The Complete Cat: The Nose

In nature, cats can sense both their enemies and their prey with their remarkable sense of smell, often before they see them. A cat has somewhere in the area of 19 million nerve endings in its nose, as opposed to around five million for humans.

A cat's nose may be its most important organ, as his survival often depends on his sense of smell. He uses it to seek out his own territory, marked with his own pheromones, and as a warning when he enters another cat's territory.

When stalking prey, a cat's nose may lead him to the opening of a den of mice or other rodents, and he will wait nearby, until a hapless meal wanders out.

Every cat's nosepad, like human fingerprints, is distinct and unique to that cat, so that no two feline noseprints are ever alike.

Cats' noses and their scent glands often work in tandem. Female cats in heat will spray urine to leave a message that they're available for mating. The male cat's nose picks up on the message quickly, and the game is on.

A cat's nose may also be connected to his Jacobson's Organ, which is actually located in the roof of his mouth, toward the back. The Jacobson's Organ could also be responsible in part for the cat's superior sense of smell.

We'll learn about that organ next, when we explore the teeth and mouth of a cat.