cats and cedar

money

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not a problem, just a question. I have 2 cats, a male Tonkanesse and a female Siamese, and have found that they are both very fond of cedar wood. As an artist i have a few cedar wood canvas frames about, and they both on occasions spend a bit of time(10 mins or so) licking and rubbing their heads quite vigorously on the wood. They are both Indoor cats and do not ever go outside.
Anyone have any idea what this is about? do they have a vitamin, mineral deficiency or do they just like the smell of the cedar?

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black&tan

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Do your frames come from a source that might have a cat? My boy licks then rubs his muzzle on places he wants to mark his scent on. Cats have scent glands and when they rub a surface they leave a faint smell other cats can smell but we can't. Its a harmless behaviour that makes them feel good.
Plus I bet that cedar smells a good earthy smell too.
 
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money

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No, the frames dont, Im in Australia and the cedar would most probably come from Canada. I first noticed this behavior when a friend of mine, who had a art studio next door to me (which the cats both liked to visit), was given a very old cedar canvas frame. Both cats went crazy for it licking until it was quite wet and rubbing their heads on it, kind of grabbing with their claws to rub their head on it, getting into contorted positions. At first i thought that is was the scent of another animal on the cedar, but then they started on the cedar frames in my place, which i know would have no other animal scent on them( i know the guy who made them, he has no animals and imported the timber from canada). I have heard that cattle and horses when they have a particular mineral deficiency, will lick fence posts.(not sure about that).
And yes, cedar does have a lovely odor.

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maherwoman

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It may just be that the cedar excites them because it has such an "outdoorsey" smell. Does that make sense? Whenever I've brought something natural in, our kitties do the same thing.
 
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