Cats are known for their meticulous grooming habits, spending a significant portion of their day licking themselves. It’s a normal and essential behavior for them. But when your feline friend starts licking you, it can leave you wondering – Why Does My Cat Keep Licking Me? This behavior, while sometimes endearing, can be puzzling.
Understanding why your cat licks you involves exploring a range of potential motivations, from expressing affection to seeking attention, or even indicating underlying health concerns. While scientists haven’t pinpointed one definitive answer, several compelling theories shed light on this common feline behavior. Let’s delve into the reasons behind your cat’s licks and what they might be trying to communicate.
Affection and Bonding: The Language of Licks
One of the most heartwarming reasons behind your cat’s licking behavior is affection. Cats often engage in what’s known as allogrooming, where they groom other cats as a sign of bonding and social connection. This behavior originates from kittenhood, where mother cats groom their kittens to strengthen their bond.
When your cat licks you, they may be extending this affiliative behavior to you, considering you part of their social group. It’s a way for them to nurture your relationship and express their fondness. Think of it as a feline hug or a way of saying, “I love you” in their own unique language. This type of licking is usually gentle and accompanied by other affectionate behaviors like purring and rubbing against you.
Seeking Attention: Licks as a Communication Tool
Cats are intelligent creatures and quickly learn how to get their needs met. If your cat has discovered that licking you results in attention, they may continue this behavior as a way to solicit interaction. Perhaps you instinctively pet them, talk to them, or engage with them in some way when they start licking. Even negative attention, like pushing them away, is still attention!
Unknowingly, you might have inadvertently reinforced this licking behavior by reacting to it. Your cat may have learned that licking is an effective way to get you to notice them, whether they want to play, be fed, or simply crave your company. If your cat is licking you and seems to want something in return, attention-seeking could be the driving force behind their actions.
Scent Marking and Group Identity: You Belong to the Clan
Cats have a highly developed sense of smell, and scent plays a crucial role in their communication and social interactions. They use scent marking to define their territory and identify members of their social group. Mother cats, for instance, lick their kittens to establish a familiar group scent.
Your cat might be licking you as a way of marking you with their scent, essentially claiming you as part of their family. By transferring their scent onto you, they are reinforcing your bond and creating a sense of shared identity. This behavior is a testament to the close relationship your cat feels with you, marking you as safe and familiar within their world.
Kittenhood Comfort: Reliving Early Experiences
Kittens exhibit natural behaviors like kneading and suckling, often associated with nursing from their mothers. If a cat was weaned too early, they may carry these behaviors into adulthood as a way to seek comfort and security. Licking can be another manifestation of this kitten-related behavior.
When your cat licks you, especially if accompanied by kneading and purring, they might be subconsciously reverting to those comforting nursing experiences. This behavior suggests they see you as a source of security and are seeking the same reassurance they felt as kittens. In these instances, the licking is often gentle, rhythmic, and almost trance-like for the cat.
A cat showing affection by licking its owner’s hand, illustrating the bonding nature of this behavior.
Exploring Tastes and Scents: An Inquisitive Tongue
Sometimes, the reason behind your cat’s licking is simply curiosity and taste exploration. Cats use their tongues to investigate their environment, and your skin or hair might hold interesting scents or flavors that pique their interest. Perhaps they are attracted to the scent of your lotion, shampoo, or other topical products.
Human sweat also contains salts and sugars that can be appealing to cats. While this type of licking might seem harmless, it’s crucial to be cautious. Never allow your cat to lick you after applying topical products, as some can contain ingredients that are toxic to cats. If your cat seems particularly interested in licking you after you’ve used a specific product, check the ingredients and consult your veterinarian to ensure it’s safe for your feline friend.
Anxiety and Stress: Licking as a Coping Mechanism
In some cases, excessive licking can be a sign of anxiety or stress in cats. Licking can become a displacement behavior, a way for cats to cope with uncomfortable emotions or situations. While stress more commonly manifests as excessive self-grooming, it can also be directed towards you or objects in their environment.
Consider if there are any potential stressors in your cat’s environment that might be triggering this behavior. Changes in routine, new visitors, loud noises, or conflicts with other pets can all contribute to cat anxiety. If you suspect anxiety is the cause, observe your cat’s behavior for other signs of stress, such as hiding, changes in appetite, or increased vocalization. Addressing the underlying anxiety is crucial, and consulting with your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist can help. Untreated anxiety can escalate licking into a compulsive behavior, negatively impacting your cat’s well-being.
Medical Issues: When Licking Signals a Problem
While less common, sudden or excessive licking can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying medical issue. Conditions like nausea, pain, or discomfort can lead to changes in a cat’s behavior, including increased licking. If your cat’s licking habits change abruptly or become excessive, it’s essential to rule out any potential medical causes.
If you notice a sudden increase in licking, or if it seems compulsive or out of character for your cat, schedule a veterinary check-up. Your veterinarian can perform a thorough examination to identify any underlying health problems that might be contributing to the licking behavior. Early detection and treatment of medical issues are vital for your cat’s health and well-being.
Why Does a Cat’s Lick Feel Like Sandpaper?
If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a cat’s tongue bath, you know it’s not exactly a soft, gentle experience. A cat’s tongue feels rough, almost like sandpaper, due to its unique anatomy. The surface of a cat’s tongue is covered in hundreds of tiny, backward-facing spines called papillae.
These papillae are made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails, and they serve several important functions. They help cats groom themselves effectively by acting like tiny combs to remove dirt, loose fur, and mats from their coat. The papillae also aid in lapping up water and assist in stripping meat from bones. When your cat licks you, these papillae are what create that distinctive scratchy sensation.
An illustration highlighting the papillae on a cat’s tongue, explaining the rough texture.
Is it Safe to Let Your Cat Lick You? Weighing the Risks
Generally, allowing your cat to lick you is safe, but it’s important to be aware of potential risks. Cats’ mouths, like all animals, contain bacteria. While the risk of contracting a disease from a cat lick is very low, there are some precautions to consider.
If a cat licks an open wound, there’s a slight risk of bacterial infection, which could be more concerning for individuals with weakened immune systems. To err on the side of caution, it’s best to avoid letting your cat lick your face or any broken skin.
Additionally, certain topical medications or ointments applied to your skin could be harmful if ingested by your cat. If you use any topical products, inform your veterinarian to determine if they pose any risk to your feline companion if licked.
Managing Cat Licking: When it Becomes Too Much
While licking is often a normal cat behavior, there are times when it can become excessive, uncomfortable, or even annoying. If you wish to reduce or stop your cat’s licking behavior, positive and gentle methods are key. Never resort to punishment, such as scolding, spraying water, or using bitter sprays. Punishment can damage your bond with your cat and increase their anxiety, potentially worsening the licking problem.
Here are some humane and effective strategies to manage cat licking:
- Cover Up: If your cat tends to lick specific areas, like your arms or legs, wear long-sleeved clothing or use a small towel to create a barrier during interactions.
- Walk Away: When your cat starts licking, calmly get up and move away. If attention-seeking is the motivator, ignoring the behavior can help it subside. Be consistent and only withdraw attention when they lick, not entirely. If the licking persists after a week of this approach, consider other underlying causes.
- Redirection: Offer your cat a distracting alternative when they start licking. Provide a food puzzle toy or toss a cat toy to divert their attention. When they engage with the toy, offer praise or gentle petting (away from the licking).
- Positive Reinforcement: Reward desired behaviors. When your cat interacts with you without licking, reinforce this with praise, gentle petting, or playtime. This encourages alternative behaviors.
- Environmental Enrichment: Ensure your cat has a stimulating environment. Provide a variety of toys, rotate them to maintain novelty, and offer vertical spaces like cat trees and perches. Engage in regular playtime (at least 15 minutes, three times daily) to meet their physical and mental needs.
If your cat’s licking is persistent, excessive, or accompanied by other concerning behaviors, consult your veterinarian. They can assess for any underlying medical or emotional issues and recommend appropriate solutions, potentially including behavioral therapy or medication in severe cases of anxiety or compulsive behavior.
Why Does My Cat Lick Me? FAQs
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, anxiety, or even taste. Facial licking might be more pronounced due to proximity and the salts on your skin after sweating. If face licking becomes excessive or bothersome, consult your vet to rule out underlying issues.
Why does my cat lick me and then bite me?
Licking followed by a bite can indicate overstimulation. Cats have a threshold for petting and interaction, and exceeding it can lead to biting as a way to signal “enough.” It could also indicate discomfort or pain. Observe your cat’s body language for signs of overstimulation (e.g., tail twitching, flattened ears, dilated pupils). Learn to recognize these cues and respect your cat’s boundaries. If biting is a frequent issue, consult your veterinarian to rule out medical causes and for guidance on managing feline biting behavior.
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.
WRITTEN BY
Alison Gerken, DVM (Clinical Behavior Resident)Veterinarian
Dr. Alison Gerken is a second-year resident in veterinary behavior at the Florida Veterinary Behavior Service under the mentorship of…
