Cats have an amazing sense of smell, which is 14 times stronger then that of humans. Your cat will sniff you, whether you know it or not, whenever you come home or enter a new space. They can tell who you are, what gender, where you were an hour ago and sometimes even what you had for breakfast! Some folks believe that cats can detect illnesses not only in themselves and other cats, but in humans as well.
Cats nasal organ is comparatively larger than that of a human beings. Cats survival depends on their sense of smell and hence cats nose is its most important organ. A cat uses scent to sniff out food, mates, enemies, and to seek out his own territory, which he has previously marked.
Cat use its nose for the following important activities in its day to day life.
To Smell Food
Right after birth, the blind kitten will use his sense of smell to locate his mother and to latch onto its teat. From then on, a cat’s sense of smell will lead him to food, sometimes in the unlikeliest places. With aging, the cats sense of smell also weaken and hence it is generally observed that cats in their old age are mostly attracted to slightly hot food since the heating enhances its smell.
To Locate a Mate
In order to mate, Female cats “in heat” exude a powerful sexual pheremone that attracts male cats from great distances. It is generally noticed that male cats wander around the homes of the female cat owners because of the same phenomenon. Female cats can also scent out a preferred mate by his territorial markings.
Establishing Territorial Lines
Male cats generally mark their territory with urine or with pheromones from glands in their face and feet. Male cats generally inspect their territorial boundaries, sniffing at their markings, and reapplying when the odor diminishes. Other male cats will smell the markings and either respect the territory, or attempt to take it over by introducing their own scent markings. This is the reason you often see male cats fighting each other since either of them has tried to take over the other male cat territory.
Warn Against Enemies and Danger
Cats strong sense of smell help them to keep a safe distance from their enemies and also to stay away from harms way. If a cat enemy passes by some areas a few hours ago, it can still smell it and shows signs of alertness to the danger.
Jacobsen’s or Vomeronasal Organ
Cats also have an extra sense organ that is unique to felines and is called Jacobsen’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. 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
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