As funny as it may seem, it has an important purpose: why do cats open their mouths when they smell something?
September 19, 2024
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Cats, like dogs, have a strong sense of smell, but there is one point where they differ. Cats open their mouths while cautiously smelling something. From outside The
Cats, like dogs, have a strong sense of smell, but there is one point where they differ. Cats open their mouths while cautiously smelling something.
From outside The reason for these funny looking movements is what could happen? Let us tell you the background of cats, which will make you admire them again…
This movement of cats is called the “flehmen response”.
“Flehmen”, which means “curling the upper lip” in German, is often seen in cats. This strange but funny image actually serves an important purpose. When they open their mouths, they get the chance to analyze the scent more accurately. “vomeronasal organ” A sensory organ is activated.
Jacobson organ
This organ, which you may have heard of as the “Jacobson organ”, is located just behind the front incisors and it makes smelling possible with its small channels that go to the nose.
In other words, when a cat shows the flehmen response, the scents are dissolved in saliva and sent to the glands via the tongue. As this phenomena that the receptors in the nose cannot detect They can perceive.
Flehmen’s reaction is not limited to cats. Other animals that:
Ashley Johnson is a science writer for “Div Bracket”. With a background in the natural sciences and a passion for exploring the mysteries of the universe, she provides in-depth coverage of the latest scientific developments.