Cats have captured the hearts of millions of people, and it’s evident from their internet presence and stardom that cat memes are our love language. Our furry little minions of doom and destruction keep us young with laughter as we ponder why they hunger for plastic bags. One thing is sure: cats are strange creatures that love us, maybe even as much as we love them. Let’s take a look at why cats lick us. Are they just being weirdos, or is there more to it?
Reasons Why Cats Lick Themselves and Other Cats
If you are the proud owner of a cat, you have likely noticed how frequently they groom themselves. Though their mouths harbor dangerous bacteria, cats pride themselves on being clean animals. They groom themselves after eating, using the litter box, and on many other occasions. A cat’s grooming tendencies are instinct-driven and extremely hard to break if over-grooming has become an issue.
Predators
One reason cats groom themselves is to wash away any scent of the meal they ate so as not to become dinner for larger predators. Another reason is to avoid attracting other cats who might pick up their scent and be hungry enough to follow it and see if any of their meal is left. The feline sense of smell is said to be 14 times stronger than our own, so just because we can’t pick up the scent doesn’t mean another cat, or worse, will pass it up.
Feral and larger wild cats bury their kills to save for later. This is also done to hide the meal’s scent below the earth’s surface when hungry predators might be patrolling. You might have witnessed your domesticated indoor cat scratching the ground around its food once it’s finished. They are following the instinct to bury their food.
Cats go to extreme lengths to ensure their safety and the safety of their kittens. This is another reason why a cat might bury the uneaten portion of the meal instead of trying to drag it to where they sleep or have kittens hidden. Dragging it would provide a direct path to the feline family and their dinner.
Mother cats groom themselves and their kittens thoroughly to remove any scent of a meal or kittens from their bodies so predators will not have a more significant reason for trying to follow them back to the den. A mother cat’s licking is important to the survival of her kittens. When they are first born, she must lick them to remove mucus from their nose and mouth so they can begin to breathe. She will also lick them as a bonding ritual and stimulate the kittens to urinate or defecate. Being a mom is hard work.
Relaxation Ritual
Cats who have lived together long enough to become bonded may groom each other. There are several different meanings behind this treatment. Sometimes, you might notice your cat using some rough grooming techniques on your other cat when they want the cat to leave where they are comfortably resting because the groomer cat wants that seat for themselves.
Other times, you may notice your cats grooming each other in an affectionate “I scratch your back, you scratch mine” kind of way. This is frequently seen between cats who have grown up together, who are siblings or related, or who are just really obsessive about everyone’s cleanliness. In most cases, it is a sign that the two cats are bonded. They may sleep together often and take advantage of the grooming in those hard-to-reach places.
Cleanliness
The most obvious reason cats lick themselves is to groom their fur. They spend close to half of their lives grooming. This is why their fur is soft and fluffy. When you see a dirty cat that’s matted or unkept-looking, it’s most likely because they have a dental disease or something wrong with their mouth that hinders them from licking themselves. A cat’s fur can become dirty and filled with dandruff and parasites like fleas without proper grooming. By washing their ears and fur, they look much better than they would otherwise and have fewer external parasites.
Reasons Your Cat Licks You
Now that we have discussed why cats groom other cats, we will dive into why cats groom their human caretakers. Since you have already learned why cats groom themselves and why they do it to their buddies, it will not come as a huge shock to learn why your cat might be licking you.
Your loving feline enjoys bathing themselves and wants to share the relaxing experience with you because they love you. This is the most common reason found. Another reason suggests they like the saltiness or smell of our skin. Sometimes, you might find that you’ve irritated your cat (maybe by sitting where it wanted to sit or by petting a spot them they didn’t like), so they are “punish washing” you in the hopes that you will get up and leave them to your seat or whatever they may want.
Cats are Weird
Learning why your cat licks or grooms you may be endearing, but don’t forget to wash with antibacterial soap after they are through. Cats have very dangerous bacteria in their mouths, and you do not want them to transfer to you. It will make you very sick, so without crushing the soul of your cat, sneak away and wash it off. Your cat sees you as family and grooms you to help you out and to share a relaxing experience with you.
