Why do cats want to be friends with skunks?

[Aglaya Felipe]

I live in an urban area so I walk my cats on leads in the gardens of our apartment. This courtyard is often frequented by skunks! The skunks are friendly, but almost too friendly- they will approach me and my cats when we're outside and my cats are always pulling on their leads to approach them, not in such a way to stalk them but in more like they're fascinated. It's pretty funny and pretty cute but I don't want them to get too close to the skunks and get sprayed! I'm more just curious to hear if anyone knows why skunks and cats seem so interested in each other as I've heard their getting along is common.

 

[maggie101]

Curious cats! Do you feed them outside so the skunks smell food? Glad they are on leashes. It would be horrible if sprayed.

 

[game misconduct]

well you know how they say cats like stinky smells

 

[ArtNJ]

I wonder if someone is feeding those skunks? But I guess if your a skunk, not too much reason to be afraid of much short of a big dog that could one bite swallow ya before you could get a spray off.

 

[Caspers Human]

Forget about being sprayed. I’m more concerned about rabies.

Something like 20% of all reported cases of rabies in the US come from people or pets being bitten by rabid skunks.

 

[Timbo ba jimbo]

I thought my cat was keeping a handle on the outside critters turns out my cat was letting a family of skunks come in his cat door and sit there and eat his food and he would just sit there and watch