Cats have an odd hobby of scavenging for earwax, as disgusting as it may sound. Once you've used your Q-tips, you'll notice that your cat is licking them or just your ear. But the stuff that comes out of the ears is so appealing to our animal friends for a few unexpectedly good reasons. Cats' affinity for earwax may be best explained by its aroma. Cats contain over two hundred million scent receptors; they can even pick up on earwax on Q-tips, something humans are unable to perceive. Cats also find the smell of earwax pleasant since it provides them with a healthy amount of nourishment.
Why is earwax attractive to cats?
1 - They are drawn to the proteins or fatty acids in earwax.
Why is earwax attractive to cats?
1 - They are drawn to the proteins or fatty acids in earwax.
Earwax, also referred to as cerumen, is a waxy, protective oil secreted by glands in the ear canal. It hardly seems like a tasty addition to cat food. However, a 1991 study on earwax found that, among other things, it contains fatty acids, cholesterol, or dead skin. Therefore, animal proteins that cats need to survive make up earwax's composition.
Cats need meat in their diets since they are obligate carnivores and need the nutrients. They are drawn to it because they have an acute sense of smell and can detect the animal protein in the earwax.
2 - To Be Kind
It might not be related to the sticky stuff itself if the cat keeps licking or poking at your earlobes. Your cat may be showing you affection by grooming you, but it's not because he thinks you're dirty. Cat grooming is not only practical, but it also fosters socialization.
This loving gesture is typically made with the face or head region in focus. Cats use it as a means of spreading a sense of familiarity among themselves. Cats use this fragrance to recognise and distinguish other animals. This kind of behavior is typically seen in cats that have a strong attachment to their owners.
3 - To Recognise the Odour
A healthy earwax typically smells very faintly or not at all. Thus, your cat may become interested in you if the wax that is coming out of the ears smells strongly, like an ear infection. The cat will make an effort to comprehend the novel scent and retain it for later use.
Cats in the wild use their sense of smell to guide them and warn off potential predators. Therefore, despite how repulsive it may seem, cats will instinctively want to smell their ears in an attempt to comprehend it.
4 - To define a region
Some cats may choose to rub their cheeks against the Q-tip surface rather than lick or sniff the earwax on them. Are you curious as to why? Well, the cheeks of these hairy animals contain fragrance glands. This explains why your cat will rub his face on your hands, legs, and other objects in your living area.
Therefore, your cat may not be fascinated with earwax if it's rubbing his face over your used Q-tips. Like he does with other things in his house, he might just be attempting to identify his territory and claim it as his own.
5 - Laughter and Unadulterated Curiosity
Your cat might use your old Q-tips as playthings when you're at home, and it has few other amusement options. That being said, this does not imply that your cat prefers to play with wax over other materials. It just implies that the old toys are boring, and you should change them to keep them from getting any more bored.
Related Post: