Understanding Your Cat’s Behavior
A cat’s tongue is one of its greatest assets. The tongue is often covered with something called papillae. These are curved spines that cats use to groom themselves.
Cats spend thirty to fifty per cent of their day cleaning their fur. This is done by licking their owners. Do they have time to lick their owners if they spend so much time cleaning?
We assume that cats are showing us how much they love us by licking us. This is not always the case. It might feel like you are being rubbed by your cat’s tongue. It is not always a pleasant feeling.
Is it a sign of concern that your cat is still licking you?
Why does it hurt when a cat licks your skin?
Your cat’s tongue is designed for removing dirt and hair as well as thorough cleaning. This means that your tongue can actually remove some hairs from you skin. This ability is provided by the tongue’s papillae.
The papillae has some sort of hooks made with keratin facing backward, the same material that makes the cat’s claws strong. The papillae also help to separate fur and get to the skin to remove dirt. This is why you feel so sick when your cat licks your skin.
You might be bitten by your cat for the following reasons:
Stress, anxiety, and/or pain
Cats can sometimes lick their owners when they are anxious, stressed, or in pain. Sometimes excessive licking is not a sign of distress, but it can also be an indication that the cat is trying help with anxiety, stress, and/or pain.
Sometimes, your cat may start to lick you more often when you move into a new home or experience a change of environment. You should not be concerned about the cat licking your skin, but it is important to keep an eye on its behavior.
The licking might get aggressive to a point that it’s quite painful on your skin. The cat may also aggressively groom itself until it develops bald spots. You should consult a veterinarian to address this behavior.
Territorium marking
Your cat may sometimes lick you or other animals to mark its territory. To ensure other cats don’t get their scent, cats will leave their lick marks to mark their territory.
Your cat might lick her kittens to prove that they are hers. To mark its territory, your cat may also lick you.
If you have cats from different litters, or sibling cats who get along well, you’ll see them licking one another. This is an indication of social bonding. The cat will also lick you in this way.
Weaning before Time
Some cats may have been left behind by their mothers, or they might have been weaned before it was ready for them to wean. This causes cats to have a strong urge to lick.
This happens because the cat didn’t get enough milk from its mother and they have no choice but to start licking other people and themselves. They seek comfort from the mother’s nursing.
This is not a reason your cat is licking your face. You can help your cat socialize with other cats to make sure it has options.
Grooming
Sometimes cats will lick their owners to groom themselves. Even though they don’t know that licking your face is not a way to clean you, they are still doing what they were born to do.
Their mothers would lick their kittens when they were young to show them how to groom them. They do this to bond and show affection to the kittens.
This means that your cat is trying to groom and lick you as if it were its mother. It might also be trying to show you some affection, include you into its membership – if they are more than one cat, and help you understand its secret language.
Tasting
Your cat might be licking you because you have an unusual taste in your skin. This could be from a spilled beverage or something you may have touched. This can cause your cat to continue licking you until the taste is gone.
It is important to remember that cats are one of the few mammals that have a very poor sense for taste.
Conclusion
Although a cat may not mean any harm by licking your skin, it can cause irritation to your skin. You might need a way to make sure the cat doesn’t lick your skin.
You can give your dog a warm massage whenever it starts to lick you. This will show affection, groom the cat and build a bond. It will also stop the cat from licking your face.
