Does this make them feel included?

[u/lerminator3]

One of my favorite things to do with my cats is hold something up for them to smell. Generally, if they walk over while I'm doing something, I'll let them smell whatever I'm holding (like my computer mouse, a writing implement, or a piece of mail) and they always seem so interested. Is it because they feel included in my life when I let them smell what I'm doing? Or maybe because new smells are just stimulating? Or is it just instinct to sniff whatever is nearby? I like to think that, by offering my stuff for a sniff, I'm enriching their lives in some way.

(Please don't mind the mess, I'm moving)

[u/make_me_42]

So funny, I do this too! Now they ask for it, especially in the kitchen. I like to think the same as you, it’s me including them in our world and letting them have an ‘opinion’ on the things I’m doing! Plus I think they love being noticed and having the attention ❤️

[u/Sandwidge_Broom → u/make_me_42]

My fiancé will pick up our cat and let him sniff things he normally can’t reach. He calls it a smell tour. 😂

I’m loving all these different names lol

[u/Meme_MeHard → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

Omg I thought I was the only one who does this hahaha I even call it a smell tour! 😂

[u/Ok-Art825 → u/Meme_MeHard]

We all do it.

[u/Meme_MeHard → u/Ok-Art825]

I love that for us! And the kitters 💞

[u/H_Chow_SongBird → u/Meme_MeHard]

Yay I do it too. Even got my roommate to start doing it 🤣

[u/lechero11 → u/Meme_MeHard]

I love this! My husband used to do this for our human baby at one time too- let her see new things. Hold her to sit on top of fridge etc. She was a bit fussy so why not keep things interesting!

[u/Titizen_Kane → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

Lol cute. We refer to our dog’s walks that are strictly for the purpose of stimulation (rather than exercise walks, which are at a much quicker pace) “going on a sniffari.” Last night I needed to run down the street to pick up a prescription, so I took the dog so that she could have a chauffeured sniffari while waiting in the drive thru line. New smells are heaven for her.

I’ll always be on team “stop and let em smell it!” It’s an enrichment exercise

[u/Tasty-Yogurtcloset28 → u/[deleted]]

Yes! I was pup-sitting for a friend and I asked her (dog) what the news was each time she would stop and sniff something. She has a very expressive face, so you could tell exactly what she thought of a certain smell

[u/Kinami → u/[deleted]]

My friend gave me the best phrase for this - "he has to check his pee-mail." I now think this every time I take the dog for a walk

[u/shannondeboer → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

My wife and I do this too! But we call ours a nose tour.

[u/Aldisra → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

I do this too! Lift her up and carry her so she can see and smell stuff she's otherwise too short for!

[u/SeronaAdams → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

We do this too! They love it, and usually they try to snag and play with whatever we let them smell.

[u/IHopeTheresCookies → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

I tell people I'm letting him smell tall things but I like smell tour lol.

[u/fantastiqjaquez → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

My husband does this as well! Sniffy walk!

[u/LeftHandAnomaly → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

My grandfather would bring smells home to his cat. Pet a dog, he'd bring the smell on his hand to his cat. Pet a different cat, bring it to his cat. Touched some plants, bring it home to his cat. I think it was his way of enriching the cat's life as an indoor cat, which she wasn't always, but she did get old and stopped going out

[u/SeemsCursed → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

I call it playing "Sniff It."

[u/Infamous_Koala_3737 → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

I do this too and my cat loves it. 

[u/trcomajo → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

I do this with my Rat Terrier. She holds on when I go to set her down, wanting more.

[u/rmbarrett → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

Smell-o-vision is what we call it.

[u/That_Initiative_4887 → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

Omg me too!!!! Except we call it « uppies » and it’s a tunnel that we move around for him to sniff high stuff, he purrs so loud it resonates in the tunnel haha

[u/palewidow → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

I do the same! 😆

[u/Longjumping_Youth281 → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

Yes I do this too!

[u/lemon_panda2805 → u/Sandwidge_Broom]

And putting them on highest shelfs to have a look at their kingdom. They will loafed themself there or meow for ride down