Cross Breeds

My cat smells things and leaves her mouth open, what is this?

She opens her mouth pauses for a bit and then walks away! Can someone tell me what she is doing?

Public Comments

1. This is called the Flehman response (hope I spelled it right). It is also called Stinky Face! LOL! The Flehman response, or Stinky Face, is given in response to a strong odor. It is when the cat sort of "clears" the scent from its nose. Big cats do this, too.
2. She may be getting a reqally good whiff of whatever she's smelling. Cats have scent glands inside their mouth too, and will open their mouth to get a good strong smell.
3. thats just depressing...that there is a name for it rofl
4. She's trying to get the "full" odor of whatever she's smelling.
5. this is totally normal, well to sum it up all she is doing is smelling!!! my cat does this all the time, she does it when she is in the window and can smell everything around her,,,,, cats have very distinct senses of smell . that all nothing to worry about
6. As the first responder mentioned, it's the Flehman response. Some additional information: http://www.petplace.com/cats/why-do-cats-make-a-funny-face/page1.aspx
7. Both of my females do this. Thanks for asking the question. Now we know.