Does my cat think I’m dead when I sleep?

No, cats don’t even need to get close to smell us to know if we’re dead or alive.

Cats aren’t just trying to make sure we’re alive.

Studies have shown that cats can detect changes in human mood and health through their senses of smell and hearing. Some cats can even identify certain illnesses (prostate cancer, hypoglycemia, epilepsy, heart attacks, etc.).

Determining whether we’re alive is even simpler.

Because whether it’s heartbeat, body temperature, chemical/hormonal emissions from pores, or blood pressure…the differences are actually quite noticeable!

With cats’ intelligence and sensory abilities, there’s no need to sniff closely to determine if something’s alive!

Cats may be attracted to certain scents.

Cats’ olfactory systems are much more developed than humans’, and they rely on them to identify and judge things. They can even judge each other’s health and fitness by sniffing their anus…

So, if a cat sniffs your nose or mouth, it might be because they’re interested in your private information and want to learn more about you.

Or perhaps the smell of food in your mouth is particularly appealing to the cat.

Or perhaps a special seasoning or a change in breath odor during illness has caught the cat’s attention…

Cats may also be seeking attention and expressing affection.

Given that cats often greet each other by nuzzling each other to get a sense of each other’s presence…

Some behaviorists speculate that if a cat only sniffs your mouth and nose briefly and then walks away, it is likely saying hello to you, expressing closeness, or simply trying to get your attention.

If your cat does this and you respond to it, for example by getting up early and getting it food, or by praising it and interacting with it in a friendly way…

The cat will remember this little “human taming” trick for a long time.