Why Does My Cat Lick Me? Here’re 6 Reasons

why does my cat lick me

Have you ever wondered ‘why does my cat lick me? It’s a common question asked by many cat owners. Maybe it’s not because you’re tasty or they think you’re particularly unclean. In fact, there are a few possible reasons why a cat licks their owners, and most of them are signs of affection.

6 Possible Reasons Why Your Cat Licks You

While it’s impossible to say for sure, researchers, veterinarians, and cat behavior experts have suggested a number of reasons why cats may lick you over and over again. Let’s dig in!

1. To show affection

For cats, licking is used not only to groom and clean their bodies, but also to show affection. By licking their owners, your cat is creating a social bond.

Part of this behavior may stem from kittenhood when the mother cat licks them to groom them, as well as to show care and affection. Many cats engage in this behavior in their adult lives, licking their humans to convey the same affection.

why does my cat lick me
Have you ever asked why does my cat lick me?

2. To “mark their territory”

While there are several ways for cats to “mark their territory,” including cheek rubbing, scratching – licking is another behavior cats can use to claim something as their own.

In this case, if cats are licking you, they are trying to make sure that other cats or animals know who you belong to – them!

3. To taste something interesting

Another reason for the question “why does my cat lick me” is they taste something interesting on your skin. Maybe you spilled something or came into contact with something that left a residue on your skin — and your cat loves the taste of it. If it’s warm outside or you’re exercising, it’s possible your sweat has left a salty residue and that’s what your cat is trying to taste.

Interestingly, although cats’ tongues are made for brushing, they have a much more unpleasant sense of taste than humans. In fact, cats are one of the only mammals known to be incapable of tasting sweets.

why does my cat lick me
Why does my cat lick me? Maybe they taste something interesting!

4. To groom you

Although cats may not realize that licking you isn’t actually helping you “get clean”, this behavior is completely natural for them. As we mentioned earlier, mother cats brush their kittens to teach them to do it for themselves, show affection, and create bonds.

According to certified cat behavior and training consultant Marci Koski, a group of cats that live together often assigns an “allo-groomer”— a cat that licks and grooms other cats in the family. group.

If you spot your cat licking you, they may be trying to fulfill the role of an “allo-groomer”– cleaning you up and establishing your membership in their group.

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5. To get your attention

If you find your cat licks you, it may be that they want your attention. Whether they want you to feed them, pet them, or give them attention, cats will likely lick you in an attempt to get your attention.

6. To cope with anxiety or stress

Finally, cats may lick you because they are nervous or stressed. While excessive licking or brushing can sometimes indicate a medical problem, many times cats lick you, or themselves, as a coping mechanism for stress or anxiety.

You may see cats licking themselves after moving to a new home or going through a change in their habitat. Usually, this type of licking is nothing to worry about – unless your cat is brushing so much that their skin becomes rough or they create bald spots. In this case, you will want to talk to your veterinarian about what you can do to correct this behavior.

How to get your cat to stop licking you

why does my cat lick me
How to get your cat to stop licking you

If you want to keep your cat from licking you, don’t push them away or punish them for doing so. They won’t understand what they’ve done wrong and will likely become stressed. And this can lead to more problematic behavior.

Instead, to stop your cat from licking you, try distracting them with something else they enjoy, such as brushing them with a brush or playing with their favorite toy. Not only will this help them continue to bond with you, but it will also protect your skin from their sandpaper-like tongue.

Now you know the reason “why does my cat lick me”. While cats licking you usually have anything to worry about – and can even be a compliment. If you still are concerned about their behavior, you can contact your veterinarian and get advice.

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