Feline 'Sneering'

(The Flehmen Response)

When a cat stops, raises its head slightly, draws back its upper lip and opens its mouth a little, sniffs and is in deep concentration for a few moments, while slowing down or even holding its breath. It is known as the Flehmen response. This look of disgust is really the cat taking in and appreciating a particular fragrance.

Unlike us, the cat has a sense organ known as the vomero-nasal, or Jacobsen's organ, situated just behind the upper front teeth. It is about 1.2cm (½ inch) long and is highly sensitive to airborne chemicals, and allows the animal to do what could only be termed as, the tasting of a smell.  

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