Cat smooching......

[Husky_mom]

I think this is my very first thread here hehe:)

I was wondering if you kitty owners have seen this what I call kitty smooching: is where a kitty does this sort of lip/whisker/nose movement that tightens the muzzle area and appears to be blowing a kiss......

it seems sooo adorable and cute..... does your kities do this? what do you call it? and any clue why they do this??

[cassiesmom]

I haven't, no.

When Cassie Kitty is in a reeeeeeeeally cuddly mood (usually bedtime), she will touch her nose to mine, or sometimes even her nose to my eyelashes. But most nights she's just waiting for me to fold back the bedspread and put her blanket back in its usual spot.

[catmandu]

The Found Ctas do this quite a bit especially Scrappy 2, Michael and Bo Bo. I thinking that the Found Cat Angels ahve been tutoring them.
The Tubsters vet affectionate and hes always amazed when there are suddenly treats in front of his nose.
He must think I am a magician.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/friend2005.jpg

[Husky_mom]

do you know what is it about??.... anyone that has a video for me to see ;)...

I love when they make that face!!

[Freedom]

It is called "chuffing." Lions, tigers and other wild cats will also chuff. It is a friendly greeting. I LOVE it!

http://www.savethetigerfund.org/Content/NavigationMenu2/Community/KidsandTeachers/TigerSounds/default.htm

Tiger haven says it can also communicate an apology.

[moosmom]

Freedom,

I was JUST gonna say "chuffing". It's common in all types of cats, both domestic and exotic.

[Husky_mom]

well.... I have no clue if "chuffing" is a sound as I´ve never heard a sound from the cat smooching as it´s more like a tightening of the lips/nose area..... not sure if chuffing is the sound of what I´m refering as cat smooching...... :confused: :confused:

[sirrahbed]

I am not sure the face you are asking about husky-mom :) The only smooching that happens here is when *I* am the smoocher :D

Does the kitty close its eyes when he does this? That is what I call a kitty kiss.

Also, when they are smelling something carefully, they sort of tighten their muzzle and open their mouth a bit - is this it? :)

That is all I can really think of.

[Husky_mom]

I´ll try to explain.... you(person) make your lips as in mid kiss then tighten your nose and frown a bit....... ok now laught at what i made you do...... that is sort of the movements only in a cat it seems cute rather than funny...

is like when the little muzzle bits move close together and the nose moves as in a rabbit only not as fast......

was I more clear... I have no clue how to name it :p

[jennielynn1970]

Are they doing this toward you or another animal? I'm trying to make the face, lol, and it's not working too good, lol! I think what you're talking about I see kittens do, but not sure about any of my adults. I do have a few that will come up, do a "mreh" noise and head bump me, and Sophie is a big licker, whether it be hand, foot, toe, knee.... whatever she can give her little nuzzles to. I also have some that look at you sorta squinty eyed, and make little "mreh mreh" sounds.

[Taz_Zoee]

I'm gonna agree with sirrahbed. I think it is them smelling. Taz does that to me when I pucker my lips at him and he can smell something on my mouth.
That's my opinion. But you can just call it smooching if you want. That's much cuter. :p :D

[Husky_mom]

ok LMAO.... I just pictured you doing the face I was making trying to figure a way to decribe it......LOL

well no kitty has actually done it to me, I´ve seen it done only on TV cats, the last one I saw was a kitty standing by a door while a person and a camera were approaching, so it could well be him smelling who was getting closer..... or maybe he felt frightened (although he did not ran off)...I have no clue....

anyway it looks pretty cute, I wish I had a video..... I tried youtbe but no luck :(

[Freedom]

I am not sure the face you are asking about husky-mom :) The only smooching that happens here is when *I* am the smoocher :D

Does the kitty close its eyes when he does this? That is what I call a kitty kiss.

Also, when they are smelling something carefully, they sort of tighten their muzzle and open their mouth a bit - is this it? :)

That is all I can really think of.

That is called "Flehmening." Cats have a Jacobson's organ in their mouth, it lets them not only identify a smell, but also determine how long ago it was made.

Jacobson's Organ and the Flehman Response
Cats (along with snakes and a few other mammals) have a magnificent organ called the vomeronasal organ, most oftenly known as the Jacobson's Organ. It is located inside the mouth, just behind the front teeth, and connects to the nasal cavity. Opening his mouth slightly enables the Jacobson's Organ to open up the ducts connecting to the nasal cavity. The appearance of the cat as he brings air into the Jacobson's Organ has sometimes been likened to a "smile," other times to a grimace. The Jacobson's Organ seems to play a large part in the sense of smell of a cat, judging by its frequency of use around my house.

According to Valeriy ILYICHEV, Doctor of Biology, in this article, there are three hypotheses on the exact function of the Jacobson's Organ. The first is to perceive the smell of food; the second, as a "sixth sense" to help predict unusual occurrences, e.g., earthquake, volcanic eruption; and the third is for perception of sexual odors - pheromones. If I got a vote, I'd choose all three, judging by the behavior of my own cats.

http://cats.about.com/cs/felineanatomy/a/catsnose_scent.htm