentgland.

They open their mouths because they can smell with their mouths.

TRUE!(=

Answer 7

The cat is drawing more air into its pallate and using its scent glands on the roof of its mouth to further smell the scent. They do not only do it when smelling the spray of other cats, but with any scent they are curious about.

Answer 8

Because it's a gross smell to him. My cat does that, he will sniff something on the floor and then gasp after, hold his mouth open but you know what...he does it again and again!!! Somethings they do are always going to remain a mystery.

Answer 9

my chum has the comparable subject. what she does is spray fragrance up her cat's butt. despite you do, do no longer try this!!! that's risky and dangerous. basically positioned on nostril plugs once you sleep...