Content
- Why do cats lick themselves?
- The cats' cleaning of others
- The cleanliness of humans
- Displacement cleaning
There is a widespread idea that cats are independent animals, not sociable and not affectionate, but this description does not define most of the cats we live with. So, there are still people who are surprised by the affection demands of their feline companions.
Do you want to know why your cat licks your face while you sleep? In this article by Animal Expert - Why does my cat lick my face when I sleep? - Let's explain why your kitten does this, a behavior that combines the affection he feels for you with one of his most characteristic behaviors: self-cleaning.
Why do cats lick themselves?
While cats do not have a reputation for affectionate animals, they are known to be very clean. So anyone who has watched a cat for a while will likely notice that it cleans up carefully. Run your tongue first over one paw, then over the other to wet it so you can clean the fur, starting with the face, following the legs, the body and ending with the tail.
The tongue of cats is rough because this facilitates this important cleaning, not only to remove dirt, but also to keep the coat in good condition to fulfill its functions of protection and isolation from high and low temperatures. If, during this process, the cat finds any residue or dirt adhered to it, it will use its teeth to nibble and remove it.
This whole feline ritual is known as self-cleaning. However, cats not only lick themselves, they also present the cleaning behavior of others, which is what will explain why your cat licks your face when you sleep. There are many reasons why cats lick themselves, but below, we'll explain what other people's cleaning behavior really is.
The cats' cleaning of others
In the same way cats clean themselves, they also clean other cats. These cleaning behaviors have their roots at the time kittens are born, as from the beginning of their lives, their mother starts to clean them with their own tongue, and they only start taking care of their own cleaning when they are approximately three weeks old. deity.
The hygiene that the mother maintains with her children reinforces the social bond and familiar among all, and if they stay together, it will be a behavior they will maintain for a lifetime. We will also see this behavior in cats that live together, regardless of age.
Other people's cleaning explains why your cat licks your face when you sleep, as it is part of this behavior that he regularly performs. That means he consider you your family and that, as such, takes care of you, as this behavior, instead of being focused on hygiene, reinforces the bonds. Learn more about other people's cleaning in the following video:
The cleanliness of humans
Now that the self-cleaning and cleaning behaviors of others have been identified, let's explain why the cat licks your face when you sleep. First of all, it is necessary to know that for them, the human being is a kind of big cat that gives them the same care that the mother offered in the beginning of their lives. Our caresses are like the caresses she used with her tongue in the puppies.
No matter how old or independent a cat is, in your presence it becomes a kitten again, due to the domestication process on which we base our relationship with these cats. When your cat wants to clean you up, he is faced with the problem of height difference. That's why he often rubs against your legs and makes little jumps, trying to get closer to your face. If you are asleep, he will take the opportunity to lick your face and will be motivated to do so, as you are in a moment of special relaxation, which is what he feels during the cleaning of others.
Also, this behavior allows the exchange of odors, very important, considering the role that smell plays in the cat's life. The mixture between his body odor and yours will reinforce the familiar feeling you the cat feels with you. Finally, it is necessary to know that while cleaning someone else, it is possible that your cat will give you a light bite, as we have seen, it uses its teeth when it finds dirt during cleaning. Does your cat bite you too? It's probably for this reason, but it's important to distinguish between these bites and those that can be sudden or aggressive, which we should avoid diverting our cat's attention.
Displacement cleaning
You've already figured out why your cat licks your face when you sleep. As we've already said, it's normal behavior and, moreover, it's a sign of affection and trust towards you. However, if you notice that your cat does this in an exaggerated way, such as out of anxiety, you may be experiencing a behavior of displacement cleaning, which is the one performed precisely to calm a state of stress in the cat. In these cases, you may also notice other behaviors, such as the cat licking clothes or sucking fabric.
In this case, you must find the causes that are bothering your cat to solve them. Veterinary examination can rule out a physical source, and if it is a behavioral disorder that you cannot resolve, the guardian should ask for help from a ethologist or feline behavior expert.