Can You Kiss Your Cat on the Nose?


Yes and no! Well, you can kiss the cat on the nose if the cat really likes the gesture and appreciates it as an indication of love. And trust me, you will know if your cat likes a kiss on the nose.

On the other hand, you shouldn’t startle the cat with a kiss (how about kissing head) on the nose, as some cats will find it annoying. Actually, some feral cats may end up giving you nasty scratches from the kiss.

Do Cats Like When You Touch Their Nose?

Just as with kissing, some cats will love touch on the nose, while others will not. You will have to let the cat decide whether it appreciates the touch or not. Otherwise, you will be on the receiving end of their scratches.

If you want to touch your cat, create a conducive environment for interacting with the pet. If it relaxes, comes close to you, and starts rubbing its fur against you, you can try.

Start with a gentle touch and see how it reacts. If it tends to like it and moves even closer, you can aim for the nose. Ensure that the cat can see your finger turning towards its nose so that you can see the reaction.

For a cat that loves a nose cuddle, it will look relaxed and probably even close its eyes, awaiting the touch. Touch it gently on the nose briefly for a start.

However, if the cat suddenly changes its eyes to an aggressive look or runs away, you will know that it will not appreciate a touch on the nose. Therefore, rather than force it, look for alternative ways to show your cat affection.

So, Can You Kiss Your Cat on the Nose?

If your cat appreciates a touch on the nose, then it may enjoy a kiss on the nose. However, you have to ensure that the cat views kissing as your way of showing affection and even loves it.

However, if your cat cannot even tolerate a touch on the nose, kissing it will be even worse.

Something else that you should consider is your closeness to the cat. You can kiss a cat you have raised and one that is quite fond of you. After all, if you raised the cat for some time, you must know whether it is kiss-friendly.

Some of us own feral cats that you just owned simply by offering the cat food. You do not even know the origin, health condition, or likes of the cat. In this case, you cannot go ahead and kiss the cat just because it looks cute.

You will have to interact with the cat for a long for it to be comfortable around you. Then, you can know whether or not it is suitable for you to kiss the cat.

Conditions Necessary to Kiss the Cat on the Nose

Before you even think of kissing the cat on the nose, you should ensure that the cat’s vaccination is up-to-date. It should be having regular check-ups because, unlike humans, it is difficult to tell when an animal is sick or has an infection.

Ensure that you are not sick because just as the cat can transmit the infection to you, you can transmit an infection to the cat. In any case, humans and animals have a very thin line regarding parasitic and viral infections.

Then, ensure that you are always friendly to the cat before attempting the kiss. It should be able to follow you around, sit on your lap and look at you lovingly (trust me, you will know).

Finally, learn the social cues of the cat. Does it kiss you with its nose and rub against you with its furs? If so, the cat could actually appreciate a kiss.

Does your cat like being on the far end of the table, giving you some eye cues? Does it come close to you but only to do some bumps? This is another way the cat displays its love to you, but it may not necessarily want to be close to you.

Some cats will neither run away nor turn aggressive when they don’t like your kiss or touch. However, the look in their eyes will tell you that they are completely disgusted by the kiss.

Why Does My Cat Kiss Me With Her Nose?

Your cat kisses you with its nose because it loves you! Amazingly, for pet lovers who always want to kiss the cat on the nose, you have better chances with a cat already making advances.

However, ensure that the cat is healthy and infection-free before allowing it to kiss you with its nose. You should be safe from disease and infection to ensure that the cat is safe after kissing you.

Is It Okay for Kids to Kiss the Cat On the Nose

Sadly, vets and doctors recommend that you keep your kids away from kissing cats and other pets. While kissing the cat on the nose is cute, it may transfer illnesses to humans, and kids are among the most vulnerable groups.

Other than that, some cats may not have tolerance for kids, and they find them nagging. Remember that your kid will not be as gentle as you when kissing the cat, which may not turn out right with the cat. It may aim for the kid’s face and scratch the kid badly.

If you can, whenever you have kids in the house, you may have to keep off kissing the cat altogether. Besides, it is difficult to warn the kids against kissing the cat when you cannot restrain yourself.

On the other hand, as much as you should not allow your kids to kiss the cat, you should let them interact with it safely. Kids that interact with cats develop resistance to fur and other allergies due to early exposure and interactions.

What Diseases Can You Contract By Kissing the Cat on the Nose?

You can contract diseases from cats, transferable from animals to humans, and vice versa. In other cases, some people are allergic to cats and should keep off the cat.

Here are a few diseases that are passed from the cat to humans through nose kissing;

  • Cat scratch fever, which is passed from touch or kissing the cat.
  • Common bacteria with humans and pets.
  • Injury from unfriendly cat scratches.

Are There Alternative Ways That Cats Display Affection?

If your cat does not appreciate a kiss on the nose, there are other ways that your cat displays affection and which you could adopt. 

You don’t want your cat to break the connection you have built because you won’t respect its boundaries, right? After all, cats, unlike humans, may not understand kissing as a way of showing affection.

So, here’s how you can still have some bonding time with your cat or kitten;

  • If your cat loves some kitty blinking, you can learn the art and use it for communication.
  • If the cat loves nothing more than gentle fur rubs and fine strokes on the ears, then stick to this.
  • Take your cat out for a walk and play around the house or outdoors. Every cat and kitten is playful, and this is among the interactions it loves most.
  • Finally and most importantly, look for cues on what your cat seems to love. After all, you are the one who can easily accommodate its feelings, and not the other way round.

Are There Health Benefits of Having a Cat Anyway?

If you have a cat, there are health benefits that you will definitely reap. Cats as pets will act as stress relievers. People who are suffering from stress and the risk of depression find cats more relieving.

Other than that, they will prevent hypertension and possible heart attack. Cats will come close to you and rub themselves against you as if to tell you that all is well. When you cuddle them and purr against your heart, you feel relaxed and may forget the challenges you face.

Secondarily, as mentioned above, if you grow up with cats, your body builds up immunity against allergic infections. You can visit zoos and dusty places without fear of adverse effects.

Can You Kiss the Cat on the Nose?

It will depend on the cat. Some cats understand (does human meows count) a kiss on the nose, while others don’t. However, since you know your cat best, you can see whether kissing it on the nose is a welcome idea.

If you have more than one cat, some will love the gesture, while others will not. You only have to consider the individual cat’s feelings, and you will have an easy time making the final decision.

Bottom Line

Kissing the cat on the nose is something almost everyone who loves cute animals thinks about. It has some remedying feelings on your emotions, and sometimes to the cat as well. As long as both you and the cat agree, kissing the cat on the nose is allowed.

Only ensure that the cat is not infected, and you are healthy and not immune-compromised when kissing the cat.

Amelia Kteylor

Amelia Kteylor, DVM, attended the University of Georgia. She is a cat expert with 20 years of experiences in field. She has a passion as a writer and editor for pet publishing industry too. Amelia contributes to numerous pet magazines in the areas of pet health and groom. Further, she volunteered in cat rescue centers in her leisure time.

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