Cats pick up scents, and then whils tongue bathing, they relive those memories. That is how they imprint. That is why you handle a kitten, put butter on its paws, and it thinks that it belongs with you.Have you ever watched a cat tongueing itself? They take a couple of licks, then they stop, think about it, and then a couple more. Short term memory reinforcement.
Templo S.U.D. over 8 years ago
I reckon dogs always smell stuff to make sure if it’s edible.
peter over 8 years ago
1. Is it edible?If not:2. Can I mate with it?If not: 3. Should I chase it away?
codycab over 8 years ago
Scooby doo can give you a better answer.
Kaputnik over 8 years ago
From considerable experience living with cats, they’re always smelling stuff too. Maybe not quite on the dog level, but a lot.
legaleagle48 over 8 years ago
Garfield, they smell stuff to see what other dogs have been there besides them. It’s the canine equivalent of Facebook and Twitter!
jim_pem over 8 years ago
All the above comments are right on why dogs smell everything. Their nose is about as important to them as sight and hearing – more so in some cases.
route66paul over 8 years ago
Cats pick up scents, and then whils tongue bathing, they relive those memories. That is how they imprint. That is why you handle a kitten, put butter on its paws, and it thinks that it belongs with you.Have you ever watched a cat tongueing itself? They take a couple of licks, then they stop, think about it, and then a couple more. Short term memory reinforcement.
Number Three over 8 years ago
“Dear Ask A Cat, Why are you guys so lazy and disloyal?”
xxx
Enter.Name.Here over 8 years ago
ANSWER: Because they can.
If you had a nose like a dog and could detect and interpret the thousands of scents that we cannot, then you’d sniff everything too.