| A cat has his own welcoming miaow which he will | | | | Cats living in one household develop a scent which |
| use only for his owner. Other people, even | | | | is different from that of a group living in another |
| companion cats, will hear a different meow as | | | | household. And within their own household scent, |
| their greeting. The cat will then rub against the | | | | each cat has his own individual scent. Most cat |
| owner's legs and may accompany this with a | | | | owners could probably identify their own cat just |
| chirruping noise of greeting. He may bounce on | | | | by sniffing at his nose. |
| stiff front legs, back slightly arched, with ears | | | | Each breed of cat probably has his own scent, |
| pricked up and tail held high. | | | | and it is possible that each color of cat may smell |
| Cats rub like this because they have scent glands | | | | different. Certain breeds and certain colors of cat |
| around their chins and lips (and also anus), and | | | | appear to get on better than do others. When |
| when they rub they transfer this scent onto | | | | cats greet each other they sniff faces first, then |
| whatever they have touched, making the object | | | | rub along one another's bodies and sniff at the |
| or person smell more familiar. An owner who has | | | | base of the tail. From this, each can tell if the |
| been outside for a time will have lost some of his | | | | other is a cat they know, if he has been close to |
| cat's scent, so the cat renews it. | | | | unfamiliar cats, where he has been, and what his |
| When greeting a returned owner, the cat may be | | | | sexual status is. |
| in such a hurry to say 'hi' that he does not use | | | | Often cats from the same household will hiss at a |
| any of his scent glands, but simply rubs his side | | | | companion on his return from a visit to the vet |
| along the owner's legs. By bouncing, the cat can | | | | because of the unfamiliar smell which still attaches |
| reach higher, and he would probably like his owner | | | | to him. And if a human is invited to sniff back at |
| to come down to his level so that faces can be | | | | a cat's face, which could be considered an honor, |
| rubbed together. | | | | the cat will probably then turn his tail; this is also |
| When you are on a cat's level and he sniffs at | | | | undoubtedly an invitation to sniff. |
| your face and then rubs against you, sniff back, | | | | Grooming by licking not only settles the fur neatly |
| do not blow. Expelling air in your cat's face is the | | | | and keeps it clean, it also gives it the right smell. |
| same as another cat hissing at it, and is seen as a | | | | As several cats in one household usually eat the |
| very unfriendly gesture. A cat's sense of smell is | | | | same food, their saliva might be expected to |
| much more developed than ours, and one of its | | | | smell similar, and this could help mark the fur with |
| uses is to identify other cats. With practice, we | | | | a scent familiar to all. Unfamiliar cats will be shown |
| can distinguish between different cats by smell | | | | they are unwelcome by a range of behavior and |
| alone, too. | | | | language, beginning with the hiss. |