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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Ok. Can any one tell me why 'snuffling' at my cat enrages him?

60 replies

NirvannahCrane · 12/02/2013 22:38

If I have the cat on my lap and I make 'snuffling noises' at him, it sends him completely batshit! I don't do it very often but can anyone tell me why this is?

Is it an aggressive gesture in Cat Language or is my cat just an idiot?

Disclaimer: I know my cat is an idiot...there are many varied and wonderful reasons he is an idiot(he's currently head first in a box with his arse in the air) but is it a 'thing' cats hate??

Can you all have a close up snuffle of your cats and see if they go barmy?

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 12/02/2013 23:29

I don't know what you mean by a 'snuffle noise'. And how close are you talking? And do you have your face right up to his? None of this will help me to answer your question, as I haven't a clue, I just want to try it with one of mine

Lonecatwithkitten · 13/02/2013 08:54

My cats hate air movement across their faces - so if I blow on them. Could this be it?

Head in a box, bum in the air is just playing. Tail less wonder has her mad five minutes in the empty bath chasing around each night. Justbe glad youhave one that can amuse itself. Posh arrogant boy can only play with human interaction and then he has to take it too far and bite.

secretscwirrels · 13/02/2013 16:26
atacareercrossroads · 13/02/2013 16:36

When I sneezed one of my cats used to chatter his teeth at me and stick his tongue out.

Awww.....miss my puddy cats Sad

Original poster
NirvannahCrane · 13/02/2013 17:11

Snuffling is breathing in and out of your nose very shallow-ly (is that a word?) and very quickly. I do it by the back of his neck. He looks bewildered for about three seconds and then becoes instantly enraged and indignant.

Lonecat, I'm not knocking his ability to entertain himself...just marvelling at the things he finds amusing Grin

Now, everyone.....go forth and snuffle the kitties! All in the name of research......

OP posts:
secretscwirrels · 13/02/2013 17:13

He tried to lick my face.

curlyclaz13 · 13/02/2013 17:15

Not tried it in a while (oddly enough !) but don't think they were fans of it. Guess what I will be doing when I get home tonight ?

ratbagcatbag · 13/02/2013 17:16

Cats currently legged it so will attempt later and report back :)

Fluffycloudland77 · 13/02/2013 17:17

Mine just looked at me and went back to sleep.

HecateWhoopass · 13/02/2013 17:18

If you did that to me, I'd be fairly indignant Grin

My parents had a cat that would attack you if you whistled.

Weird creatures Grin

TwllBach · 13/02/2013 17:18

Both my dog and my cat despise me blowing in their faces it's quite entertaining

Guntie · 13/02/2013 17:21

My cats HATE it if I snort (Pig snort) anywhere near them. Its not the air blowing on face, which they also hate, its the sound, it freaks them right out.
I often wondered why the sound freaked them out so much...

(I clearly have far too much time on my hands...)

Fluffycloudland77 · 13/02/2013 17:22

Of course you realise all our cats have just had it confirmed to them that they are the only sane creatures in the house don't you?

bigbadbarry · 13/02/2013 17:23

I just went and snuffled at the back of boy-cat's neck. He woke up, sniffed my nose then put his paw (no claws) on my face. Think he quite liked it (but he is very stupid). Will test his much brighter sister when she turns up later.

HecateWhoopass · 13/02/2013 17:38

I know, fluffy Grin It's funny enough that husbands, partners, kids, etc of mumsnetters generally raise an eyebrow, sigh and say "bloody mumsnet" when we suddenly turn from the computer and ask them what colour dress they'd put a penguin in, or ask if a turtle doesn't have a shell, is it homeless or naked

Imagine if we started getting a "mumsnet again?" look off the cat. Grin

ParsingFancy · 13/02/2013 17:45

'"MN again?" look off cat' has just made me properly guffaw out loud, Hecate. So it's just as well I don't have a cat or they'd be using it on me right now...

GoSuckEggs · 13/02/2013 18:09

I love love blowing my at with a straw. He does not seem to care, well not enough to move although if i come too close he will bite me.

curlyclaz13 · 13/02/2013 18:37

idgie cat gave me a filthy look then moved away quickly. flump is eating dinner at the mo.

crazynanna · 13/02/2013 18:47

Crazycat thought it was just an invitation to sit part on my knee and part onlaptop...again!

She gets really scared (bendy legs and everything) if I pass wind a little too loudly Blush

BoyMeetsWorld · 13/02/2013 19:36

Best thread in ages

curlyclaz13 · 13/02/2013 19:49

flump gave me a kiss.

MikeOxardAndWellard · 13/02/2013 19:56

Hilarious thread :D

Original poster
NirvannahCrane · 13/02/2013 20:16

So, until the results come back in from all the folks waiting to get home, find a random cat, until the more intelligent cat comes home....... the stats suggest that, apart from the odd look of mild indignation and one or two legging it on commencement of snuffling, it's just mine that flies into an enraged fury is it? He hates it. He regularly (and I mean regularly) supplies a random hand/arm savaging if he decrees I am not paying him enough (or conversely, I am paying him too much) attention but he never goes for the face. But on snuffling, he will take a furious swipe at whatever body part happens to be closest.....he actually punched me in the nose last time.

I suspected mine was not right in his witless, furry head. I now have official, MN confirmation.

More snuffling experiments needed though, don't give up, we need results!

OP posts:
Original poster
NirvannahCrane · 13/02/2013 20:18

Fluffycloud I realise for all his..erm...intellectual shortcomings, he is probably a lot saner than I am. Although I have never fallen off the window sill three times in a row, having been frightened by my own tail.....

OP posts:
NomNomDePlumPudding · 13/02/2013 20:32

i don't know the answer to this (perhaps if you are basically heavy breathing at the back of his neck, that's a bit ick from a cat's perspective? actually, from a human perspective too) but my old sulk used to attack your hands if you been eating an orange - trying to bite the offending scent off. never could work out whether it was kindly meant or not - she was always a bit opaque that way.