Page 34 - Creature Companion October Edition

FELINE CARE

quite obnoxious to a cat. So while
making odour choices, it’s important
that you keep in mind the interests
of your fellow home mate and opt for
basil, easter lily, hibiscus, rose, sage,
and Indian’s ever favourite, jasmine.
These generally go well with a kitty.
On a warm sunny day, fi lled with
intoxicating wafts of catnip (Nepeta
cataria), you may have seen your
kitty swoon to the tunes of scent of
this plant, a perennial herb of mint
family. The Catnip has a chemical
compound nepetalactone, basically
an essential oil, that can be sedating
if cat eats it and if smelt, it just goes
crazy!! Not all cats react like this;
catnip sensitivity is hereditary and
an estimated 50 per cent of cats have
A NOSEY AFFAIR no reaction to the smell of this plant.

SNIFFER TALES
A cat’s nose is also an important
By Dr. Reeja George P.*
indicator of her general well being.
This is also true for most animals.
ats generally have noses that A SENSITIVE SNIFFER During the day, depending on
are pale pink in colour, though Cat’s sense of smell is an important kitty’s activities, it is quite normal
Cin many cases other colours tool that she uses as she explores the for her nose to go through quite
are also normal. Changes in nose world around her, identifying people
colour, as she grows, from black to and objects. She is endowed with
brown or pink is also a normal feature around 200 million odour sensors
of her life. These changes are due to when compared to humans who
breakdown of the pigment producing have just 5 million. This makes her
enzyme, tyrosine. Generally, cats sense of smell or odour sensitivity
don’t have as much taste receptors nearly forty times greater than that
as humans, so it is the smell, not the of humans. This is exactly why
flavour of food that attracts them. A she can also be extra sensitive to

special organ called the Jacobson’s certain odours that might be quite
organ in roof of their mouths that is pleasant to you, her fellow cohabiter!
directly connected to nasal cavity is Unfamiliar smells such as certain
an additional advantage that helps room refreshers and scented cat
them sniff odours more deeply by litter may be disturbing to her. She a lot of changes ranging from
drawing air into their mouths. Your also has a strong aversion to certain varying combinations of warmth
furball’s nose is also her fi ngerprint! odours such as all citrus scents and and moistness to a nose that is dry
Each cat has a pattern of bumps even aroma of freshly brewed coffee! and cool. This is due fl uctuations
and ridges on its nose that is unique Many odours that are appreciated by in temperature and humidity of
to her. Besides being an important humans and form part of perfumes, environment and is quite normal.
tool by which she gets to know her talcs, soaps, and room fresheners A normal healthy cat would have
surroundings, a cat’s nose is also an like lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, a cool, moist nose; if however she
indicator of her general health. citronella, and peppermint are also decides to bask in sunshine or spend

34 Creature Companion | OCTOBER 2020 • VOL. XIII • ISSUE 9 • NOIDA