Why Does My Cat Try to Groom Me? (13 Reasons Explained)

Cats are smart, curious, and loving companions. But they aren’t always the easiest to understand.

If your cat’s fur is perfectly smooth and silky…well, you might have some explaining to do. Cats groom themselves to keep their fur shiny, soft and sleek, but why?

Find out why they love grooming you and why it feels so good for both you and them. (This video is only intended for educational purposes.)

Cat Grooming Habits Explained

For a variety of reasons, cats lick and groom each other. According to Johnson Bennett, they do so in order to generate a single group fragrance in nature.

She claims that’s essential for one’s survival in the wild. A cat can tell whether another cat has returned to the colony based on their scent. The sense of smell is crucial.

To rid their kittens’ skin of filth and induce defecation, mothers will lick their bottoms, which newborns cannot control freely for the first three weeks of life, an applied animal behaviorist in Colorado tells the Denver Post.

Estep claims that cats who live together and get along will also lick each other’s heads. Like head or face stroking, it’s a common social custom.

For one, the notion goes like this: Cats employ allogrooming in the same manner they do it between themselves, according to Estep. It’s a way for friends to get closer. My own cats have been known to lick my hair.

Cats, on the other hand, do not consider humans to be members of the feline species.

Estep claims that they view us as friends with whom they may build a solid friendship. Because they’re cat-friendly, they utilize it to express themselves.

In Johnson Bennett’s opinion, cats can differentiate between cats, people, and other animals, and may lick our hair since it is the closest thing we have to fur.

She calls [grooming] essential to one’s survival in the wild. When a cat returns to the colony, they are able to identify the scent of another cat. Sense of smell is critical.

Is it Safe for Cats to Groom Humans?

So, Kirby Madden advises not to let your cat to lick the spot where you’ve applied medicine since it might end up in her system.

There are topicals that can be harmful to cats that are used by people, according to her. Some dandruff shampoos, for example, can be harmful.

Theoretically, cats could eat human hair, but Kirby Madden says they’d have to swallow a lot of it before it posed any difficulties.

Because you know your cat better than anybody, Kirby Madden suggests that if she begins grooming you out of the blue it might be a sign of trouble.

She claims that cats have a restricted variety of facial expressions to convey their emotions. The vet should be consulted if this is a completely new activity, or if the frequency of grooming is growing or becoming more frequent.

If becoming your pet’s personal ice cream cone isn’t your cup of tea, you may gently discourage the licking.

Johnson Bennett recommends caressing your pet or giving her a fuzzy mouse, fishing line, or other tempting toy to play with in order to keep her from licking you. Avoid being enraged at all costs.

13 Possible Reasons Why Your Cat Licks and Grooms You

1. To show affection

For cats, licking is not only utilized as a grooming method, but also to demonstrate affection. By licking you, other cats, or even other pets, your cat is developing a social link.

Part of this habit may arise from kittenhood when your cat’s mother licked to groom them, as well as to express care and affection. Many cats maintain this habit into their adult lives, licking their humans to pass along the same feeling.

Many cats maintain this habit into their adult lives, licking their owners to pass along the same affection.

2. To “mark their territory”

Although there are a variety of ways that cats mark their territory, including face rubbing, clawing (and sadly, spraying) licking is another habit that cats could employ to claim something as their own.

In this scenario, if your cat is licking you, they’re attempting to guarantee that other cats or animals know who you belong to them!

3. To groom you

Even though your cat might not comprehend that licking you isn’t truly helping you get clean, this activity is totally normal to them.

As we discussed before, mother cats groom their kittens in order to educate them to do it for themselves, show them affection, and develop a link.

In reality, according to trained feline behavior and training specialist Marci Koski, a group of cats living together typically designate an allo groomer a cat that licks and grooms the other cats in the group.

If you notice your cat licking you, they can be trying to fulfill their job as the allo groomer cleansing you and establishing your participation in their group.

4. To taste something interesting

Your cat may be licking you because they find something tasty on your skin, no matter how stupid it may sound. Whether you spilt anything or came into touch with a substance, your cat enjoys the taste of the residue. The salty residue from your perspiration might be what your cat is seeking to taste if it’s hot or you’ve been exercising.

Cats’ tongues are designed for grooming, but their sense of taste is far less developed than that of humans. Cats are the only animals known to be unable to detect sweet flavors.

5. To get your attention

Another probable reason why your cat licks you may be be that they want your attention. Whether they want you to pet them, feed them, or pay attention to them, your cat may lick you to try and attract your attention.

In this situation, licking can be equal to any other attention seeking cat action, such pawing at you, or meowing.

6. To cope with anxiety or stress

Finally, your cat could lick you because they’re worried or agitated. Although sometimes excessive licking or grooming might signal a medical condition, many times cats lick you, or themselves, as a coping technique for stress or worry.

You can discover your cat licking you after relocating to a new house, or experiencing a shift in their surroundings.

Typically, this type of licking isn’t something to worry about until your cat grooms themselves so much that their skin gets raw or they generate bald areas.

In this situation, you’ll want to chat to your veterinarian about what you may do to fix this habit.

7. Pacifier Substitute

If a cat was abandoned or weaned before it was mature, it is possible for it to acquire an excessive licking habit.

To make up for the lack of suckling, they turn to licking as a way to acquire the calming comfort they craved while still in the womb.

Purring and what appears to be an expression of happiness on their face are other signs of early weaning.

8. They’re Self-Soothing

Licking one’s self can be done for a variety of reasons, including routine grooming and self-soothing. A newborn sucking their thumb is similar to this.

Because it’s a common part of their daily routine, in some situations they do it without thinking about it. In other circumstances, they may be licking excessively to alleviate their discomfort or tension by doing so.

Dr. Michelle Lugones, a veterinarian at Best Friends Animal Society, says that if you find your cat licking themselves, people, or objects more than usual, you should first get your cat examined by a veterinarian to rule out any medical issues.

9. They Might Be Anxious

Excessive licking in cats can sometimes be a sign of nervousness or stress. Identifying what is making your cat uneasy is the first step in dealing with this problem, so you can either eliminate the trigger or strive to desensitize your cat to it.

Dr. Lugones stresses the need of treating any stressors in the family environment as well.

Your cat will be more content in the home if you give him or her daily play and quality time, and make sure he or she has a scratch pad and perch to carry out their normal cat habits of scratching and hunting.

Your veterinarian can help you treat any medical or behavioral issues that are causing excessive licking. Learn more about cat anxiety.

10. They Like How You Taste

To lick is a favorite pastime for many animals, including cats. As weird as it may sound, your cat may find salty skin, moisturizer, and even scent appealing.

Dr. Williams claims that our perspiration includes sugar and salt that cats are drawn to licking. In order to avoid being licked by your cat, it’s best to dry off and chill off before spending time with your feline companion.

When applying lotion or perfume, she recommends keeping your cat out of the room and covering any lotion-covered regions of your body with clothing before interacting with your feline friend.

11. They’re Trying to Tell You Something’s Wrong

In addition to the fact that a cat may be licking you in order to grab your attention, this may also be a sign that something is wrong with the cat.

Dr. Williams recommends consulting with your veterinarian if your cat’s licking activity is out of the usual, such as a gastrointestinal condition, injury or wound.

According to Dr. Lugones, it might be an indication that they are attempting to cure a wound by licking the same location over and over again. For example, a cat could over-groom itself because of an allergy or skin ailment or because it is in discomfort.

Consult your veterinarian if you’re worried about your pet’s excessive licking so you can uncover the source of the problem and treat it together.

12. Leaving a scent

To leave a scent on their fur, feral cats wash each other. A collective odor develops among a colony of wild cats. Their social circle is defined by the people they can see in this.

This type of activity is referred to as “marking one’s territory” by some. If your cat is licking or grooming you, it may be doing so in an attempt to leave a fragrance behind on your skin.

Your cat wants the world to know that you and your family are inseparable. ‌

13. Saying that’s enough

If your cat licks you after petting it, it may be telling you it’s had enough attention. You may think that your cat’s licks are a plea for more attention, but if you don’t stop, your cat may paw or bite you.

Why Does It Hurt When My Cat Licks Me?

Why does my cat lick me? is a similar question. Why does my cat’s licking cause me so much pain? Ultimately, the solution is straightforward.

Papillae, the tiny spines that coat a cat’s tongue, were discussed before. Keratin, the same material that makes up human fingernails, is what these papillae are formed of.

Self-grooming cats have a tongue that is powerful enough to bring saliva down to their skin, untangle their fur, remove dirt, and redistribute oils, according to the nature of their tongue.

As a result, when a cat repeatedly licks your skin with its spine-covered tongue, it is likely to cause some discomfort. Cats’ tongues are sometimes compared to sandpaper because of this.

Is It Safe to Let Your Cat Lick You?

Yes, it is normally safe to let your cat to lick you. When it comes to licking, the only exceptions would be if you had an infectious material or a wound on your skin that may be aggravated by the licking.

However, it may be a bit of a pain in the neck.

Dr. Williams believes that since the cat’s tongue is so harsh, it may be more painful for certain individuals than others when they are licked by a cat.

If you have really sensitive skin, it may cause an allergic reaction. Also, if you have a cat allergy, you are more likely than someone without a cat allergy to react negatively if a cat licks you.

How Do I Get My Cat to Stop Licking Me?

Unless your cat is constantly licking you and over-grooming, licking isn’t something to be concerned about. Constantly being licked by cats can be aggravating due to the rough texture of their tongues.

As a last resort, attempt to divert their attention by pointing out anything else. If your cat enjoys being petted, you may use this to your advantage in distracting them from licking.

Additionally, you might try to divert their focus by giving them something to play with. If your cat’s licking gets excessive, you may want to step away or move away from him.

Conclusion

Why does my cat try to groom me? Grooming is a social ritual that has evolved to ensure the safety of a colony or group of animals.

Cats groom themselves to keep their coats and fur clean, to remove parasites, and to reduce the smell of their own scent.

Grooming also releases tension from their muscles and reduces stress. By grooming other cats, they are keeping their colony healthy.

source https://catshint.com/why-does-my-cat-try-to-groom-me/