We know earwax as a gross, sticky substance found in our ears.However, one man’s garbage is another cats treasure. Cats go crazy over earwax and are weirdly drawn to its scent.This does bring up the question for cat lovers though- is eating earwax weird behavior for my kitten? It does seem quite strange, doesn’t it? However, there are a number of reasons your cats can’t keep their paws off yours and each other’s ears.Keep reading to find out why cats like earwax so much, and how to deal with a Q-tip munching kitty. If you liked this article, why not check out our pages about why do cats sneeze and why do cats throw up.Why do cats like earwax?Cats are fond of earwax because of the way it smells.Cats have a pretty good sense of smell, and are almost as adept at sniffing out food and other interesting material than dogs are! It is theorized that since cats have lesser taste buds that humans do - cats have around only 500 tastebuds while humans have around 2000-5000 - they use their superior sense of smell to make up for the lack of taste buds. Cats can actually sniff out items rich in fats and animal proteins, of which they are very fond. So it is only natural that they would like earwax, which is an organic matter made of dead skin cells- rich in both. Even though they are attracted to earwax however, it is not a good idea to let them access it- keep your used Q-tips out of your cat’s way in order to protect its health as well as in order to not gross yourself out when you see you cat attempting to eat it!How do I keep my cat from eating earwax?Though there is no way to keep your cat from being attracted to your used earwax covered Q-tips, you can for sure keep them from reaching it. Cats love getting into a used litter, so it’s always wise to invest in a covered dustbin, or a heavy-bottomed one that won’t topple over easily when your kitty tries to dig into your trash. Periodically throw out any bathroom or kitchen waste so that the smell doesn’t rack up and attract your kitty. If by chance your cat ends up ingesting anything it shouldn’t such as rotten food, used earbuds, or tissues, it may end up getting sick and requiring a trip to the vet, which can easily be avoided by following these steps.If you notice your kitten increasingly being attracted to and licking your ears, you might either find this cute or gross. It does not mean that you have dirty ears, but moreover that cats have such a keen sense of smell that even a healthy amount of earwax can draw them in. It is also a sign of affection for cats to cuddle and play with their humans’ ears, as cats groom each other’s ears as a form of affection and bonding. Mother cats often lick their kittens to clean them, and the kittens lick their mother’s head as a sign of love and respect. They spend quite a lot of time grooming and licking each other like this. They also self-groom once they are a bit older. The cat may simply be using this same behavior to show you affection.To make sure that your feline friend does not get any of its saliva into your ears (which may give you painful infections due to the bacteria present!), make sure your ears are clean and try to redirect the cats attention by distracting it with small, stinky treats or a bit of food instead. Guide the cat away from your ears with the treats every time it comes in for a sniff.Is it normal for cats to like earwax?Yes, cats are highly drawn towards the smell and taste of earwax, which contains fats and proteins. It actually comments on their healthy noses, and though it seems strange, it shows a completely normal behavior.Their sensitive noses can pick up the smell of earwax from almost anywhere, and you are sure to find your kitty pawing at your used Q-tips from time to time. One gross way to attract your cat is to stick your finger in your ear and point it towards your cat- it will come to you in a second! This is also a good way to calm your cat down if it is acting out, or distract it. Just make sure that you do not have any cuts or abrasions on your hands, as a cat’s saliva has a lot of bacteria, which may infect any wounds.Why do cats like the smell of earwax?Earwax is very rich in fats, cholesterol and proteins, all three which are heaven to a cats nose and taste buds.Earwax is a natural substance that can be found in one’s ear canal, which helps to catch dirt and bacteria from entering and infecting the inner ear. The sticky nature of the earwax helps to trap these impurities, and the strong smell discourages bugs from trying to enter your ears and damage it. However, it is this same strong smell that attracts cats, who are fond of the strong scent of the dead skin cells, fatty acids, and animal proteins. Cats have a far lower range of tastebuds than we do, but it is made up by their highly developed scent receptors, and they are drawn to even the slightest hint of anything, which emits the strong scent of proteins. For example, if you give your cat something sweet, it will not be able to sense the sweetness of the treat but rather the proteins in it, which it will eat with gusto.Smell actually plays a huge part in how something tastes, even for humans. As a fun activity, try this out with different foods. Take a number of different food groups such as sweet, salty, tangy and spicy and try them twice- once while holding your nose and then once with the scent of the food wafting freely. You’ll be shocked by how little you’ll be able to taste once the smell is gone! This is also the same reason why we cannot taste anything when we have a bad cold, because our brains cannot comprehend the smell of the food which plays a huge role in how it tastes. Cats rely on their sense of smell way more than they do on taste, which is why they are attracted to things which seem gross or dirty to us. They just perceive it differently than we do.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do cats like earwax then why not take a look at why do cats trill, or Siamese cat facts.
We know earwax as a gross, sticky substance found in our ears.
