{"id":652689,"date":"2024-09-19T19:19:46","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T23:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=652689"},"modified":"2024-09-30T10:33:19","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T14:33:19","slug":"why-do-cats-open-their-mouth-when-they-smell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/ask-the-vet\/why-do-cats-open-their-mouth-when-they-smell\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Cats Open Their Mouth When They Smell? Reasons Explained (Vet Answer)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n <\/span>\n \nCat Communication and Pheromones<\/a>
\nWhat Is the Flehmen Response in Cats?<\/a>
\nWhat Does the Flehmen Response Look Like?<\/a>
\nCauses<\/a>
\nDo I Need to Be Worried About the Flehmen Response?<\/a>
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Have you ever noticed your cat pull a face as if they\u2019ve just smelt the most disgusting thing ever? Eyes closed, mouth wide open, lip curled in, neck extended\u2014it\u2019s an expression that certainly resembles repulsion. This is actually a natural reflex known as the Flehmen response<\/em> (sometimes referred to as the Flehmen grimace <\/em>or reaction <\/em>too). And, interestingly, it has nothing to do with detecting a foul smell.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rather, it is a technique that cats (and some other species) have evolved in order to process certain pheromones. So, what is it, and why do cats do it? First, we need to understand the aforementioned pheromones.<\/p>\n

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Cat Communication and the Role of Pheromones<\/h2>\n

Pheromones are messenger molecules that cats use to communicate with each other. They are\u00a0chemical substances that are secreted outside of the body in fluids like urine and sweat. Essentially, pheromones are a hidden form of communication. Certain species use them as signals from one individual to another.<\/p>\n

Examples of ways that cats use pheromones include:<\/div>
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