Cats, A Nose In Their Mouth

Home Forums Wonders of Creation Cats, A Nose In Their Mouth

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #589463
    feivel
    Participant

    If you live with cats, you may have occasionally seen them doing something funny with their mouths.

    Sometimes a housecat will stand very still, hold its jaw slightly open, flare its nostrils and seem to be staring at nothing at all. Just what are these cats up to?

    Cats have five major sense organs, just like humans — eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin — but they also have a sixth sense organ, known as the “vomeral-nasal organ,” located on the roofs of their mouths. The vomeral-nasal organ can be thought of as a second nose. It is specifically used by cats to sense a particular kind of odor called a pheromone. Pheromones are chemicals secreted in the sweat of animals that give important information to other members of their species — information such as This Is Who I Am, I Am Friendly, I Am Male or Female, I Am Looking For A Partner — or, conversely, This Is My Space And You Had Better Go Away.

    When cats “do flemen”, as it is called, they are drawing air slowly into their mouths so that the pheromone-containing odor of other cats will cross the vomeral-nasal organ. Often you will see them doing it around your clothes, especially if you have been holding another cat. If the pheromone they sense is upsetting to them, you may see them become agitated, perhaps raising the fur along their backs while the odor dissipates. If, however, once they have “smelled” the information they feel they are not in any danger, they will close their mouths again and go back to their inscrutable expression.

    #638997

    moish,

    your cat’s smirk looks just like yours, lol.

    #638998
    moish01
    Member

    charlie, my smirk is a lot more subtle than that one

    #638999

    it can’t be that subtle if areivim and I saw it thru cyberspace.

    #639000
    moish01
    Member

    that aint a smirk that cat has on. that’s a real goofy smile and i don’t think i’m EVER that happy. so no, it wasn’t me.

    #639001

    ok, I’ll agree with you on that one. But now that its adar, I hope your life brightens and that you are happy enough that you wear a weird goofy smile like your cat’s all day!

    #639002
    areivimzehlazeh
    Participant

    i saw the smirk on thursday too

    #639003
    areivimzehlazeh
    Participant

    moish- see my post above… it needs some deep thinking on your part. good luck

    #639004
    moish01
    Member

    two days rosh chodesh means it’s not adar till tonight. and spare me. even if i was the happiest guy alive i wouldn’t wanna walk around like a moonie.

    i don’t remember anything from thursday anymore. remind me?

    #639005
    feivel
    Participant

    i cant see into the mind of a cat, but very doubtful that it is conscious.

    every cat has a different smell, i have NO idea how the Boreh does that!

    #639006
    qwertyuiop
    Member

    feivel: this is interesting, thanx again!$

    #639007
    asdfghjkl
    Participant

    moish: cute cat!!!

    #639008
    amichai
    Participant

    moish, nice but can u draw garfield? he’s an interesting one.

    #639009
    moish01
    Member

    … at your service!

    .
    __ __
    ,;::::
    ,'/' '/''/
    _,: '.,-'.-':.
    -./"' : : :/,
    ::. ,:____;__; :-
    :" ( .'-*'o*',);
    .. ' '---''' /
    ':._..- _.'
    ,; . '.
    /"'| |
    ::. ) : :
    |" ( |
    :.(_, : ;
    ''-'_/ /
    '... , _,'
    |,| : |
    |'| | |
    |,| | |
    ,--.;'| | '..--.
    /;' "' ; '..--. ))
    :.___(___ ) ))'
    SSt'-'-''

    #639010
    amichai
    Participant

    thanx moish.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.