Do you have a cat that licks itself, you or a fellow cat and you’re befuddled as to why cats love licking? Research has shown that cats spend a large percentage of their time licking. So it’s more like something they can’t help.
When a cat licks you, it is immediately interpreted as meaning the cat loves you. But there are more reasons why your cats lick you. In this article, we’ll talk about the reasons why cats lick themselves, other cats and you as well.
5 Reasons Why Cats Lick Each Other
Why do cats lick each other?
There are so many reasons why cats lick each other, we’ll be discussing 5 Reasons why your cat licks another cat
• Grooming
In a previous article, I talked at length about Cat grooming. Grooming is a cat’s way of cleaning or bathing and they do this grooming almost every time. Now Cats don’t just groom themself alone, they tend to groom a fellow cat near them and this leads me to the next point.
• Bonding
Cats grooming or licking a fellow cat could be a sign of bonding or affection. From research, a cat won’t lick a cat that it doesn’t trust. Cats get closer and bond properly when they are groomed. Licking each other is always the first step when cats are about to mate.
I guess licking in cats is like kissing in humans.
• Handling Pain
Your Cat licking a fellow cat doesn’t always stop at showing affection. Let me paint a picture for you… A little kid goes out to play with friends in the next house and gets Injured, this little kid on returning home is likely going to meet his/her mom with tears in his/her eyes explaining what happened and expecting the mother to treat the wound/injury.
Now for cats, if a cat for instance steps on a sharp object and gets injured, it is likely going to lick itself, its owner or go to a fellow Cat it trusts and lick it aggressively cos the licking gives it some level of comfort. It could be the cat’s way of saying “I’m in pain, dear friend”.
• Teeth Or Gum Issue
When your Cat experiencing pain in its teeth or gum. After eating, Cats will lick their teeth as a way of cleaning their teeth.
• Scratching/Itching.
In humans when any part of our body gets itchy, we use our nails to scratch that portion of our body. In house fowls, when they get itchy, they tend to shake their feathers or move their beak to that portion of their body.
For Cats, when they feel an Itch they lick that part of their body.
8 Reasons Why Your Cat Licks You
Why does your cat lick you
Your Cat licking you doesn’t only mean it loves you, there are other reasons for this act.
1. Grooming
Cats groom fellow cats by licking them, showing that they trust that particular Cat. They’ll do the same to their owner cos they feel everything needs to be clean. Well, they’re not wrong.
2. Marking a Territory
Cats might not be as territorial as dogs but they tend to lick something or someone they like. Like a favorite toy or cloth indicating that they own it. A cat will lick you after it trusts you and wants to mark a territory.
3. Bonding
I guess this is what you have been waiting for. Yes cats will lick you passionately as a way of bonding with you
4. Early Weaning
Weaning is a process of a little animal transitional to the adult stage, when a kitten leaves its mother untimely without completing its weaning stage it’s going to need someone to stand in as its mother. The moment your Cat can build some level of trust with you, you automatically take the place of its mother and you’ll get licked!!! A lot!!
5. Requesting The Need For Attention
Those cute cats can be serious attention seekers, sometimes when your cat licks you it’s not grooming you or bonding. It is bored and needs you to play with it.
6. Anxiety
Just like dogs, Cats can get anxiety too. When your cat is facing anxiety it’ll most likely lick you.
7. Likes Your Smell and Taste
Cats use their tongue to understand their environment. If for instance you just had a nice bath and you smell nice, your cat is most likely going to come around to lick you. Some certain people have a taste that Cats like. If you’re one of such people, then get ready to get licked.
8. Pain or Health Issues
Just like I explained under the reasons why Cats lick other cats. A cat experiencing pain will lick itself, other cats or its trusted owner.
What does it mean when a cat licks your hand
Your cat is most likely licking your hand for a couple of reasons ranging from showing affection, or they love the smell of your hand. There could be other reasons though, but these are the major reasons why a Cat licks your hand.
What does it mean when a cat licks you while purring
Purring is a sound made by Cats showing that it is relaxed and contented. So when a cat licks you while purring it trusts and loves you.
Why do cats lick your hair
Cats lick your hair cos they are trying to groom you like they groom their selves. It’s their innate nature.
Why do cats lick plastic
“Curiosity kills the cat,” they say. Cats are very curious creatures that’s why cats lick almost everything. They don’t do this cos they’re hungry or any other funny thing that goes through your head right now. Cats lick plastic to investigate its taste and texture.
why does my cat lick my lips
Cats lick your lips for several reasons. A lot of people immediately assume that the Cat is in love with you and wants to kiss you. Well, they might not be wrong, it can be a sign of bonding and affection. Also if you just used a lip balm or a toothpaste, your cat gets curious and wants to know what it is, so they lick your lips.
why do cats lick where you pet them/why do cats lick itself
From several researches, a lot of people have different points of view about the reason why cats like where you pet them. I’ll be sharing a couple of them.
• You scattered a part of their body that they spent hours grooming
• They’re trying to remove your smell from their body
• They’re bonding with you.
Are cat licks dangerous?
Technically cat licks aren’t dangerous. The tongue of a cat carries bacteria which can sometimes be very dangerous for your skin so immediately after your cat licks you, wash that portion of your body immediately. Also, ensure that you stop your cat from licking you if you have an open or fresh wound like I said earlier, they have bacteria lying freely in their tongue and if the tongue is laden with bacteria and touches your wound you can get infected.
In Summary
Cats are very curious animals and neat animals. They satisfy their curiosity and clean or groom their selves with a part of their body called the “tongue”. There are so many reasons why cats lick themself, other cats and you. It’s up to you to monitor your Cat properly to know if your cat licks aggressively. Sometimes when your cat licks aggressively its tongue might get sore, also check for pain, anxiety etc to contact your Vet if the situation is beyond what you can handle.
