What does it mean when my cat licks me? When I adopted my adorable orange cat Bamba, who has arguably the most curved tail in the world, I was immediately amazed at her licking. I left all our hugging sessions with my hands, arms, and face covered in cat saliva.
Like many other cat parents, I decided to understand why my cat licks us. Here are some facts about licking your cat. Does it mean the cat likes you?
is there something else I need to check? Cats are licking you – is this normal? Cats spend up to 8% of their waking hours’ grooming (and 50% sleeping), so grooming is usually normal for cats.
Why does the cat licks me?
Scientists don’t fully understand why cats lick people, but here are some possible theories.
The cat expresses affection for you
Licking a cat can be an affiliate behavior, a friendly and altruistic behavior. Mothers can take care of their kittens and cats can take care of each other, this is called allogrooming. This grooming strengthens social bonds so your cat can groom you to develop relationships. : Cats need attention.
Your cat may have realized very quickly that licking is getting attention
It’s probably because when my cat licks me, you unintentionally reward your licks by talking, petting, or interacting in any way. Some cats believe that negative attention, such as reprimand or rejection, is better than lack of attention.
Cats identify you as part of a group
Cats communicate by tagging objects and other animals with smells, and one of the reasons mothers lick kittens maybe because they create a familiar group smell. Likewise, can cat licks me to identify me?
The cat behaves like a kitten
Kittens knead and suckle while feeding. If your cat was weaned too early, it may have started licking you in search of comfort reminiscent of breastfeeding. In this case, your cat will wrinkle and purr while licking you.
Cat likes your taste
Cats may lick their skin or hair to explore interesting smells or odors, such as mouth-watering lotions, shampoos, or other topical products. Human sweat also contains sugar and salt, which cats may like.
Is it safe to let my cat licks me?
Cat baths are generally safe, but there are some potential risks. Cats have bacteria in their mouths and can cause local or systemic infections if they lick open wounds. People with weakened immune systems are most at risk. Cat infection is very rare, but just in case your cat does not lick your face or cut your skin.
The medicinal ointment can also harm your cat if you lick it. If you apply the product to your skin or coat, report it to your veterinarian to determine if the product may be potentially harmful to your cat.
How to stop my cat when your cat licks on me?
Whatever the reason for licking your cat, licking your cat may make you uncomfortable or irritated. Do not use punishment such as abusive language, water spraying, shaking coin tin, or using the bitter spray. This can jeopardize the bond with the cat and can make the cat more restless, which can make grooming the cat worse.
Here are some tips on how to minimize licking…
Cover skin with long sleeves or small towels and give food puzzles or toys.
Enrich your cat with the environment. Never a lot! Buy lots of toys, hide all but 56 toys, and make new ones by replacing them every few days. Provide vertical spaces such as cat trees and perch, and other hiding places for your cat, and set aside at least 15 minutes to interact with your cat three times a day.
If your cat continues to lick or lick excessively, see a veterinarian see if it is related to a medical or emotional disorder.