Why do cats sometimes open their mouths and leave them open for a moment after they have sniffed something??

Question

it looks weird, funny and cute when they do that!!!! but why do they do it??????????

Answer 1

They are using what is called their Jacobson's organs that are in the roof of their mouth. They kinda curl their lips back at the same time, don't they? They can also squint and flatten their ears - this is called the flehmen reaction. It happens when a cat wants to thoroughly analyse a smell molecule by molecule - almost like tasting it. Hehe ... think of it like us seeing better by using a microscope!

Answer 2

This is called the Flehman response. Cats (even large wild cats like tigers) will open their mouths to take in a scent, because this opens the vomernasal area (also sometimes called the Jacob's organ) located in the roof of the mouth which allows the full strength of the scent to be taken in & processed. They often do this when smelling urine that has been sprayed to mark a cat's territory, but they do it when smelling other things too. They do it when they want to get an extra good whiff of something. Yeah, it is funny!

Answer 3

Cats have a pair of vomeronasal organs (also called Jacobson's organs) on the roof of the mouth. When the cat wants to thoroughly investigate a particular scent, she will inhale through her mouth, usually curling her lips up at the same time, and bring the air over the roof of her mouth. When the cat curls her lips like this, she will often squint her eyes and maybe even flatten her ears as she concentrates. This makes her look like she is grimacing. This grimace is called a flehmen reaction. The vomeronasal organs will then analyze the scent molecule by molecule -- almost as if the cat is tasting the smell.

Answer 4

both males and females do that funny face when they smell a " new" scent. cats have a specialized organ for detecting scent. This is called the vomeronasal organ, and when using this organ cats: be it tamed, feral, or larger cats exhibit a facial expression called "flehmen." The flehmen face is characterized by an open mouth, a wrinkled nose and an uplifted chin.

Answer 5

They do this when they smell a particularly intriguing smell. They have these little organs inside their mouths that can help them smell even better than smelling with their nose alone. So they open their mouths to help the scent get to those little organs (Jacobson's organ or something?). IT helps them process very fine information.

Answer 6

That is an excellent question to which I have no good answer. Mine do it too and you're right - it's weird, funny and cute, all at the same time. And when I ask them, "WHAT are you doing?" they just look at me like they are innocent. I know them too well to buy that though.

Answer 7

My cats does this too, it's hilarious to me. I laugh hard every time I see them do it. It looks like they are disguised with the smell.😅😅😅😅

Answer 8

well its a trait from bigger cats like tigers in the wild when they sniff something out they will try to taste it to get a better thought of what the smell is its perfectly natural.

Answer 9

it is called the "flamen response",which is sex pheromones acting on the jacobson's organ on the roof of the mouth. its function is to let the male cat know that the female is in heat...

Answer 10

We call it "snake face" because we think they look like snakes. (ha ha) I think it's just a sign that they didn't like what they smelled. It's kind of like when we cover our moth and nose for a second or two if we smell something yucky.