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- Why does the cat open its mouth?
- Why do cats keep their mouths open?
- panting cat with sticking out tongue
Surely you've seen your cat sniff something and then get open mouth, making a kind of grimace. They keep making that expression of "surprise" but it's not amazement, no! There is a great tendency to associate certain behaviors of animals with humans, which is perfectly normal considering that this is the behavior we know best. However, most of the time, that's not what we're thinking.
Each animal species has a specific behavior that is different from the other species. If you have a kitten, this amazing feline and a great companion, it is very important that you get to know the behavior normal of him. This way, you can detect any changes, in addition to greatly improving your relationship with him.
If you came to this article, it is because you are questioning why do cats open their mouths when they smell something. Keep reading because PeritoAnimal prepared this article especially to answer this question so common among the guardians of these animals!
Why does the cat open its mouth?
Cats detect substances that are not volatile, namely pheromones. These chemicals send messages through nerve stimuli to the brain, which in turn interprets them. This allows them to receive information of their social group and can detect the heat of the cats, for example.
Why do cats keep their mouths open?
Through this Flehmen reflex, the openings of the nasopalatine ducts increase and a pumping mechanism is created that transports odors to the vomeronasal organ. That's why the cat is breathing with open mouth, to facilitate the entry of pheromones and other chemical substances.
It's not just the cat that has this amazing organ. You've certainly already questioned why your puppy licks other puppies' urine and the answer is precisely in the vomeronasal or Jacobson's organ. They exist various species that possess this organ and that effect the Flehmen reflex like cattle, horses, tigers, tapirs, lions, goats and giraffes.
panting cat with sticking out tongue
The behavior we mentioned before is not related to panting or with cat breathing like dog. If your cat starts panting like a dog after exercising, obesity may be the cause. Obesity can cause respiratory changes. It is common, for example, for fatter cats to snore.
If your cat is coughing or sneezing, you must visit the veterinarian of your confidence because your cat may have some illness, such as:
- viral infection
- bacterial infection
- Allergy
- foreign object in the nose
Whenever you detect any change in the cat's natural behavior, you should seek help from an expert. Sometimes small signs allow detecting diseases in the most primordial phases and this is the key to successful treatment.
We hope you enjoyed this article. Keep following PeritoAnimal to discover more fun facts about your feline best friend, namely why cats suck on the blanket!
