Cat behavior: Why do cats always want to touch and smell?

Why do cats want to touch

1. Explore the world: Cats have a strong natural desire to explore and sense their surroundings through touch. A cat’s whiskers, claws, etc. are the tools they use to explore the world. Touching helps them better understand the texture, shape and temperature of things.
2. Relieve stress: When cats are petting, they release a hormone called oxytocin, which relieves stress and makes them feel happy. Therefore, touching is a relaxing behavior for cats.

3. Leave a scent: Cats’ fingerprints and scent are unique, and by touching cats they can leave their scent on objects, which helps them recognize their territory and companions.
4. Social interaction: Cats show affection and trust by touching each other. Touch is a very important form of communication in social interactions. Cats will use touch to establish a close relationship with their owners and express their dependence and trust in their owners.

Two, Why do cats want to smell

1. Scent recognition: Cats have a good sense of smell, and they smell to identify objects, companions, and territories. Sniffing can help cats get a lot of information, such as judging the sex, age, and health of other cats.
2. Find food: They are natural hunters and smell to find their prey. In the wild, cats rely on their sense of smell to track and catch prey. At home, cats also smell to find food.
3. Check safety: When cats enter a new environment or meet a stranger, they will smell to determine whether the environment is safe. Sniffing helps cats assess potential threats and react accordingly.

Social interaction Cats smell each other to show affection and trust. In social interaction, smell is a very important means of communication. Cats will smell to establish a close relationship with their owners and express their dependence on their owners.