Why Do Cats Open Their Mouth When They Smell?

Did you know that cats open their mouth when they smell something? What exactly is the reason for this? Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, a practicing veterinarian and Chief Veterinarian at Kleinburg Veterinary Hospital, has the answer. This article will explain what causes animals to open their mouth when they smell something. We’ll also learn about the Vomeronasal Organ (Vono), which is located in the roof of the mouth and in the vomer bone.

If you own a cat, you know that they have a very sensitive sense of smell. When your cat is smelling something, it will open its mouth as if it was going to clean itself. This is quite unusual for most animals, since their mouths would be closed during a regular sniff. Why do cats open their mouths when smelling something? This action allows more air to enter their mouth and goes into their nose to allow the chloroforms on their tongue and the vomeronasal organ (Jacobson’s organ) to process the scent deeper than just the nose alone. It’s an involuntary action developed over millions of years because it gives feline friends an edge when hunting or surviving in difficult conditions.

Vomeronasal organ

If you’ve ever wondered why cats open their mouth when they smell, you’re not alone. The reason for this behavior is largely based on the olfactory organ, located behind the incisors on the roof of the mouth. The olfactory organ works only when the mouth is open and wet. During a normal breath, it is not possible for this organ to be closed.

Jacobson’s organ

Cats open their mouths when they smell in order to get air into their Jacobson’s organ, a sensory organ that processes scents much deeper than the cat’s nose can. This organ sends signals to the brain to tell the cat about the smell, and these extra-deep sniffs help cats learn about their environment, which may trigger a behavioral response. Read on to learn more about the organ in cats!

Jacobson’s organ in the roof of the mouth

Humans and reptiles both have a Jacobson’s organ in the roof of their mouths. This organ allows them to sense pheromones and detect low concentrations of nonhuman chemicals in the air.

The organ is also connected to the nasal and oral cavities and may play a role in detecting certain types of sex hormones. The function of this organ is not fully understood.

Jacobson’s organ in the vomer bone

The vomeronasal organ, also known as Jacobson’s organ, is a paired olfactory sense organ located in the soft tissue of the nasal septum, adjacent to the unpaired vomer bone. Unlike other sense organs, the vomeronasal organ is not functional, but its presence in animals is a good indicator of its importance. This organ contributes to the sense of smell in macrosmotic animals, including dogs and cats.

Flehmen response

A cat’s Flehmen response to smell opens two ducts on the roof of the mouth behind the incisors. The ducts allow scent to travel up to the vomeronasal organ, also known as Jacobson’s organ.

The cat uses this response to detect pheromones in feces and urine, and also in areas marked by scent glands. Cats use their Flehmen response to smell as a secondary sense to taste.

The Jacobson’s organ serves as a second nose, and it’s one that plays an important role in your cat’s sense of smell. Because it can detect smells that would otherwise be undetectable by your cat’s nose, the Jacobson’s organ helps your cat alert you to dangers or new opportunities. With a little bit of research, you’ll learn that this scientifically proven fact is a perfect explanation for why cats leave their mouth open after smelling something strong.