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Your cat spends hours and hours licking himself? Started licking yourself as if you wanted to wash it? At PeritoAnimal we want to help you discover the reasons that lead cats to lick constantly and clarify all your doubts in this regard.
Cats are animals that need to clean up to eliminate possible dirt accumulated on your fur, parasites or dead hair. However, this is not the only reason why they lick all the time. Contrary to what many people think, felines are grateful beings with their owners if they treat them properly and provide them with a dignified life. Keep reading this article to discover all the causes that lead to this type of behavior and answer the question. why cats lick.
the cat's tongue
Before talking about the causes that make cats constantly lick themselves or even their owners, it is essential to talk about the features of your language.
Surely if your tongue came into contact with your skin you've noticed that the sensation it causes is not soft, quite the opposite. While a dog's tongue is smooth and smooth like ours, a feline's is rough and wrinkled, why? Very simple, the upper part of the tongue of cats is covered with a thorny fabric called conical papillae. This tissue, in appearance, is nothing more than little pimples formed by keratin, the same substance that makes up our nails, placed in rows in the same direction.
These small pimples allow them to drink water more easily and, above all, clean themselves and eliminate the dirt accumulated between their fur. However, when acting as a comb, this causes the animal to swallow a large amount of dead hair and hence the dreaded hairballs to appear.
Now that we know what the cat's tongue looks like, why lick so much?
By hygiene
As we all know, cats are extremely clean animals by nature. That's why, unless your fur has gotten too dirty, they need us to bathe you. So if you see your cat constantly licking its paws, back, tail or belly, don't worry, it's just taking care of your hygiene eliminating dead hair, possible parasites and accumulated dirt.
Paying attention to the cat's behavior is essential to be aware of possible anomalies that may arise in it. Therefore, it is very important to note how often you lick yourself and how intensely. Animals, like us, are routine beings who also usually perform their tasks in the same way. If you see that your cat stops licking itself and this neglect of your daily hygiene is accompanied by general apathy or sadness, do not hesitate to go to the vet as soon as possible to be examined, as you may be developing a condition.
As a show of affection
As mentioned before, cats are animals that need to be kept clean at all times, however and although they are considerably flexible, they do not have the ability to reach each and every part of your body. At birth, the mother is responsible for keeping them clean by constantly licking them. From three weeks of life onwards, cats begin to clean themselves and lick each other, both to wash those unreachable areas, such as the ears and neck, as well as to strengthen the bond between cat group members.
At this point, the cats, in addition to grooming their brothers, will also lick their mother to show her affection. This way, if your feline lives only with you, without the presence of another cat, and licks itself, don't be surprised because it's a good sign. The fact that your cat licks your hands, arms or even your face means that he considers you part of his group, and wants to show how much he likes you.
Yes, despite their reputation, cats can also be affectionate. In fact, there are many displays of affection that can show their owners if they treat them properly, providing them with the basic care they need, adequate food, toys to release accumulated energy, scrapers to file your nails and a box of sand to do your needs.
Does your cat suffer from stress?
In the first point we talked about the importance of pay attention to your cat's behavior. The development of a serious condition can cause a loss of spirit that can lead the cat to neglect its hygiene. But what if the opposite happens? Overcleaning yourself?
If your cat has gone from grooming itself normally to doing it more intensely and at all hours, it is likely that it is suffering from stress or anxiety. Bear in mind that cats usually clean themselves, in addition to hygiene, to relax. Licking gives them tranquility, calm and serenity. For this same reason, cats sometimes suck on the blanket. In this way, when they feel stressed, they resort to licking in search of relief and to find that peace that they so much need.
If you suspect that the reason for answering the question why does your cat lick itself is this, it is essential that you try to find the focus of stress and, above all, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.
