Everything smells. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good.
That message hit home when I recently took a class with a smelly guy. Yuk.
Cats are the same way. Some cats smell so good I enjoy putting my face in their fur to inhale. (No, not the belly because that’s the part that’s next to the litter in the box.)
My old cat Jake was that way. He smelled like fresh spring air. Morgan is like that too. It’s a clean smell.
Hazel, on the other hand, has a perspiration smell to her. It’s a soft smell and not annoying but I don’t put my face in her fur. It’s not quite like a men’s gym locker but I can smell it. (I have a great functional nose. I can smell things no one else can and that’s not always good.)
Hazel is also a gassy cat. That doesn’t help. No one – human or feline — wants to be downwind.
I don’t know what the difference is. Maybe some cats are born like that or some are more meticulous about hygiene.
For me sweet cat smell ranks right next to puppy breathe – that soft smell of sweet mother’s milk.
Very interesting. I’d have to say my favourite cat smell is cat fresh from the hay shed!
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I’ve never smelled that!
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Our two love to snuggle down in the hay!
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Awwww —- your kitties are adorable, but that puppy needs a great big hug! I can almost conjure up that sweet puppy breath just from the photo! 🙂
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Isn’t it the best puppy picture ever? Wanted to take him home.
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I love putting my face on my cat. I also love kissing her fur. I think cats get that as a gesture of love because the do the head butt as a love thing.
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I think they like it….at least mostly. Once in a while, especially if I’m waking them up, they are not as enthused as I am.
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Yeah. I always tell them in those moments that Paybacks are hell. Because HOW many times have they done the same to you in some manner or another?
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I don’t have enough digits to count.
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I used to wonder why my cats always smelled like fresh laundry. Then I realized it was the lingering effect of scented cat litter!
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I can tell the litter smell. That’s not the time to put your face in their fur for sure!
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My nose is not nearly as keen as yours, clearly!
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I have a keen sense of smell and hearing. I loved the smell of all our cats. Birds are like that too. Nothing better than burying your nose in the floofy feathers of a cockatiel or a green cheek conure.
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Do the birds let you do that? Wow!
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Yes Kate, they do. We raised them from babies. Our tiels, Toby and AnnieAndy loved to get raspberries on their tummies or chests. Bud Bird, the Green Cheek didn’t care what you did to him. He just wanted to be loved and on us every second. They are long gone now. They are on the blog under Pet Remembrance Day tag. We loved them!
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Awwww! How long do they live?
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Well that depends on their health and other factors. Conures can live 20+ years and tiels close to 20. Some of the larger birds like cockatoos can live over 50 years.
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This post reminds me of Phoebe singing “Smelly Cat” on Friends.
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That is the worst song ever! (said by my cats)
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Such a cute picture of Mollie! One of our cats loves that belly-up posture, too, awake or asleep. At least only one in three of your cats is gassy ~ it could be worse. Poor Hazel!
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Yes, it could be much worse.
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My sense of smell is the only of the five that really works super well. Wish it could be seeing or hearing! Until her recent dental work my Chrissy had really, really horrible breath. And she was clearly weaned too soon because nearly every day she climbs up on me and sucks on my neck like she’s nursing. So she used to leave me smelling bad too! That’s my favorite thing now that we got rid of those bad teeth.
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Getting hickeys from a cat ranks right up there! Mollie had bad breath before her dental cleaning and some extractions too.
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Duncan smells quite sweet (well, except when he has eaten something he shouldn’t have). It’s a smell that makes me think of my childhood, because I was always cuddling one dog or another!
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Good smells!
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I know what you mean. My kitties generally smell fresh.
Others smell like a portapotty on hot day in Tijuana.
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No biases here!
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My dog could knock people over with his, um, emissions, but I never noticed them coming from my cat. I think having a heightened sense of smell is a good thing. Unfortunately, you have to smell the bad stuff, but often certain smells can alert you to trouble (gas, mold, etc.).
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My brother had lost his sense of smell for a while. They put him on steroids to get it back. I remember him saying, “Do you know how many people have bad breath?” Good news, bad news.
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Is that sleeping position characteristic of the name Mollie? Ours sleeps exactly like that!
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It’s one of her favorite sleeping positions.
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Cooler on the undercarriage, too. Must be heavy coats? RC does lounge this way in hot weather, too
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It is mostly a summertime position but we see it even during the winter.
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Very cute picture of Molly!
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She is a beautiful cat.
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When my dog starts smelling doggy, I know it is time for the groomer. I have not noticed the cats smelling like anything but tuna.
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Dogs can get doggy smelling in a bad way. I worked at a place where the owner brought her German shepherd dog every day. He was old and got smelly. I always knew when it was groomer day. My cats occasionally smell like tuna. Despite the fact that I feed it to them I swear that they tuck it behind their ears and on their pulse points.
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Mention the S word and Maggie bolts, even if she’s not responsible. Smell to her means shower, and whilst she likes the aftermath with the hairdryer, the former wet bit is a barely tolerated!
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Our old family dog did not like baths. He would jump out and shower us all by giving a good shake.
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Maggie just stands looking pathetic trying to make us feel guilty for putting her through ti.
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That’s a good tactic. Does she get a treat?
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Usually, but after the hairdryer bit!
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Sometimes my keen sense of smell is a good thing and other times, not so much. Love the comforting smell of my corgi. My lab mix, not so much, but she has a sweet temperament so ignore the gas and blame it on her age of about 14 by now.
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We always forgive the older ones. Pets do have a comforting smell.
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I hear ya! One of our kitties used to be gassy until we figured her diet out. You could always tell when she was in the room!
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When we originally adopted Hazel she was terrified. Our cat Mollie (who has already had a litter) was the only living thing she allowed near her. She was from an outside litter and from her eating habits, life may have been tough. She was very gassy. Over the years with food changes (I cut out all grain) she has improved a lot. Still if someone has gas it is most likely Hazel. The thing about cats is that they are always silent bombs that make your eyes water.
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Oh, I know what you mean about those silent bombs!!! 🙂
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Killers!
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Kitties can smell delightful, IF you’re not allergic to their dander. I lived with them for years, allergies be damned, but putting my face in their fur was not a good idea. Even if I wanted to.
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I am so grateful that I’m not allergic to them. I can’t imagine life without them.
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Yes, I know. I had a cat as a girl, then two after we got married. Had allergies the whole time, but enjoyed them so much. However, now we live cat-free– and I’m healthier. So there’s that.
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I have an extremely keen scene of smell too, Kate.
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Not always good. I have smelled gas leaks in houses when no one else detected them. I should make my nose earn a living.
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