One reason your cat may lick you is because it’s a way of creating a social bond. From a young age a cat’s mother
would not only lick them as a way of grooming them, but also to show affection. Cats then replicate this behaviour with you as a way of showing their own affection – it simply comes naturally. This licking behaviour is not just exclusive between pet and owner. Cats often lick other cats and even other animals to show their affection. Do keep an eye out, however, when your cat begins to lick other cats or other animals, as not all cats or animals like to be licked. In some cases some other
cats or animals may retaliate or become anxious when a cat tries to lick them. Another reason your cat may lick you is because they are stressed or anxious. It is very common for cats and other animals to begin to lick things excessively if they are stressed. This can include licking you; if you think this may be the case it might be best to pay a visit to your local vet. If you think something has caused your cat to be stressed, try to identify the source of their worry in case you can
remove it. Cats like to mark their territory so other cats and animals know what is theirs. If a cat sees you as theirs, they may begin to lick you to mark you as part of their territory. This is to let other cats know who you belong to. Whilst this type of behaviour is completely normal it could lead to problems in the house if you have more than one cat or pet, so watch out for territorial behaviour. It can sometimes hurt when a cat licks you, especially if your cat does this excessively and in the same place. This is because of special back-facing barbs on your cat’s tongue called ‘papillae’. These barbs are made from the same material as your cat’s claws, which explains why their tongue feels like sandpaper. These barbs are important when your cat grooms themselves. The barbs help to remove dirt and debris from a cat’s coat. If the barbs weren’t sharp they would not be
able to pick up this dirt and a cat would not be able to keep himself or herself as clean.Have you ever asked ‘why does my cat lick me’? It’s a common question many cat owners have. The truth is there are a number of different reasons why your cat licks you – and many of them are to do with affection!
Possible reasons why your cat licks you
Why it sometimes hurts when a cat licks
you
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- Kitten licking eyes and nose of her human mommy
Kitten licking eyes and nose of her human mommy
A good friend of mine rescued two kittens a while ago, they're about 5 or 6 months old now. They've been seperated from their mommy at the age of 8 weeks.
One of these kittens (both females) is showing a strange behavior, she's licking my friend's eyes and nose, and we're wondering why she's doing that.
Any ideas?
Kirsten
That kitten must be related to my Oscar!
I have read and heard over the years that our cats see us as big cats. Before I get out of bed in the morning, Oscar will throw one of his front legs over my face - just like cats do to each other - and groom my forehead and nose!
He's tried the eyelids, but sandpaper tongue is a little too rough for that!
I think cats groom the alpha cat - so this kitten thinks your friend is Mom!
"Do or do not. There is no try." -- Yoda
LOL, Oscar's so cute!!
so this kitten thinks your friend is Mom!
Hmm, that could be. As far as I know, the kitten's very attached to her.Kirsten
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE FOUND HOTEL ANGELS HAVE A NEW FRIEND IN CORINNA.
ALMOND ROCCA BATON AND ELLIE ANGELS ARE GUARDIANS TO ETERNAL KITTENS ROCC-EL AND T TEEN ANGEL, ALMOND ROCA , VLAD , PAWLEE , SPRITE. LITTLE HEX, OSIRIS AND ANNIE ANGELS.
EBONY BEAU TUBSTER AND PEACHES BW SPIKE & SMOKEY
NOW PRECIOUS AND SAM ARE TOGETHER WITH ETERNAL KITTENS SAMMY ,PRESLEY, SYLVESTER AND SCRATCHY JR , MIGHTY MARINA, COSMIC CARMEN, SAMSON ,UNDER KITTY AND SUNKIST AUTUMN & PUMPKIN.
MIA AND ORANGE BLOSSOM ANGELS HAVE ADOPTED TUXIE , TROOPER , SONGBIRD AND LITTLE BITTY KITTIES MIA-MI BLOSSOMER, TUXEDO AND DASH AS THIER ETERNAL KITTENS.
PRINCESS JOSEPH AND MICHAEL ARE CELEBRATING 19 YEARS AS LUCKY FOUND CATSWillow sucks on my earlobes all the time and has wrecked havoc on them, and if I push her away from them she will suck on my eyelashes. Weirdo!
But I really don't think anything is wrong about them doing that sort of thing. I think they just think they need to groom us.It's because they love us! Marbles licks my eyelids sometimes - it's so cute and tickles a lot!
Little Ms. Mitzi Mitts
Our Photo Albums are
Here and Here
In memory of my beloved fur children, Goldie, Mishi and Mitzi.
Rest in peace and play hard at the Rainbow Bridge.
Goldie: 9/5/88 - 4/10/03
Mishi: with us from 5/5/03 - 7/13/07
Mitzi: with us from 4/19/03 - 1/23/10Mac grooms me all the time. He licks my face and will knead my hair. Sometimes, he will take my hair in his teeth and tug it, kind of like straightening it out if it gets messy. They do things like this sometimes. I wouldn't worry very much, this kind of behavior is pretty normal, and cute too!
Proud to be a crazy cat lady!
Special Needs Pets just leave bigger imprints ♥ on your heart!Sunny used to try to lick my head. He especially loved it when my hair was still wet.
My 3 youngest (Sabrina, Sassy & Josh) have been licking everything since they were tiny. I got them as 2 week old bottle babies, so not sure if it's a nursing thing, or if it's genetics. These 3 young ones will lick EVERYTHING, your skin, your hair, your clothes, the furniture, my shower curtain, sometimes the floor, basically anything. It's rather cute sometimes, but other times it gets a bit annoying. lol I wouldn't trade it for anything though because it's just so 'them'.
Pooky & Bear were bottle babies but got them at 4 weeks old and they don't lick everything.
RIP Dusty July 2 2007 RIP Sabrina June 16 2011 RIP Jack July 2 2013 RIP Bear July 5 2016 RIP Pooky June 23 2018. RIP Josh July 6 2019 RIP Cami January 6 2022Creamsicle would wash my face forever if I'd let her but she has the roughest tongue I've ever known a cat to have.
Blessings,
Mary"Time and unforeseen occurrence befall us all."
Ecclesiastes 9:11
Don Juan has always been a "kisser." (His resume at the Humane Society said "likes to lick".) I figure he's a big fan of salt on the skin. And I love it.
[b]"Virtue is triumphant only in theatrical productions." --The Mikado
Amazing how many cats seem to like this licking thing... Mine don't do it, but my RB Katz used to lick my hair...
Kirsten
My husband calls it "the morning lick". I'm the only recipient. Pinot licks my face in the morning as part of the "get up, Mom" ritual. I think it's sweet, too.
GO RAVENS!!
Groucho licks my face right after I get out of the shower. I always thought he was doing it to renew his scent on me so other cats will know I belong to him. Still, I love the attention regardless of why he does it.
FIND A PURPOSE IN LIFE.....BE A BAD EXAMPLE
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