Where are a cat's lips? - briefly
A cat does not have visible lips like humans do. The line where a cat's fur changes color around its mouth is often mistaken for lips, but these are simply transitions in coat coloration.
Where are a cat's lips? - in detail
Cats, like many other animals, do not have distinct, visible lips as humans and some other mammals do. Instead, cats possess a unique feature known as the "flehmen response," which is a behavior exhibited by felines when they encounter an interesting or unusual scent. During this response, the cat wrinkles its nose and lifts its upper lip to expose its teeth, allowing the scent molecules to be drawn into the vomeronasal organ (Jacobson's organ) located on the roof of the mouth. This organ is crucial for detecting pheromones and other chemical signals that are vital for communication and territorial marking within the feline world.
Moreover, cats have a specialized structure called the "whisker pad" or "vibrissae," which serves as a sensory organ to aid in navigation and spatial awareness. These whiskers are highly sensitive to touch and can detect even minor changes in air currents, helping cats to gauge the size of openings and navigate through their environment with precision.
In summary, while cats do not have visible lips like humans, they possess sophisticated sensory structures such as the flehmen response and whisker pad that play essential roles in their olfactory and tactile perception. These adaptations allow cats to thrive in various environments by effectively interpreting chemical and physical signals around them.