Content
- show affection
- Strengthen social bonds
- Because you know it well!
- To mark the territory
- Why does my cat lick my hair?
- Why do cats suck on the blanket?
Everyone knows that cats are some of the cleanest animals around. They spend their lives licking themselves to be very clean. These licks are sometimes offered to their tutors as well. Has your cat ever given you one of these little kisses?
Tutors often ask themselves, why does my cat lick me? This behavior can be a show of affection, an attempt to strengthen social bonds or even to mark territory. PeritoAnimal will explain everything to you properly!
show affection
Most of the time, cats lick to demonstrate how much love their tutors. These licks demonstrate what they can't put into words: "Thanks for everything you do for me, you're the best human in the world."
Since a puppy, the cat was licked by his mother, not only for hygiene reasons but also as a demonstration of affection and affection. For that reason, getting licked by your feline is one of 10 signs that your cat loves you.
Strengthen social bonds
From kittens, cats interact with their mother with licks. Every day their mother licks them and as time goes by she also starts licking her little brothers.
It's very common to see two adult cats taking care of each other's hygiene through licking and this strengthens social bonds from them!
The same applies to you! If your cat is licking you, he is accepting you as "one of his" and is taking care of you and showing that he loves you, strengthening your social bond.
Because you know it well!
Have you been handling food? Or did you put on a cream with a very nice smell? That could be why your cat licks you! you are tasty!
Cats' rough tongue is adept at detecting flavors! Many cats love the taste of some soap and that's why they love to lick their handlers as soon as they come out of the bath.
Another reason is the salty taste of human skin! Some cats are very attracted to the salty taste.
To mark the territory
Cats don't just mark territory with pee! Licking is also a way of marking. If your cat licks you, it might mean "Hey, human! You're beautiful and mine alone! Okay?"
The cats, too, lick their puppies so that they can smell her and the other animals know they belong to her.
If your kitten licks you often, this could be a reason for everyone to know that you are his alone!
Why does my cat lick my hair?
Some cats have a slightly weird habit: lick hair! If you have a case like this at home, be aware that the reason could be exactly one of the previous ones we indicated. Also, it could mean that he thinks you have dirty hair and is helping you clean it.
The keratinized papillae of the rough tongue of cats, in addition to detecting flavors, are very useful for removing dirt from surfaces. Just as the cat cleans itself and other feline companions, it can be cleaning you too. Your cat considers you to be from his social group and by cleaning you, he is trying to improve your relationship.
Read our article on why my cat licks my hair to find out all about it.
Why do cats suck on the blanket?
If your cat licks, bites or sucks on foreign objects, such as the blanket, this is anomalous behavior. This syndrome is called "pica" and can affect cats, humans, rats and other species.
There are many house cats with these habits. There is still no sure explanation as to why this behavior is occurring, but existing studies indicate that there may be a genetic component. For many years it was believed that this behavior resulted from an early separation from the mother. However, today, studies indicate that this is not the main cause.
If your cat has this behavior and you would like to know why cats suck on the blanket, read our article on this subject.
