If you have a pet cat, you might wonder why it seems to wash or groom you by licking your face or hands. Cat behaviorists say that this is a completely normal part of feline behavior. Here’s a bit more on why cats often groom their owners cats see grooming as a form of social bonding. When your cat licks you, it’s sharing its scent and establishing a group scent, which is a sign of trust and affection. This grooming behavior is a way for your cat to show care and create a deep, familial bond with you.
Reasons Why Cats Lick and Groom
Reasons why Cats Lick and Groom can often act mysteriously, but to understand this behavior, know that when your cat licks and grooms, it’s a way of communicating affection and trust.
Leaving a scent:
Leaving a scent is a crucial behavior in the feline world. Feral cats often wash to spread their smell across their fur, especially when they are part of a group that lives together. This act helps them develop a unique social group identity. By grooming you, your cat is marking you as part of its territory and wants others to recognize you as part of its family.
Showing affection:
Cats also wash and groom humans as a way of showing affection. This intimate behavior is among the many ways cats express their love and connection to their human companions:
- Head bunting
- Meowing
- Purring
- Rubbing against you with their head or body
- Blinking at you slowly
Bonding:
When cats bond with their favorite humans, licking and grooming become their ways of returning the favor of being held and petted. This act is a sign of deep affection, equivalent to a cat’s expression of friendship and trust.
Also Read: How to Become a Cat Groomer?
Inviting play:
In their own way, cats often demand your attention and show gentle affection. A lick or groom from them can also be an initiative for playtime, accompanied by pawing or nipping, which are clear signs they want to play.
- Ears and whiskers pointing forward
- Tail pointing up
- Pupils dilating
- Walking with an arched back
- Crouching down with tail up
Saying that’s enough:
If your pet cat suddenly licks you and then gives a gentle bite or paw, it might be their way of letting you know they’re done with the attention. Consider these licks as a polite request to stop.
Cats enjoy engaging in affection, but they have their limits. For example, if a part of their body has been touched for too long or if a touch aggravates a hurt area, they will let you know. In addition to licking, your cat might show other signs that they don’t want to be petted anymore.
- Tail or ears flicking
- Ears flattened backward
- Acting aggressively
- Walking away
More about Cats Licking and Grooming
At some point, you might notice that your cat’s tongue feels rough and prickly. This is due to small barbs, known as papillae, which face backward and serve several purposes for your cat. These barbs help in grooming their fur by removing loose hair and dirt, and they also assist in feeding by scraping meat off bones.
- Storing saliva in the scoop shapes
- Scooping water while drinking
- Removing dirt from fur while licking and grooming
When licking and grooming is obsessive:
Cats might lick certain places on their body if they are itchy, painful, or have an injury. Something could be bothering their skin.
Signs that licking has become obsessive include frequent hairballs, bald spots, fur loss, or the tendency to break open the skin, leading to infection. If your cat is focusing on a single spot, it’s wise to schedule a vet checkup.
Why Does My Cat Lick Me?
When I adopted Bambu, an adorable orange kitty with the world’s poofiest tail, I was immediately taken aback by the extent of his licking during our snuggle sessions. My hands, arms, and even my face would often be covered in kitty saliva. Like many cat parents, I set out to understand why cats lick their owners. This insight into feline behavior revealed that it’s a sign of affection and grooming habits. But if the licking is excessive, it might indicate an issue that needs to be checked out.
Is It Normal For Cats to Lick You?
Grooming and licking are innate behaviors in cats, and it’s entirely normal for them to lick their owners. A cat’s tongue feels like sandpaper or a loofah, covered with hundreds of tiny, firm, backward-facing spines, known as papillae. These structures help cats remove dirt and loose fur from their hair coat, and the saliva helps to cool them down. Cats spend a significant part of their waking time napping, and most cat owners would agree that their cat’s tongue is like a soft, sponge.
Why Do Cats Lick You?
While we haven’t fully figured out every reason why cats lick, several possibilities have been suggested. It’s not just a random act; here are a few insights. Cats use licking as a way to mark their territory, communicate, and show trust. It’s also a comforting behavior, replicating the grooming they received from their mothers as kittens.Top of Form
Your Cat is Expressing Her Affection for You
Cat grooming behavior, especially among kittens and between members of the same social group, is known as allogrooming. This act helps establish social bonds and reinforces the relationship. Licking is an affiliative, friendly, and sometimes altruistic action. Just like mothers nurture their kittens through grooming, your cat may groom you as a way of showing care and affection. This nurturing behavior strengthens the bond between you and your cat, nurturing your relationship.
Also Read: Cat Not Grooming Lower Back
Your Cat is Seeking Attention
When your cat is licking you, it might be a way of seeking attention. Much like talking or petting, this interaction can be a sign they want to engage with you. If a cat receives negative attention, like being reprimanded or pushed away, they may learn that any attention, even negative, is better than no attention. You may have inadvertently rewarded your cat’s licking by talking to or interacting with them, reinforcing this behavior.
Your Cat is Identifying You as Part of their Group
Cats use scents to mark objects and animals as familiar, a behavior seen in mother cats with their kittens to create a group scent. When your cat licks you, it may be their way of identifying you as part of their group. This behavior is not just about marking; it’s a way of communicating. Mother cats lick their kittens for cleanliness and bonding, and your cat may lick you for similar reasons, recognizing you as a member of their family.
Your Cat is Displaying Kitten-Related Behavior
Kittens display certain behaviors for comfort, such as nursing, kneading, and suckling. If your cat was weaned too early, they might seek activities reminiscent of their kittenhood. Licking you might be their way of seeking comfort, similar to how they were comforted as kittens. When your cat licks you, it’s often accompanied by a purr, indicating a deep sense of contentment and security.
Your Cat Likes Your Taste
Sometimes, a cat may lick your skin or hair because it finds the scents or odors on you interesting. This could be due to the lotion, shampoo, or other products you use, or even your natural perspiration which contains sugar and salts. Cats are curious creatures and might investigate anything that seems interesting or appetizing. So, when your cat licks you, it might be because it finds your scent appealing or likes the taste of your skin.
Your Cat is Anxious
Licking can sometimes be a displacement behavior in cats, indicating stress or anxiety. Self-grooming or licking you can be their way of coping with triggers like unfamiliar visitors in the home, loud noises, or changes in their environment. This behavior might progress to a compulsive behavior if left untreated and may become excessive, at which point it’s important to determine the cause and seek help. If your cat’s licking seems to be taking over its life, it’s crucial to consult a veterinarian.
Your Cat Has a Medical Issue
If your cat starts licking objects or environment excessively, it could be a sign of a medical problem. Issues like Nausea, pain, or discomfort can lead cats to lick more than usual. In my cat Bambu’s case, we discovered that inflammatory bowel disease was the cause. If your cat has recently started or just intensified their licking, it’s wise to take them to be evaluated by your veterinarian.
Is It Safe to Let Your Cat Lick You?
Accepting a bath from your cat is generally safe, but there are potential risks. The bacteria in a cat’s mouth can lead to infection, especially if you are immunocompromised or have open cuts on your skin. While transmission of disease from cats to humans through licking is rare, it’s still a concern. Be cautious if your face or hair has ointments or products that could be harmful if licked by your cat. Always inform your veterinarian about anything you apply to your skin that might be potentially dangerous to your feline friend.
Also Read: Why Does My Cat Sleep Between My Legs?
How to Stop a Cat from Licking You?
If you find your cat’s licking uncomfortable or annoying, it’s important to address the cause gently. Avoid punishment methods like scolding, squirting with water, or shaking a jar of coins, as these can compromise the bond with your cat and make them more anxious or exacerbate the behavior.
Instead of harsh methods, consider applying a bitter-tasting spray on the areas they lick. This can discourage the licking without causing distress or harming your relationship with your cat.
Here are some tips to minimize the licking:
- Cover your skin with long-sleeved clothing or use a small towel when you interact with your cat. Alternatively, provide a food puzzle or toy to distract them.
- If your cat starts licking, get up and walk away. Withholding attention and ignoring the behavior until it subsides can be effective. Ignore the behavior completely and it might stop within a week. If the motivation for licking isn’t addressed, talk to your vet.
- Try tossing a cat toy or a treat when your cat follows If it continues licking, get up and walk away.
- When your cat interacts with you without licking, reinforce this behavior by rewarding with praise, petting, or play.
- Ensure your cat has plenty of environmental enrichment. Purchase a variety of toys, hide 5-6 of them, and rotate every few days to create novelty. Provide vertical spaces like cat trees, perches, and hiding places. Devote 15 minutes to interacting with your cat three times daily.
What Does it Mean When My Cat Licks Me?
When cats lick people, it can be for a variety of reasons.
Interesting skin or tastes: If your cat licks your hands after you’ve been eating, it’s likely enjoying the delicious taste of ‘leftovers’ left from your recent meal. Foods’ tastes that appeal to them or even the salty sweat from a workout or moisturizing oils from lotions can attract them.
Cats groom as part of a group: In the wild, cats often groom one another in what is known as ‘allo-grooming’, a common practice in groups, especially between a mother and her young. It’s a natural bonding and feline behavior, signaling that you’re officially part of their family.
Marking territory: It might be hard to admit, but to your cat, you’re considered property. By licking you, they mark you to prove their point. Cats have various ways of marking their territory, like scratching, rubbing their scent glands on the cheek or tailbase, or even spraying.
Seeking attention: Licking can be an attention-seeking behavior. Your cat might want petting, food, play, or to go outside. It’s their way to communicate that they want something.
Stressed or anxious: Various reasons for stress like not getting along with another pet, moving to a new home, renovations, underlying pain, or medical issues can cause this. Visitors suddenly and unexpectedly staying at home for months can also trigger displacement behavior, leading them to over-groom and create bald patches. Consult a veterinarian to determine the cause and address the issue.
A sign of love: Licking is the best reason for your cat’s behavior. Kittens are often licked by their mother when young and continue this behavior into adulthood, with other animals or people they are bonded with. It’s their way to express love and connection.
When is Cat Licking a Problem?
Licking can sometimes cross from a sign of affection to dangers if it becomes excessive. It’s important to be aware of signs that your cat’s licking behavior is disrupting the harmony of your home. In situations where they help too much with their tongues, it could be a larger issue. Excessive licking may annoy or even harm their skin. Understanding the reasons and taking steps to minimize or correct this behavior is important. Sometimes, it could indicate an underlying problem needing attention.
Licking that’s a Problem for Cats
Licking, when it turns into over-grooming, can lead to baldness or skin irritation. While often a sign of affection, it can become a bad habit or a health risk. Excessive licking might signal stress, boredom, or anxiety, often triggered by environmental or situational triggers. Changing the food, toys, or setup can help, but sometimes consulting a behaviorist or veterinarian is necessary to identify the root cause. Excessive licking can also be symptoms of impaired mobility, difficulty urinating, or pain, pointing to a potential underlying health issue. If you notice such changes, it’s a red flag that should be addressed right away, as it may require professional help.
Also Read: Cat Birthday Party Ideas
Why Are Cat Tongues So Rough and Spiky?
Cats, including kittens, have rough-looking tongues with spikes or bristles that resemble a boar bristle brush. This bristly structure, known as papillae, is backward-facing and works alongside their taste buds as a crucial tool for survival.
- The papillae on a cat’s tongue provide a deep clean to their coat, helping them not only groom but also eat.
- These structures help a cat remove flesh from bones, a common occurrence in the wild. In a modern house cat, they help to remove food debris from their coats.
- Papillae on cats’ tongues aid in drinking. When they dunk their tongues into water and swallow, the water is absorbed. They are capable of yanking upwards to create a miniature column of water, which they close their mouths over quickly.
- Believe it or not, it’s not just about dunking their tongues in water and swallowing. The water is absorbed in a unique way.
How Much Licking is too Much Licking?
While it’s wonderful to watch our kitties lick themselves clean, there is such a thing as too much licking. You might notice your adorable kitten happily bathing in the sunlight, but if your kitty is licking more than just messy spills from the night’s meal on your clothes, it could be excessive and unhealthy. The point at which it becomes a concern is when the licking is constant. For instance, if your cat licks itself, you, or objects for more than 30 minutes to an hour in a single session, it’s a red flag. Signs of over-grooming include irritated skin, and you may notice a thinning coat or bald spots. If the problem worsens, you might see patches that bleed or become infected.
Conclusion
A cat grooming its owner is a multifaceted behavior steeped in affection, communication, and instinct. Whether it’s about marking their territory, seeking attention, expressing love, or simply finding your taste intriguing, each lick from your cat carries a deeper significance. It’s essential, however, to recognize when this behavior crosses into excessive grooming, as it could indicate stress, anxiety, or underlying medical issues. Understanding the nuances of why cats groom their humans enhances the bond between pet and owner, providing insight into their complex emotional world. As cat owners, it’s our responsibility to observe these behaviors and ensure our feline friends are healthy, happy, and expressing their affection in safe and moderate ways.
