I have often observed a cat just walking along when suddenly the kitty would stop and start licking themselves, as if they had just remembered that this was something they needed to do.
Licking themselves seems to be something cats do. Lions, Tigers, and our Domestic Cats all do this.
I would think they have a reason each time they engage in this activity. In this blog post, we will reveal what some of those reasons might be.
7 Reasons Cats Might Lick Themselves
1. They want to groom themselves
I am convinced that our cats take pride in themselves. I believe they are proud of their intelligence, their athletic grace, and their appearance. They want to look good.
Have you ever noticed that if you mess up a kitty’s fur when you pet them, they might lick their hair back in place? This seems to me a little bit like a human stopping in front of a mirror to comb their hair.
Since cats spend as much as 30 to 50% of their day in the act of grooming,[1] we might conclude their pride borders on vanity.
Your kitty may enjoy having you occasionally groom them. How to Deal With Cat Hair is my blog post that will give you some tips on this.
2. They need to clean a specific area on themselves
I don’t think of this as the same as grooming. One example I can think of is when a particle of food might land on them, they will typically rectify that situation immediately. You know, like brushing yourself off.
Back when we used to let some of our cats go outside, I was always amazed at how clean they always were. If they get dirty, they wash off immediately.
And do you remember as a child being told to clean-up before supper? Cats also clean-up after supper.
3. They want to cool themselves
A study[2] found that the cat tongue can deposit moisture underneath their fur onto their skin, and it is suggested that the evaporation of this moisture has a cooling effect similar to what happens when humans sweat and are cooled off as the sweat evaporates.
Since cats cannot sweat the way humans do, this seems like a clever adaptation, although I have my doubts that this is a big deal with cats. I think they prefer shade and a nice breeze to cool off.
I have a blog post Does My Cat Like To Be Warm or Cool? that you might enjoy reading.
4. A flea or some other bug bit them
I have seen this many times. It is a quick reaction similar to a human slapping a mosquito.
First there is a biting action, followed by a licking action, and it’s goodbye bug.
5. They are upset about something
A human who is feeling stress might consume a carton of ice cream. A cat might also go for the ice cream if they could figure out how to open the freezer door. Or they might just lick themselves.
Cats most definitely can become stressed. They dislike change and they certainly have things they fear.
If the licking becomes long term and/or obsessive, this should be cause for concern.
My blog post How to Relax Your Cat may be helpful to you.
6. They have a wound
You may be familiar with the phrase “licking one’s wounds”.
Licking a wound is something many animals, including cats, tend to do. This is generally not a good thing, as it could promote infection.
An infected wound is something that calls for an immediate veterinary visit.
7. They have a skin outbreak
One of any number of skin problems could cause your cat to lick themself.
The Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell University has published a very good article on this subject.
If you suspect your kitty is experiencing something like this, you should take your cat to the vet.
Do You Want To Know More About Why Cats Do What They Do?
Learn About Cats is my blog post that offers a wealth of information about these amazing cats.
References
[1] Cats that Lick too Much, article published by the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
[2] Cats use hollow papillae to wick moisture into fur, Alexis C. Noel and David L. Hu, Georgia Institute of Technology