No 1. Relieving Anxiety
As cats are super near-sighted, they do not have good eyesight.
Therefore, their sense of smell is highly developed. It is 100,000 times more sensitive than that of human beings.
As such, when cats encounter something foreign, they will relieve their anxiety about the novel thing through smelling.
No 2. Greetings Among Cats
Nose poke between cats is a simple greeting akin to people’s handshakes.
Since scent is informative in the world of cats, cats smell each other to share information. Nose pokes happen between cat friends but can also occur with stranger cats.
However, cats never poke noses with other cats that they’re hostile towards.
No 3. Expression of Trust
Cats’ nose pokes are a way for cats to let their guard down and express affiliation with others.
Therefore, it is meaningful when cats bump their noses with humans. If cats poke noses with their owner, it could mean that they trust him/her.
Cats who are highly attached to their owner will not only nose poke but also rub their body on the owner. Such rubbing behavior demonstrates cats’ possessiveness toward their owner.
No 4. Territory Marking
Cats mark their territory. They do so by rubbing their scent on people or items within their territory.
Bumping their nose with the owner is another way of marking their territory. Through nose pokes, cats transfer their scent from their mouth and nose onto their owner and show that he/she is theirs.
Cat Nose Pokes and Cats’ Overall Health
As cats’ nose conditions are directly linked to their health, it is possible to learn about cats’ overall health through their nose pokes.
Inside cats’ nasal cavity, there are fluids that make their sense of smell more sensitive. Therefore, healthy cats’ noses are always wet except for when they are asleep. If your cat’s nose feels dry when poking noses, it could mean that they are unwell or have a cold.