Cats noses are wet because it enhances their sense of smell and keeps them cool. The water on a cat nose consists mainly of sweat and tears. Contrary to popular belief, a wet cat nose does not necessarily mean your cat is sick.
Why Cats’ Noses Are Wet
If you’ve ever booped your cat’s snoot you’d notice it’s a little damp. But why are cat noses wet? And does it mean your cat is sick? We’ll answer all that, and give you more fun facts about the nose of a cat!
Enhancing Smells with A Wet Cat Nose
A bit of moisture on a cat’s nose holds onto the particles of whatever a cat is smelling. This allows the cat to smell the scent more deeply and for longer. Therefore, a wet nose helps a cat smell things even better.
A Wet Cat Nose Keeps Your Cat Cool
The water on a cat’s nose is mostly sweat. This helps cool down your cat if they get a little too warm. Called “evaporative cooling”, this effect is how humans primarily cool themselves down.
Cats will also sweat from their paws to keep themselves cool.
A Wet Cat Nose Consists of Tears
It may seem weird, but moisture from a cat’s eyes will end up on their nose. These “tears” make their way down to the nose through the tear ducts just above the nose. So if you’re cutting onions you might notice your cat’s nose get especially wet!
Is My Cat Sick If They Have a Wet Nose?
Most people think that wet cat noses are a sign of illness. This is definitely not true most of the time as healthy cats will have a slightly damp nose.
An upper respiratory infection (like a cold) can cause a runny nose in cats. Also, an infection in their face or nose will also lead to mucus around the nose.
You can tell if a wet nose is the result of illness in a couple of ways. One, if the cat’s nose is really wet, like almost dripping. And two, if the moisture on the cat’s nose is thick and even yellow or opaque.
If you suspect your cat might be sick, get them to the vet.
Fun Facts About Cat’s Noses
- Every cat nose is unique, like fingerprints.
- Cats don’t have many taste receptors, so their sense of smell plays a big part in stimulating their appetite. This is why many cats lose their appetite when they have a stuffy nose.
- With such a keen sense of smell, some cats can be overwhelmed by scents, such as scented litter, air fresheners, or laundry products. If this is an issue for your cat, stick to brands without fragrances.
- When cats lick their noses, they may be resetting their sense of smell by cleaning off those trapped scent particles. Licking their nose can also be a sign that your cat is feeling anxious.
- Cats like to greet each other with a mutual sniffing that can go from nose to tail. This is why cats will come over and sniff at your finger when you hold it out for them. It’s like a substitute nose.
- Cats with orange coloring, like calicos or tortoiseshell cats, are prone to getting freckles on their noses. These freckles are caused by a condition known as lentigo. But don’t worry—these freckles won’t multiply with sun exposure or become cancerous.
- A cat’s nose has lots of small blood vessels that can grow or shrink due to changes in their emotional state. For instance, your cat’s nose may get brighter and more vibrant when they’re excited.
