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