Cats are fascinating creatures with a range of behaviors that can sometimes leave their human companions puzzled. One common yet intriguing behavior is licking. It’s not uncommon to find yourself on the receiving end of your cat’s raspy tongue. But Why Do Cats Lick People? Is it a sign of affection, a peculiar habit, or something more?
While the exact reasons behind this behavior aren’t definitively known, several theories shed light on why your feline friend might be giving you a “cat bath.” Understanding these reasons can deepen your bond with your cat and help you interpret their actions.
Decoding the Licking: Common Reasons Why Cats Lick You
Here are some of the most widely accepted explanations for why cats engage in licking behavior towards their human companions:
1. Expressing Affection and Bonding
One of the most heartwarming reasons for cat licking is that it’s a sign of affection. Similar to allogrooming among cats, where they groom each other to strengthen social bonds, cats may lick you to show they care. This behavior stems from kittenhood, where mothers groom their kittens to nurture and bond with them. By licking you, your cat might be extending this nurturing behavior to you, considering you part of their close social group. Think of it as a feline hug or kiss!
2. Seeking Attention and Interaction
Cats are intelligent animals, and they quickly learn what behaviors elicit a response from their humans. If your cat has discovered that licking you results in attention, whether it’s petting, talking, or any form of interaction, they are likely to repeat this behavior to get your attention. Essentially, your cat might be licking you because it works! You’ve inadvertently trained them to associate licking with positive reinforcement.
3. Marking Territory and Identification
Cats have scent glands in their cheeks and paws, and they use scent marking as a crucial form of communication. When your cat rubs against you, they are depositing their scent to mark you as part of their territory and social group. Licking can be another way for cats to reinforce this scent marking. By licking you, your cat might be transferring their scent onto you, essentially claiming you as “theirs” and making you smell familiar to them and other cats in the household. This behavior helps create a unified group scent within a feline social structure.
4. Comfort and Kittenhood Regression
Kittens exhibit behaviors like kneading and suckling when they are nursing from their mothers. These actions are associated with comfort and security. If a cat was weaned too early from its mother, it might carry these behaviors into adulthood. Licking you could be a form of regression to these comforting kittenhood behaviors. In such cases, you might observe your cat licking you while also purring and kneading, further emphasizing the link to comfort-seeking behavior.
5. Exploring Tastes and Scents
Cats have an incredible sense of smell and taste. They might lick you to investigate interesting scents or tastes on your skin or hair. This could be anything from a new lotion, shampoo, soap, or even the salty taste of your sweat. Human sweat contains salts and minerals that can be intriguing to cats. While this exploratory licking is generally harmless, it’s crucial to be mindful of topical products you use. Some lotions or medications can be toxic to cats if ingested, so it’s best to discourage licking after applying such products.
6. Anxiety and Stress Relief
In some instances, excessive licking can be a displacement behavior, a way for cats to cope with anxiety or stress. While stress in cats more commonly manifests as over-grooming themselves, it can sometimes be directed towards you. If your cat suddenly starts licking you more frequently or intensely, consider potential stressors in their environment. Changes in routine, new people or pets, loud noises, or changes in the home environment can all trigger anxiety in cats. If you suspect anxiety is the cause, identifying and addressing the stressor is crucial. If left unaddressed, anxiety-related licking can become compulsive.
7. Underlying Medical Issues
While less common, sudden or excessive licking can sometimes indicate an underlying medical problem. Nausea, pain, or general discomfort can lead to changes in a cat’s behavior, including increased licking of themselves or objects and even people. If your cat’s licking habits change abruptly or become excessive, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like changes in appetite, lethargy, or vomiting, it is essential to consult with your veterinarian to rule out any potential medical causes.
The Sandpaper Tongue: Why Cat Licks Can Feel Rough
Anyone who has experienced a cat’s lick knows it’s not exactly a smooth, gentle sensation. A cat’s tongue feels rough because it’s covered in hundreds of tiny, backward-facing spines called papillae. These papillae are made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails. These spines serve several important functions for cats:
- Grooming Efficiency: Papillae act like tiny combs, helping cats to effectively remove loose fur, dirt, and debris from their coat during self-grooming.
- Wicking Saliva: The papillae are also hollow and scoop-shaped, allowing them to wick up saliva and distribute it evenly across the fur during grooming. This saliva helps to cool the cat through evaporation and keeps their coat clean and healthy.
- Assisting with Eating: While less relevant to licking people, papillae also help cats grip and scrape meat from bones when they eat.
Is Cat Licking Safe? Potential Risks to Consider
Generally, allowing your cat to lick you is safe. However, there are a few potential risks to be aware of:
- Bacteria: Cats’ mouths, like all animals, contain bacteria. While the risk of disease transmission is low, cats licking open wounds could potentially introduce bacteria and cause a local or systemic infection, especially for individuals with weakened immune systems.
- Harmful Substances: As mentioned earlier, be cautious about allowing your cat to lick you after applying topical products like lotions, ointments, or medications, as some ingredients can be toxic to cats if ingested.
To err on the side of caution, it’s best to avoid letting your cat lick your face or any broken skin. If you are using any topical products, inform your veterinarian to ensure they are safe for your cat should they come into contact with them.
Managing Cat Licking: When It Becomes Too Much
While cat licking is often a sign of affection or a normal behavior, it can sometimes become excessive or uncomfortable. If you find your cat’s licking bothersome, here are some positive redirection strategies:
- Avoid Punishment: Never punish your cat for licking. Scolding, squirting water, or using bitter sprays can damage your relationship with your cat and increase their anxiety, potentially worsening the licking behavior.
- Gentle Disruption: When your cat starts licking, gently get up and walk away or redirect their attention. If they are licking for attention, removing your attention will signal that licking doesn’t achieve the desired outcome.
- Offer Alternatives: Provide your cat with stimulating alternatives to licking, such as puzzle toys or interactive play sessions. Redirect their focus onto a toy or activity they enjoy. When they engage with the alternative, reward them with praise, petting, or treats.
- Environmental Enrichment: Ensure your cat has a stimulating environment with plenty of toys, scratching posts, climbing structures, and opportunities for play and exploration. A bored cat is more likely to engage in attention-seeking or compulsive behaviors like excessive licking.
- Veterinary Consultation: If the licking is persistent, excessive, or accompanied by other behavioral changes, consult with your veterinarian. They can help rule out any underlying medical issues or recommend strategies for managing behavioral licking, including consulting with a veterinary behaviorist if needed.
FAQs About Cat Licking Behavior
Why does my cat lick my face specifically?
Cats may lick your face for the same reasons they lick other parts of your body – affection, attention-seeking, scent marking, or taste exploration. Because your face is often exposed and carries your scent, it can be a prime target for feline licking. If the licking becomes excessive or bothersome, consult with your vet to rule out any underlying issues.
Why does my cat lick me and then bite me?
This behavior, sometimes referred to as a “love bite,” can occur when a cat becomes overstimulated during petting or licking. It can also be a sign that the cat is no longer enjoying the interaction or is becoming agitated. While these bites are usually gentle, it’s important to respect your cat’s boundaries. Learn to recognize your cat’s body language for signs of overstimulation (such as tail twitching, flattened ears, or dilated pupils) and end the interaction before biting occurs. If biting is frequent or aggressive, consult your veterinarian to rule out medical or behavioral issues.
References:
- Eckstein RA and Hart BJ. (2000). The organization and control of grooming in cats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 68(2):131-140.
- Noel AC and Hu DL. (2018). Cats use hollow papillae to wick saliva into fur. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, doi:10.1073/pnas.1809544115.
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