Why Does My Cat Lick Me?
Have you ever wondered why your cat licks you? In general, cats don’t lick their people as much as dogs do, and they often have their own mysterious reasons for their behaviors, so it can be a little hard to figure out sometimes why your cat does what she does.
Photo by Milan B
Have you ever wondered why your cat licks you? In general, cats don’t lick their people as much as dogs do, and they often have their own mysterious reasons for their behaviors, so it can be a little hard to figure out sometimes why your cat does what she does.
The obvious answer is that your cat just wants to say he/she loves you. If you think about it, the first sensation cats feel as newborn kittens is being licked by their mothers. It’s how they bond, and it feels comforting to them. So they show affection with their mothers and littermates by grooming each other. When they bond with humans, they extend this comforting familial behavior to you. Remember, to a cat, licking feels just like petting. Kitty might want to show you that he/she cares for you like a family member and will protect you at all costs. That’s a common thing for cats to do in the wild.
But there are other reasons why cats lick people, often triggered by their keen sense of smell. Perhaps your cat feels that you’re dirty and need a good washing. That’s a major reason as to why kitty could be licking you. In the wild, that’s a perfectly normal thing to do. Cats will help each other reach the tough spots to clean, and so maybe he/she thinks you’re having trouble getting yourself groomed.
Cats also use scent to mark their territory, and you’re part of their territory. So by licking you, your cat is letting other cats know, “This one is mine. Back off.”
Or maybe you just smell like tuna, or cat food, or something else that seems like it would be tasty to kitty. That is one of the main causes for cats licking you. You just happened to smell like fish! It’s not a crime; you’re making kitty happy.
Overall, if your cat is licking you, it’s a big compliment. It means you’ve gained a deep level of trust with your kitty, and that he/she accepts you. Most cat owners like to get “kitty kisses,” though some don’t because of how rough a cat’s tongue feels against human skin. If a cat is licking a lot, it can get to where it feels like sandpaper. If the licking gets unpleasant, simply distract your feline friend with a toy or some catnip to redirect his/her attention.
However, please note that if your cat is excessively licking you and that’s out of character, it would be a good idea to take him/her to your local vet for a quick checkup. It’s possible there could be something wrong.