[*Crystal*]

I've been wondering about this for a while but never asked.

Why do cats sniff other cat's bottoms?

Teddy always does it to Bobby and Bobby hates it! Bobby will scurry away with Teddy on his heels, or he'll turn around and give Teddy a whack.
It's funny, sometimes Teddy will sniff then gets this stunned/icky look on his face with his fangs showing LOL

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[Doreen]

They recognise each other that way, they can tell gender, health, whether they are on heat etc. My two do it to each other too, and it annoys them too.

[Cherylle]

My pair are the same and they get annoyed too!

[swellen]

It's funny, sometimes Teddy will sniff then gets this stunned/icky look on his face with his fangs showing LOL

I just had a mental picture of that and burst out laughing (at work - so hard to explain why I'm laughing!) Please try to have your camera ready next time...

[Roland Deschain]

It's funny, sometimes Teddy will sniff then gets this stunned/icky look on his face with his fangs showing LOL

That's funny!

[CatsRU]

My two do it as well!! It is very funny.

[onslowsmum]

only Zinnia does it here and she does it to the dogs sometimes as well

[Patricia L]

When they make that face, it's called flehming:

When your cat smells something and then opens his mouth slightly, wrinkles his nose, and curls back his upper lip, your cat is exhibiting what is called the 'flehmen reaction' or 'flehming.' 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.

LINK

[vengeancethecat]

My cats also get annoyed when another cat sniffs their bottom! They don't sniff for long, just a quick second but you can see the disdain in their faces!

[Kicol]

Well, it's funny "to humans" from the human point of view, but for them it is totally normal. The human equivalent would be shaking hands or exchanging business cards So, don't laugh at your cats for being civil LOL

[monty_dweezil]

Mine do this as well. Monty seems to find it slightly more annoying than Dweezil does. They don't do it that much except when one has been away from the other for any length of time, even briefly, like when Monty went to the vet by himself for his eye. When he got home, there was much butt sniffing going on from Dweezil to re-confirm yes, this is Monty. This is his bottom. lol

[Rob]

That's funny!

We really need pics of that!!!! heheh

[Bibby]

We really need pics of that!!!! heheh

Now thats an idea for a photo thread!
My girl sniff's my desexed boy's rear!
She is like a little mother to him- always thought she was checking how clean it is. She will also try to groom him.

This post has been edited by Bibby: 03 October 2009 - 10:52 PM

[myboobook]

I thought they also sniffed bottoms to check out what the other cat had been eating - "is he getting more/different food than I am, and where is this food source?"

This post has been edited by myboobook: 04 October 2009 - 02:34 PM

[KautzCats]

When they make that face, it's called flehming:
LINK

LOLOL I thought they did that because it was really stinky!!