Cats are known for their meticulous grooming habits, dedicating a significant portion of their day to keeping themselves clean. It’s a common sight to see a cat diligently licking its fur. However, you might have experienced your feline friend turning their attention to you, licking your skin or hair with their raspy tongue. This behavior often leaves cat owners wondering: “Why Does My Cat Lick Me?”
While scientists are still exploring the nuances of feline behavior, there are several well-supported theories that shed light on why cats lick people. Understanding these reasons can deepen your bond with your cat and provide insights into their communication and affection.
Affection and Social Bonding: A Sign of Love
One of the most heartwarming reasons behind your cat’s licking is affection. Just as cats groom each other as a sign of camaraderie and bonding – a behavior known as allogrooming – they may extend this behavior to their beloved humans. Mother cats groom their kittens to nurture and bond with them. When your cat licks you, they might be expressing a similar nurturing affection and strengthening your social bond. This is a high compliment in the feline world, indicating they consider you part of their close-knit social group.
Seeking Attention: Licking as a Learned Behavior
Cats are intelligent creatures, and they quickly learn how to get our attention. If you’ve ever responded to your cat licking you by petting them, talking to them, or even just acknowledging them, you’ve inadvertently reinforced the behavior. Your cat may have learned that licking is an effective way to initiate interaction and receive attention from you. In this case, the licking is a learned behavior driven by the positive reinforcement they receive.
Scent Marking: Identifying You as Family
Scent is a primary form of communication for cats. They use scent marking to define their territory and identify members of their social group. Cats have scent glands in various locations, including their cheeks, paws, and tongues. When your cat licks you, they are depositing their scent on you, essentially marking you as part of their family. This scent exchange reinforces their bond with you and creates a familiar group scent, making you feel more secure and connected within their feline world.
Kittenhood Comfort: Regression to Nursing Behaviors
Kittens exhibit instinctive behaviors like kneading and suckling when they nurse from their mothers. These actions are associated with comfort and security. If your cat was weaned from their mother too early, they might retain some of these kitten-like behaviors into adulthood. Licking you could be a manifestation of this, a way for them to seek comfort reminiscent of nursing. You might observe your cat kneading or purring while they lick you, further suggesting a link to these early comfort-seeking behaviors.
Taste and Exploration: Investigating Interesting Flavors
Cats have a keen sense of smell and taste. Sometimes, your cat might be licking you simply because they are intrigued by a particular scent or taste on your skin or hair. This could be anything from a scented lotion or shampoo you use to the salty taste of your sweat. Human sweat contains salts and sugars that can be appealing to cats. While this exploratory licking is usually harmless, it’s important to be mindful of topical products you use. Never allow your cat to lick you if you’ve recently applied lotions, ointments, or other topical products, as some may contain ingredients that are toxic to cats.
Anxiety and Stress Relief: Licking as a Coping Mechanism
Licking can sometimes be a displacement behavior in cats, meaning it’s a behavior performed to alleviate stress or anxiety. While stress more commonly manifests as excessive self-grooming in cats, they might also direct this behavior towards you. If your cat’s licking is sudden, excessive, or accompanied by other signs of stress, consider potential triggers in their environment, such as loud noises, new visitors, or changes in routine. Untreated anxiety can escalate, and the licking behavior could become compulsive, negatively impacting your cat’s well-being. If you suspect anxiety is the cause, consulting with a veterinarian is crucial.
Underlying Medical Issues: When Licking Signals a Problem
In some instances, excessive licking of you or objects in their environment can be a sign of an underlying medical problem. Nausea, pain, or general discomfort can all trigger increased licking in cats. If your cat’s licking behavior is new, excessive, or accompanied by other symptoms like changes in appetite, vomiting, or lethargy, it’s essential to seek veterinary evaluation promptly. A medical check-up can rule out any potential health issues contributing to the behavior.
Why Does a Cat’s Lick Feel Like Sandpaper?
Anyone who has experienced a cat’s lick knows it’s not exactly a smooth, gentle sensation. Instead, it often feels like being licked by sandpaper. This is due to the unique structure of a cat’s tongue. 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 are remarkably effective for grooming. These spines act like tiny combs, helping to remove loose fur, dirt, and debris from a cat’s coat. They also help distribute saliva across the fur, which aids in cooling and cleaning.
Is It Safe to Let Your Cat Lick You? Potential Risks
Generally, allowing your cat to lick you is safe, and it’s often a sign of affection. However, there are a few potential risks to be aware of. Cats’ mouths, like all animals, contain bacteria. If a cat licks an open wound, there’s a small risk of bacterial infection. People with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to infections.
While the risk of contracting a disease from a cat’s lick is very low, it’s prudent to avoid letting your cat lick your face or any open cuts or wounds on your skin as a precautionary measure. Additionally, be mindful of any topical products you use, as some can be harmful if ingested by your cat. If you use any lotions or medications on your skin, consult your veterinarian to ensure they are safe for your cat if licked.
How to Discourage Cat Licking if Needed
While cat licking is usually a normal and often affectionate behavior, you might find it uncomfortable or wish to discourage it for personal reasons. It’s crucial to never resort to punishment such as scolding, spraying water, or using bitter-tasting sprays. Punishment can damage your bond with your cat and potentially increase their anxiety, which could worsen the licking behavior.
Instead, focus on positive and gentle methods to redirect your cat’s licking:
- Create a Physical Barrier: When interacting with your cat, wear long-sleeved clothing or use a small towel to cover exposed skin.
- Redirect and Ignore: When your cat starts licking, calmly get up and walk away. If the licking is attention-seeking, ignoring the behavior will signal that it’s not an effective way to gain your attention. Be consistent and only ignore them when they lick, not entirely. If the licking persists after a week of this approach, consider that there might be another underlying reason for the behavior.
- Offer Alternatives: Divert your cat’s attention with engaging toys. Offer a food puzzle to stimulate their mind or toss a cat toy for them to chase. When they engage with the toy, offer praise and positive reinforcement.
- Positive Reinforcement: When your cat interacts with you in ways you prefer, such as cuddling or playing without licking, reward them with praise, petting, or treats. This reinforces the behaviors you want to encourage.
- Environmental Enrichment: Ensure your cat has a stimulating environment. Provide a variety of toys, rotate them regularly for novelty, and offer vertical spaces like cat trees and perches. Dedicate quality time each day for interactive play sessions (at least 15 minutes, two to three times daily) to meet their physical and mental needs.
If your cat’s licking is persistent, excessive, or concerning, consult with your veterinarian. They can help determine if there are any underlying medical or emotional issues contributing to the behavior and guide you on appropriate management strategies.
Why Does My Cat Lick Me? FAQs
Why does my cat lick my face specifically?
Cats lick faces for the same reasons they lick other parts of your body. It can be a sign of affection, attention-seeking, scent marking, or even related to anxiety or medical issues. If the face licking is excessive or bothersome, consult your vet to ensure there are no underlying health concerns.
Why does my cat lick me then bite me? Is it normal for licking to turn into biting?
Licking that transitions into biting can occur if your cat becomes overstimulated, uncomfortable with the interaction, or is experiencing pain. While feline play often involves gentle biting, if the biting is aggressive or concerning, it’s advisable to consult with a veterinarian to rule out medical problems and to get 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)
