Cat investigates new baby through sense of smell and brings many health benefits to the family

This is once again an example of how the domestic cat relies heavily upon their sense of smell to identify and investigate 'objects'. This family cat is relying almost solely on their sense of smell to investigate the new baby. She may recognise the body scent of her human companion on the baby. He sniffs all over the baby and in doing so when he gets near to the baby's head the baby starts moving. 

At that point he moves away to a safe distance and watches. There is curiosity and inquisitiveness but also a tinge of anxiety about what this new creature will bring to the home. I don't know what happened next but it is probably something good. I have seen many babies with cats together on beds. The general consensus is that babies are good for cats and vice versa.

Family cat relies on their sense of smell to investigate the new baby. Video screenshot.

Family cat retreats to a safe distance from baby as the baby moves after being sniffed by the cat. Screenshot.

Babies' immune system and their reaction to allergies is enhanced by being in contact with a domestic cat. The cat seems to de-tune the baby's immune system so that it does not overreact and cause an allergic reaction. It makes the baby more robust in terms of allergens. That is the theory and its turns on its head the old wives' tale about babies being suffocated by cats.

Note: This is a video from another website. Sometimes they are deleted at source which stops them working on this site. If that has happened, I apologise but I have no control over it.

It's more than about allergens. A study found that children who lived with cats during the first year of their life became sick less often than kids who lived in homes where there are no pets. It basically states that cats (and dogs) help to improve a baby's defence systems. Previous studies had shown that owning a cat was linked to less risk of gastroenteritis in young children. The dirt and microbes brought indoors by companion animals can boost the number of helpful bacteria that live inside the body of a developing child.

SOME PAGES ON BABIES AND CATS

And when the child grows up, they can enjoy the benefits of their cat reducing their stress levels and therefore their blood pressure. It is known worldwide that friendly physical contact with the family cat reduces stress in their human companion. It's a form of feline therapy and it has been proved in medical situations where people with mental health issues have improved after being allowed the company of a domestic cat.

Cats bring to a relationship a friendship and warmth without the complexities, betrayals and contradictions in which people invariably become enmeshed. A study from the United States revealed that owning a cat can even make the difference between life and death by reducing blood pressure and calming the overworked heart.

The family cat brings lifetime benefit to the human family. The story comes from Tokyo. The cat's name is Lonsdale.

Reasons why the family cat prefers the husband over the wife

Bearing in mind that domestic cats rely on their sense of smell to identify objects and people, one reason why a family cat might prefer the husband over the wife is because the wife wears perfume and the husband does not wear aftershave. 

Wife feels like she is a 'side chick' to her husband because the family cat prefers him. Photo: Imgur.

I would argue that it is far more common for a woman to mask their body odour compared to men. This may be having an important impact on the relationship between domestic cats and family members. 

I am speculating, of course, and I am not saying that domestic cats prefer husbands to wives. Far from it because when you research this point you will find that people are looking to Google for answers as to why a domestic cat prefers their girlfriend, or their roommate, or somebody else and it is always gender unspecific. 

This is not about human gender; it is, I believe, more about body odour! But there are many other factors why a cat prefers somebody over another person. It is about chemistry and we know that the word "chemistry" in relation to affection for a significant other is a very vague term. It means a bundle of factors that we can't necessarily specify.

But this 'chemistry' will be different the cats compared to people. The lives of people are dominated by what they see, for cats their sense of smell is certainly as important as their eyesight or perhaps more so. This is why you will see domestic cats constantly sniffing the legs of their human companion even when they know full well who that person is. They seem to be constantly reaffirming that this is the person they know. And they like the scent of that person. It's a reassurance.

Just this morning when I fed my cat with a treat after I came in from buying a newspaper, he sniffed at my leg on more than one occasion. I know that he loves the way I smell. It is just the way it is. And I don't wear aftershave. I never have. 

The range of factors which make up the chemistry between cat and person will include such things as: the sound of the person's voice, the way they handle their cat, whether they genuinely like their cat or not, whether they have raised their cat from a newborn kitten and so on. But I believe, to return to the beginning, that perhaps the most dominant factor is the scent of a person.

And the fact that cats can have chemistry with a human once again reaffirms that they are sentient beings. There are still people who believe that cats are not. But a recognition that domestic cats are sentient is so vitally important to their welfare. Once you accept that they are sentient beings with feelings it changes your perception of animals and it should make us more sensitive towards their needs and welfare.