14 /08/17

Why does my cat lick me?

  • BEHAVIOUR, GROOMING, TRAINING

ubbing your cat’s furry tum: enjoyable. Being continuously licked by your cat’s sand-paper tongue: not quite as enjoyable. So the question on our mind is, why do they do it? And, if we’re wondering why, we bet you are too, which is why we at CatDogFish took it upon ourselves to find the answers... so you don’t have to.

Like mother, like kitten

It is not uncommon to see cats licking other cats in order to groom themselves, but did you know these grooming habits were picked up in the earliest stages of kitten-hood? Like mother cats do to their kittens, cats like to give each other a good grooming which is also a sign of affection and belonging. These grooming tendencies can be applied to humans as a show of love and care. Honestly, we’ll take what we can get when it comes to our cats showing us affection.

 

My human, not yours

"You're mine now."

Your cat may lick you to mark its territory. Once again, this is something they have known to do since birth because their mothers gave them the full treatment when it came to licking them to mark their territory. This could be a sign that your cat feels safe around you. It’s hard to say if this is endearing or unsettling. Are they trying to let all the other cats on the block know that you’re theirs, or is this just another element to their plans for world domination? Hey, at least they aren’t urinating on us. Once again, we will take what we can get.

Returning the favour

Okay so this reason is pretty cute. For cats, being licked feels as comforting and soothing as being gently petted. What exactly does this mean for you, you ask? Well, it simply means that your cat is just returning the favour you are doing them by petting them. Little do they know that being licked by a cat is about as comfortable as hearing a fork scrape across a porcelain plate.

"Tuna for lunch I see. Can't complain."

Licking a little too ferociously?

If your cat begins licking you or themselves a little too vigorously this may be because they are looking to relieve an itch caused by some form of skin irritation such as an insect bite or infection. This could also be a sign of stress or anxiety in your feline. Your cat may be licking you in excess to relieve some stress and calm themselves down. This is especially something to pay attention to if your cat is typically not prone to public displays of affection.

While we at CatDogFish have concluded that our cats actually do love us almost (half) as much as we love them, that doesn’t necessarily mean we want the kitty kisses to continue. So, we’ve compiled a list with some antidotes to your cat’s licking habits: try spraying non-toxic bitter spray or lemon juice on cat’s favourite spots to lick. If that doesn’t work, try distracting your feline by giving them stimulating toys or cloth they can lick instead, or simply pull away from them when they begin to lick you. This will eventually train them to know that you don’t appreciate the licking (if they continue to lick you, it probably just means they want you to leave).