Dogs and cats owners must be familiar with the seeing their pets sniffing each other’s rear ends or bottoms.
While this behavior might seem unpleasant to humans, dogs view it as a natural and essential part of their communication.
Article by the Livescience quoted multiple animal psychologists, who consider the behavior as a natural way of collecting information about the health and reproductive status of other fellow animals.
Chemical Signaling
The research on the topic dates back to 1986 when researchers found out that dogs or other animals that sniff each other’s rear ends do so because of chemicals.
The study revealed that two small pouches around a dog’s anus release smelly chemicals to serve as chemical communication signals between dogs.
What About Cats
Similarly, cats rely heavily on scent detection for communication and social clues.
According to Kristyn Vitale, an animal behavior expert, cats can identify familiar or unfamiliar individuals, determine sex, and possibly even recognize reproductive status by sniffing each other’s rear ends.
By smelling another cat’s rear end, they collect information whether the other cat is a friend or foe, she said.
