The cat's sense of smell is 14 times better than that of humans, so it is much more developed and allows it to perceive more intense aromas. This advantage is very useful for you to easily notice those smells you love but also to quickly identify those you hate.
If you are one of those people who keep the home well scented, or usually use essential oils for natural therapies, and you want to use those aromas that do not disturb your furry companion, keep reading! In this article on our site we share 10 scents that attract catsOf course, we already anticipated that not all of them cause the same effect in all felines, since some can generate the opposite effect and we will explain why.
Catnip
Nepeta cataria, better known as catnip or catnip, exerts a powerful narcotic effect on the animal The active ingredient nepetalactone found in The composition of the plant produces a psychoactive impact on cats that stimulate their minds and encourage them to play and move. In this way, when a feline smells the aroma that catnip gives off, it tends to rub against it, lick it, eat it and show unusual behavior, such as jumping and even hunting non-existent animals.
By stimulating the animal's mind and keeping it active, catnip is one of the most beneficial plants for them, in addition to the odor that most attracts cats. More information in our article on "Properties of catnip".
Olive
Considered as another of the scents that cats love, the olive tree also produces a narcotic effect on these animals that alters their behaviour. This is so due to one of the most active components of the leaves of the olive tree and trunk, a substance called oleuropein As happens with catnip, when noticing its aroma the cat tends to rub, lick, eat its leaves and show a more active behavior, typical even of times of heat.
Some cats are attracted to just the leaves, while others are attracted to all parts of the olive tree, from the olives to the olive oil. Likewise, it has not yet been shown that it exerts a calming or relaxing effect on felines, so we cannot confirm this fact, but it does affect their central nervous system and makes them more active and playful.
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is one of the popular Bach flowers and, as such, acts on the cat's body, exerting a powerful tranquilizing and calming effect. In this way, we can say that the aroma given off by this plant represents one of the odors that relax cats So much so, that currently this type of plant is used in cats and other animals for therapeutic purposes, such as treating insomnia, stress or anxiety.
As with the previous plants, the composition of the honeysuckle attracts cats and makes them want to rub on the plant, lick it and eat it. But beware! Honeysuckle berries are toxic to cats, so it is essential not to let them consume this plant, just sniff it and enjoy its aroma.
Lavender
As it happens with us humans, the aroma given off by lavender attracts cats, making them come closer to sniff it and want to rub against it. However, its power of attraction is not as powerful as that of the previous plants and, for this reason, some cats may not be as interested and may even reject the plant.
If your furry companion is one of those who loves this smell, you can use lavender essential oil to improve the animal's environmental enrichment and also promote a state of relaxation Especially in those cases of anxiety and a small degree of aggressiveness, it has been shown that the use of this natural therapy, together with other relaxing factors and the finding of the cause of the problem, help the animal to be calmer.
Thyme
Thyme is not only one of the scents that attract cats, but it is also one of the most beneficial plants for them. Thanks to its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, prepared in the form of an infusion helps to treat the irritated and inflamed eyes of these animals, in such a way that it relieves the symptoms produced by conjunctivitis, for example, or a certain allergy.
On the other hand, its aroma acts as a natural relaxant and, therefore, promotes tranquility in the cat. To do this, the ideal is to use thyme essential oil or let the plant smell. Of course, as with lavender, thyme may not be as effective, since not all cats are attracted to its smell.
Peppermint, basil and mint
Peppermint, basil, and mint are all part of the same family as catnip, the Lumiaceae family. Therefore, it is not surprising that the aroma of these plants so used in the kitchen also form one of the smells that cats love. Thus, the cats that are attracted to them show the same symptoms described in the section dedicated to catnip, activation and mental stimulation.
Floral scents
Many felines feel trapped by the intense smell of some flowers such as roses, daisies or lilies. Of course, if this is the case with your feline, you should know that some of them are highly toxic if they ingest them, like the last two. In this way, you can make use of the essential oil of that flower in question, but better keep the plant out of reach to avoid possible intoxication.
Fruit aromas
Fruits such as strawberries, peaches or watermelon, give off very characteristic and intense aromas that quickly capture the attention of cats. In this way, certain fruit aromas can cause pleasant odors for cats and encourage them to taste the food. Many of them even provide multiple benefits to your body, such as antioxidant, purifying and diuretic properties, as well as fiber and a large amount of vitamins. Of course, not all fruits are attractive to these animals, since citrus fruits give off a really unpleasant aroma for them.
If you notice that your feline is attracted to the smell of some fruits, don't miss our article with the list of most recommended fruits for cats and start offering them as a treat.
What is your cat's favorite scent?
After reviewing the list of the smells that most attract cats, tell us, what is the aroma that your feline loves the most? Surely you have identified that there is a certain plant, food or object that has your furry friend dazzled and whenever he identifies it, he goes to him with enthusiasm and speed.
Likewise, and as we have already been indicating throughout the article, not all the smells mentioned are pleasant for all cats, since each animal is a different world and has tastes of its own In this way, it is possible that a feline loves the smell that thyme gives off but completely rejects that of lavender. In this sense, we encourage you to review the post intended to explain the "10 smells that cats hate".
