1. Relieving Anxiety

As cats are super near-sighted,
they do not have good eyesight.

Therefore, their sense of smell is highly developed.

It is 100,000 times more sensitive than that of human beings.

As such, when cats encounter something foreign, they will relieve their anxiety about the novel thing
through smelling.

2. Greetings Among Cats

Nose poke between cats is a simple greeting
akin to people’s handshakes.

Since scent is informative in the world of cats,
cats smell each other to share information.

Nose pokes happen between cat friends
but can also occur with stranger cats.

However, cats never poke noses
with other cats that they’re hostile towards.

3. Expression of Trust

Cats’ nose pokes are a way for cats to let their guard down
and express affiliation with others.

Therefore, it is meaningful
when cats bump their noses with humans.

If cats poke noses with their owner,
it could mean that they trust him/her.

Cats who are highly attached to their owner
will not only nose poke
but also rub their body on the owner.

Such rubbing behavior
demonstrates cats’ possessiveness toward their owner.

4. Territory Marking

Cats mark their territory.

They do so by rubbing their scent
on people or items within their territory.

Bumping their nose with the owner
is another way of marking their territory.

Through nose pokes, cats transfer their scent from their mouth and nose
onto their owner and show that he/she is theirs.

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Cat Nose Pokes and Cats’ Overall Health

As cats’ nose conditions are directly linked to their health,
it is possible to learn about cats’ overall health through their nose pokes.

Inside cats’ nasal cavity,
there are fluids
that make their sense of smell more sensitive.

Therefore, healthy cats’ noses are always wet
except for when they are asleep.

If your cat’s nose feels dry when poking noses,
it could mean that they are unwell
or have a cold.