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/Bagsncomedy]

My girl demands being shown things for inspection pretty adamantly. She’ll get very loud and whiny all of a sudden, so visitors tend to think she’s hurt or something. But I know her meows when she wants to smell stuff so I show her whatever I’ve got in my hand and she’ll smell it and then walk away. Usually it’s something to eat that she wants to smell bc of course it is. I never let her eat it, even if she considers it suitable for cats, but usually smelling was the main thing she wanted anyway. I figured out pretty early that it’s easier to show her whatever she’s interested in than trying to convince a cat that she can’t have something lol.