How Cats and Dogs Explore the World Using Their Mouths

Comparing cats to dogs is like comparing apples to oranges.  They’re both furry and cuddly and walk on four legs, but their behavior is very different.  You’re unlikely to see a cat chase down the mailman or a dog use a litter box!  That said, they do have their similarities when it comes to natural instinct and communication.

Cats and dogs obviously communicate with us verbally, and they also communicate through body language.  If you’ve spent any length of time around some of these furry friends, you’ve likely seen that both cats and dogs use their mouths to explore the world around them.  How they do it is just another one of their many differences.

Dogs use their mouths in many ways

Dogs with open mouths may be breathing, cooling off or eating, but they also might be trying to communicate with you.  They use nonverbal communication, including mouthing, or “play biting.”  When a dog mouths you, you can safely assume that they want to play.  When a dog greets someone or gets excited, they might mouth your hands, legs or clothing.  You’ll be able to sense the playfulness behind this behavior, since it’s likely that the dog is jumping or wagging their tail as they mouth.  Sometimes, dogs don’t know what to do with all their pent-up excitement, and mouthing is one way of releasing it.

Dogs also use their mouths to show that they’re happy and relaxed.  When you notice a partially-open mouth, gentle panting and a soft expression, it’s safe to say that your furry friend is very content.  It’s just one of the nonverbal cues that dogs use to communicate with you.

For cats, observation is a mouthful … Literally

Did you know that cats actually smell with their mouths?  It’s the reason why you can often watch a cat smell something, yet its mouth is still hanging open several seconds later.  The vomeronasal organ is a small scent gland found on the roof of a cat’s mouth.  Cats open their mouths very wide to get a good whiff of any odor that piques their interest.  They’ll pull back their upper lip to bring the scent into the vomeronasal area.  Scientists call this the “flehmen response.”

This open-mouthed flehmen response makes cats look fierce and maybe even slightly on edge, but it’s actually just their way of getting a good read on their surroundings.

Animals have sensitive mouths

Much like humans, cats and dogs have very sensitive mouths.  Since pets can’t talk about discomfort that they may have in their mouths, it’s important that you pick up on any signs of problems.  You should routinely brush your pet’s teeth.

Pets can get tartar on their teeth just like us humans and this can lead to bad breath, tooth loss and illness.  If you notice that your pet has unusually bad breath, you should have your vet take a look and see if your pet needs a dental cleaning.

Reluctance to eat dry food or pawing at the mouth could be signs that your pet may have a dental issue like a broken tooth or an infection.  Regular veterinary checkups to promote a healthy mouth and a healthy body will help your furry friend continue to explore the world around them, one playful nip or flehmen response at a time.