Vet column: Anne Fawcett reveals why cats ignore their new cat bed

CATS are more sensitive than humans when it comes to smell, and it also explains why they sometimes ignore new things.

Cats are sensitive creatures, and they have a really good sense of smell. Picture: iStock

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CATS are sensitive creatures, prone to retreating or reacting if they are not comfortable in a particular environment. One aspect of the environment they are more sensitive to than their human family members is smell.

We’re oblivious to the scents that cats pick up; smells tell them if other felines are around, and if they were frightened.

Cats use scent to communicate with each other, often by facial rubbing or scratching. My cats rub their faces all over my bag when I come home from work. But if I bring something new home, a cat bed for example, they avoid it like the plague.

You can harness the power of scent by “collecting” your cat’s scent. Place an old sock or glove on your hand then stroke your cat around the face, under the chin, and at the front of the ears. This scent can then be applied to a new object – such as a bed – to help make your cat feel at home.

Another way to collect scent is to leave a blanket or item of clothing in the cat’s favourite sleeping spot for a few days. If you’re introducing another cat, exposing them to these scented items before they meet allows them to get to know each other remotely first.

You can read more about the use of scent in The Trainable Cat by John Bradshaw and Sarah Ellis.

Dr Anne Fawcett is a lecturer in veterinary science at the University of Sydney and a vet with Sydney Animal Hospitals Inner West.

Read her blog: smallanimaltalk.com