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Why Does My Cat Yawn When I Rub His Nose?

If your cat seems to have a habit of yawning when you rub its nose, you may be wondering why this happens…

Why does my cat yawn when I rub his nose?

When your cat yawns immediately following a nose-stroke, it’s a combination of two things. The first reason is that your cat enjoys simply relaxing and letting you rub their nose. Secondly, you smell like your cat and this comforts them!

So, now you know. But, what does this yawning action actually mean? Do they yawn when they are tired? Are cats’ noses sensitive? Keep reading for these answers and much more…

What does yawning in cats mean?

Much the same as with humans, your cat is expelling carbon dioxide when they yawn and then spiking their oxygen levels when they take a big inhale to follow it. This may indicate that your cat is bored or that they are simply trying to stay awake.

Do cats yawn when they are tired?

Yes, cats yawn sometimes when they are bored, and other times when they are simply tired. Cat yawns are much the same as human yawns, but when you see a cat yawning then it comes with the added message that your cat definitely trusts you.

It’s easy to forget that these lovable little felines are superb predators and that you would never see them yawning when hunting or when they sense danger. By lazily yawning in front of you, your cat is demonstrating complete trust in your presence.

Are cat’s noses sensitive?

A cat’s nose is about 14 times more sensitive than a human’s nose, so scents are very important to cats. For instance, when you see a cat smell another cat’s behind, there is a definite reason for this. The anal sacs on a cat actually provide your cat with information about the other animal’s health, diet, and more.

Cats also have numerous scent glands in the face, flanks, and even their paws, which is why they like to brush against you and ‘knead’ at you when you are petting them. This behavior marks you and things that they touch, paw, or scratch around the house, filling it with their scents and helping your fuzzy little predator to relax in their home environment.

Why does my cat want me to rub her nose?

Cats feel most comfortable when they can smell their own scents, so while you are rubbing at your cat’s nose they are inhaling deeply and they like what they smell! It makes sense when you think about it, as a refined sense of smell not only aids in hunting, but in knowing when an intruder has entered the cat’s den.

With a domesticated kitty, the instincts are still there, just sublimated down to the point where your cat just enjoys the pleasure of luxuriating to your attention and their own comforting scents.

Do cats like it when you rub their nose?

Most cats do. When one cat meets another, a very common greeting is for them to touch each other’s noses. Some cats will even rub their nose into you for attention, as a way of saying ‘pet me now’ (while they are also sneaking their scents onto your hand!).

The best way to tell is a simple light touch to the nose with the back of your index finger. If your cat wants attention, then you will get a nuzzle in response and you can take this as permission to commence petting your cat (click here if it keeps whining).

If you don’t know this cat very well, however, then don’t immediately touch the cat’s nose. Holding your finger at a distance so that they can get a good sniff is a much more sensible way to proceed and can save you from an unwanted nip from an angry kitty.

This is because nose-touching is an intimate form of greeting and initiating it when a cat does not trust you is an act of aggression. Let the cat sniff you first and give you the ‘go ahead’ in the form of a nuzzle and they will make their intentions very clear to you.

Is it OK to touch a cat’s nose?

When cats touch noses, this is a form of greeting that implies a certain amount of trust. After all, by doing this, each is close to the other’s teeth. This is something that you need to keep in mind if you want to touch a cat’s nose.

 If you’ve had the cat for a while but you’re not sure, then simply place hold out your index finger close enough that your cat can sniff the back of it.

This gives them a chance to respond with a ‘go ahead’ by nudging you but if your cat only sniffs and simply looks at you, then do NOT try to touch their nose. Your cat may take a forced ‘nose nudge’ as an aggressive mood on your part and you might well get a sharp nip for your troubles.

What does it mean when cats touch noses with you?

Cat’s touch noses to each other as a form of greeting and when your cat does this to you it’s exactly the same. This is an extreme act of trust, as no predator would willingly open themselves to another animal’s teeth in such a fashion. By this gentle nose-touch, your cat is simply showing you that they both love you and trust you very much.

Why does my cat yawn so much?

Cats yawn for much the same reasons that humans do. Sometimes they do it when they are bored and just need a quick snap of oxygen to make themselves more alert. Other times your cat is just expelling excess carbon dioxide.

That said, some researchers believe that cats may also use yawning as a means of communication. Specifically, they believe that cats sometimes yawn as a way to get your attention without having to resort to meowing at you.

Cats yawn quite often, so this should not be a cause for alarm. The odds are that your cat is simply bored, feeling very tired, or prompting you to do something to get their attention with the threat of taking a nap if you don’t!

Why does my cat yawn when it sees me?

When your cat yawns a lot in your presence, don’t take it as meaning that they find you boring. Rather, this is your cat’s way of showing that they feel completely comfortable in your presence. A succession of yawns may also be your cat’s way of asking you ‘are you going to do anything worthy of my attention?’.

Ignoring these yawns may prompt your kitty to snuggle up for a nap or they might just leave the room to look for something more interesting. In either case, there is no reason to worry – your cat is simply relaxed and looking for either rest or further stimulation.

Do cats appreciate rubbing against you?

Cats have a number of scent glands on their face and body and when they rub up against you, their scent transfer to you, and this helps your cat to relax. While they have good eyesight, cats rely on scent quite a bit and even have a specialized adaption called a vomeronasal organ.

Also called a ‘Jacobson’s organ’, this allows your cat to sample scent particles in the air and this can help them with both hunting and identifying areas which they have marked. Simply put, your cat is relaxing so much and yawing because they like the nose rub and because everything around your kitty smells like them!