What's with cat's and the scent of Bengay? (smells, paws, tooth)
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I've been working out a lot lately and to ease my sore leg muscles, have been rubbing Bengay on my calves before bed each night. This scent absolutely drives my tortie, Ruby, crazy. She tries to get under the covers to get to my legs. She also loves to sniff my breath right after I brush my teeth.
Several years ago, I had another cat who did the same thing when I used Bengay.
Anyone else have a cat who does this by chance?
It is menthol which seems to attract cats in the way that Catnip attracts some but not all cats. Unfortunately, none of the leading muscle relaxer creams/gels don't have menthol. If your legs are sore, I would recommend compression tights over Bengay - they are much more effective without the stinky smell and cat attraction levels!
interesting I use a anti itch cream on my anus and my friends cat loves licking my fingers if i forget to wash them. It has menthol in it for that ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh feeling..
Yes, my senior boy has always been in love with menthol and minty smells. He can't resist! I use vicks vapo-rub when I get a stuffy nose at night, you can imagine his joy.
Once I had a cramp in my calf so I was rubbing some vicks on it. (it's not just for stuffy noses!) My boy came over to sniff of course, but before I knew what he was about, he took a long loving lick. As you can imagine he went berserk, tearing around and around the apartment drooling. I finally caught up to him and calmed him and wiped his mouth and gave him a bit of mayonaise to clear the taste.
Of course, after that he had to have a bit of a wash. I didn't realize he had gotten some on his paw when he stepped on my leg, so the entire performance was repeated, plus I had to wash his paws. I was horrified.
When I told my sister this story she laughed so hard I thought she would wet her pants. I was offended that she laughed at my cat's distress.
Anyway, every night when I brush and floss, when I am done I will find him sitting up on his perch by the bathroom door that puts him at my face level. As I exit the bathroom I must stop and open my mouth and let him sniff my breath. Mmmmm, mommie smells so good!
My cats hate toothpaste smells. They look at you in horror like you have toxic fumes coming from you and they blink their eyes and run. Hubby can always make my Lexie hiss and run by waving his tooth brush at her - even when there is nothing on it LOL
But my Simon is in love with my hubbys deodorant! So gross - don't know why but if he doesn't have a shirt on and Simon gets a whiff then he just wants to lick his armpits! He'll just root his nose around in my husbands underarms - it's gross! That cat is mentally challenged.
My cat Fritz actually tries to chew on my toothbrush, not sure if he likes the small or the feeling of the bristles on his teeth. We have since gotten new toothbrushes and let him "keep" mine. Either way I have a cat that brushes his own teeth... which is awesome and what a smart kitty!
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Originally Posted by 30STM
interesting I use a anti itch cream on my anus and my friends cat loves licking my fingers if i forget to wash them. It has menthol in it for that ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh feeling..
my dad used ben gay and our cat would rub all over his leg when he would come over it must be the mint smell - does catnip smell minty?
Cat nip is in the mint family. When fresh it can smell sort of skunky. When dried it is -sort of- minty, but not really. It smells good though. (I grow and harvest it)
I know someone who gives her cat wrapped peppermints to play with. I've always meant to try that with my boy who loves vicks and toothpaste and listerine smells, but never have, yet, mainly because I never have my hands on one of those little wrapped peppermints.
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If your legs are sore, I would recommend compression tights over Bengay - they are much more effective without the stinky smell and cat attraction levels! 
