Not only this but I pick my cat up so she can smell things she normally can't reach. Or get to a bug on the ceiling.

All the time. I just wish I could understand them because they always seem to contemplate carefully whatever I have them smell, which makes me wonder what they are thinking.

Keep your secrets, inscrutable feline.

I like to let my dog sniff each food as I take it out of the bags and put it away. I figure, if I can broaden his world, why not? He seems to enjoy his role in the process

I just moved and my cat really really wanted to smell the tape measure. I don't know why, but it's always like a minute long process along the length I happen to have out. I wouldn't dare deny her, especially when she is so thorough.

All the time. She'll get frustrated if I don't. She's very interested in what I eat. Probably judges me for it too.

Well, not specifically because I want to make them feel included, it is to stimulate them and satisfy their curiosity. Also helps skittish cats and dogs to gain confidence by introducing them to new smells constantly in a safe way.

Smells are way more important to both cats and dogs than humans, and more than most people realize. Example: I see a lot of people around walk their dogs and not letting them sniff properly but just tug them along, thinking that the physical exercise and waste management are the sole purpose of walks.

We have a retired hunting dog, turned 11 on Sunday actually, and she's still ridiculously hard to tire by physical exercise. The only way to get her proper tired is mental stimulation. Sniffing is a big part of that. 30min calm patient walk is way better than 60min of "COME OON" -hurried impatient walk.

Disclaimer: not all dogs etc., but... most dogs.

My ex once stood in the kitchen for over an hour, with the cat on the counter, opening up every spice in the cabinet for the cat to smell.

"What are you doing?"

"Letting Max smell the spices"

All of them.

my cat is sad.

no one else in his family is a cat

we are all human except for him

he is excluded from most things

and no one tells him why

he just wants to play

and be loved

he looks at us with wonder

and disappointment

he says hello i am a cat what is my existence

what is that / why it and not me / please can you look at me and love me too

can i have some of your food please im sorry i dont like my food so much

do you want to play with my toys? this one is my favourite

do you like me

are we brothers

why didnt i grow up

why am i so small

can you help me be happy

where are you going

--Spencer Madsen

I do this.

Yes, and my dog too. She always sniffs it very seriously, especially if it's a package that has been delivered. It's a big deal to them.

All the time

Hell yeah, kitty! This new box DOES smell fresh and ready for fun, right?

I used to do walk abouts in the pantry with my calico in my arm, opening up stuff, and she sniffing it and giving her opinions on it lol, she wanted to sniff everything, god bless her little soul.

My girl was from a feral colony and let herself into my window repeatedly until I adopted her. She's weird with food; anything I show her she runs away from. I think she used to get beat up anytime she tried to eat something. I'm slowly teaching her it's ok to share food

I do this all the time with my cats, especially since one of them can't see well. They gently sniff and just appreciate being included. They dont eat my food or whatever i show them.

I tend to do it with my friends cats too, but that gets me into trouble when I realize that some of them gobble up or stick their whole head into whatever I proffer them.

My cats are little angels. Rachel, your cat is an asshole lol

I do this with my dog. When I unpack groceries, I give him everything to sniff for 2-3 seconds. I think new smells is something exciting for them.

smell is awesome because it has a massive potential time delay. like inagine if every sound came with distant echoes of every other sound it encountered on the way to your ear

Yeah, if they look like they’re curious.

I always let my dog sniff my coffee or beer or whatever I have, she always has a funny over the top reaction

everything crinkly is a bag of treats to them so when I open anything they need to get a sniff so they know I'm not holding out on them

Yes but not bananas. If either of them get to sniff bananas they just take a big bite, skin and all.

This is how I found out one of my cats loves bacon. And the other loves popcorn and cheese its.

Yes. All the time.