Why would a cat keep burying his muzzle in a dog's ears?

Question

We recently got a border collie mix. Now that he and our cat have gotten used to each other, they are playing and have become great friends. But one behavior of the cat's really has us puzzled. He seems to get off on sticking his muzzle as far as possible into the dog's ears...licking, rubbing his face over the area, holding onto the dog's head for dear life so the dog won't pull away. The cat does this at every opportunity when the dog will allow it. Actually, the dog seems to like it, but the cat acts like he is high on catnip after doing this. It's funny as all get-out, but why does he do it?

We have never seen this behavior in the cat before we got the dog. We keep the dog clean and he's never been around catnip or the like.

Answer 1

The dog may have an ear infection that smells. Sometimes animals will groom each other when the other one is sick or has a sore.

I have one dog that grooms my other dog's ears. But I think it's a maternal instinct - I got him when he was a tiny puppy and she thinks she's his mom. He doesn't groom her ears.

You might take the dog to a vet so they can have a really close look down there. If your dogs ears look clean, it's probably because the cat has been licking them. If there are ear mites, they would be invisible to you.

Thanks for reminding me - I need to clean my dogs' ears!!

Answer 2

Our male cat does exactly the same with our female cat, and has done this since he was a kitten. Perhaps they spend a lot of time focused on the ears, because that's an area that the other pet cannot clean so easily themselves.

Grooming and head rubbing are signs of affection, it also helps reinforce the bond between them because the cat is transferring his scent to your dog.

Answer 3

i won't agree, cats in many situations kill birds and different small creatures yet it fairly is hardly a reason to call for all cats to be muzzled or restrained indoors. As a life long dogs and cat proprietor i think of that your reaction is an over reaction to what improve into an exceedingly unhappy yet uncommon incident canines hate to be muzzled and this is no longer effortless to punish them in contact with some thing which occurs far much less in many situations than the extensive volume of situations cats kill different creatures. this is the proprietors who could be punished whilst they fail to maintain their canines under administration, no longer the canines.

Answer 4

maybe you should stick your nose in there and see if anything smells funny- could be the dog has ear mites or an infection that the cat finds the smell of enjoyable for whatever reason. Maybe nothing, but you should have a look anyway.

Answer 5

Dunno, did he keep this behavior from kittenhood? Maybe mom cat did a big cleaning binge with all the kittens and the smell of ear wax triggers these memories.

OR the dog rolled in catnip? Or his ears just plain smell good. It doesn't seem to be hurting either pet.

Answer 6

The cat is grooming the "dirty" dog. Kinda cute, I think. He must really be fascinated with that dog ear smell.

Answer 7

He's just grooming his friend. Some cats do this to other cats. Some do this to other animals. My mom works in animal rescue and we get quite an array of dirty doggies in our house from time to time. Two of our cats, Maggie and Stanley (who coincidentally are fearless) love to groom them.

My cat, Richard, loves to groom me.

Answer 8

If you don't understand a question, DON'T ANSWER IT! How hard is that to do?

Answer 9

It's an affectionate gesture of grooming. Perhaps he is whispering sweet nothings?

If your dog allows it, I think it is cute. ;-)