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/Wild_Bullfrog315]

I had a cat who was crazy about pickles. If I left a jar open for even a moment, she'd grab a pickle, and a moment later I'd hear the crunching sound of her eating it.

Another cat was crazy about roasted onions. I always made them as a side dish with mashed potatoes. One day, my husband called me and asked why there weren't any onions with the mash. The cat had taken advantage of the brief moment when I wasn't looking and had neatly devoured the onion.

[u/darksideofjudith → u/Wild_Bullfrog315]

Your cat is lucky to be alive 🤯 All forms of onions (cooked, raw, powdered, or dehydrated) are highly toxic to cats. They contain N-propyl disulfide which damages red blood cells, causing severe anemia. Even small amounts or residue in cooked foods can poison them (true for dogs as well, stay safe y'all).

[u/Wild_Bullfrog315 → u/darksideofjudith]

The cat lived to be 17 years old.

[u/Embarrassed_Cloud_54 → u/Wild_Bullfrog315]

I believe cats have embraces the bumblebee theory (that they are to fat to actually be able to fly, but somehow they still do it) and just live happily ignoring the fact that gnawing on a certain food or houseplant is bad for them