Cats partake in a lot of puzzling behaviors. Spend one night with a kitty, and you’ll know just how strange they can be when they start zipping around the house at 3 am like they’re being chased by gremlins. Thankfully, not all their behavior is completely unexplainable. Show
One strange behavior that we do have some explanations for is when your cat starts licking themselves after you’ve touched them. As offensive as it may seem at first that they’re trying to get any remnants of your touch cleaned off their skin, it’s not that simple. Keep reading to find five potential reasons why your kitty is grooming themselves after you’ve petted them. The 5 Reasons Why Cats Lick Themselves After You Pet ThemIf he immediately launches into a grooming session after you’re done petting him, it may be that you’ve chosen to pet your cat during a time he would be grooming himself. Cats spend up to 50% of their day grooming themselves. Not only do they groom themselves to stay clean, but they do so for other health reasons such as body temperature regulation, circulation stimulation, and displacement behavior if they’re feeling embarrassed or anxious. Even if your petting session is comforting for your kitty, you may find him cleaning himself afterward because you interrupted his scheduled groom. Image Credit: Kittisak Chysree, ShutterstockGrooming isn’t just for hygiene or health purposes. It also provides a feel-good sensation to a cat by stimulating the release of endorphins. Cats participate in grooming as a social behavior, too. Social grooming is sometimes known as “allogrooming” and is a bonding behavior where cats lick each other. Mama cats lick their babies from the moment they are born to clean them and stimulate them to breathe. So when your cat starts licking himself after you’ve petted him, he might be self-soothing, recreating that bonding experience from when he was a kitten. Image Credit: Ilona Koeleman, Shutterstock As much as it pains every cat lover to hear, not every cat loves to be petted. Even cats who do usually like pets don’t always want your love and attention. Sometimes the sensation of petting can feel overstimulating. Some cats might let you know they’re not into your pets by trying to bite you, but others may react to this overstimulation by grooming. Image Credit: Anna Hoychuk, ShutterstockAnother possible reason your kitty licks himself after getting pets is that he has a sore or itchy spot on his skin. When you touch that area, the skin irritation might start tingling or itching, which your cat tries to soothe by grooming himself. If you notice him licking at the same spot every time you pet him, you might want to have your vet give him a once-over to rule out any skin conditions. Fleas, mites, or allergies can cause itchy skin, so it’s best to make an appointment with your vet to ensure there’s nothing nefarious causing the itchiness. Image Credit: TeamK, PixabayFeline hyperesthesia syndrome is a condition that causes a cat’s skin to become hypersensitive. It’s also sometimes known as twitchy cat disease, which should provide you with some insight as to what the symptoms of this condition are. If your cat has hyperesthesia, your pets could be causing them discomfort and pain that they try to mitigate by grooming themselves. Final ThoughtsIt should be a relief to know that your kitty isn’t trying to wash your scent off them if they start grooming themselves after you’ve petted them. Pay close attention to how and where they’re licking themselves, and you should be able to determine the reason they’re doing it. Featured Image credit: Elya Vatel, Shutterstock PetPartners, Inc. is an indirect corporate affiliate of PetPlace.com. PetPlace may be compensated when you click on or make a purchase using the links in this article. Some cats pretty much never seem to lick and other cats lick all the time. Cat lovers sometimes ask questions about why do cats lick and try to determine when cat licking is normal and when the licking is abnormal. Cat licking is a part of the normal maternal instinct and grooming behaviors, however, these behaviors can become excessive and abnormal. The answer to the question if cat licking is abnormal depends on if the behavior is new, if the licking appears to be part of the normal grooming behaviors, or if the licking is associated with an underlying behavioral or medical problem. First, let’s look at why cats lick. Understanding Normal Cats Licking and GroomingA normal healthy cat will lick to keep him/herself relatively clean. Most cats are fastidious and spend a significant amount of time grooming. The amount of time per day cats groom can vary substantially from cat to cat but studies suggest that cats spend approximately 15 percent of their time grooming.
Focused LickingThe biggest concern about cat licking is when it is excessive or focused on a particular area. Below is information on various causes of cat-licking behaviors that may be focused on one area or object. Licking youAs kittens learn to groom themselves, they may also allogroom which means they lick and groom cats close to them. This behavior can extend to us, after all in many cases we are the kittens or cats surrogate parents, right? Learn more about Why Do Cats Lick You? Licking lipsLicking lips or lip smacking in cats can be a sign of nausea. Some cats will lick their lips just prior to the act of vomiting. Lip licking in cats is a big concern if your cat is not eating, vomiting, and/or acting lethargic. Learn more about What it Means When Your Cat is Smacking Her Lips and Nausea in Cats. Licking furSome cats will excessively lick their fur. This can be due to normal grooming procedures or be caused by parasite infestation such as fleas, from injuries such as bite wounds, or from skin infections. Another reason cats may excessively lick an area is to comfort themselves. For example, if we hurt our wrist, we may rub it. Cats may lick at a wound or a sore area in an attempt to comfort that area. Sometimes the area may be a wound or it could be over an area that is painful. For example, some cats will excessively lick the fur on their abdomens over the location of the bladder when they have bladder pain and urinary problems or lick their carpus (wrist area) after an injury. Physiologically, the licking may have some benefit in that it can increase circulation and aid wound healing. However, when the licking is excessive, it can create wounds and delay healing. Learn more about this – go to My Cat is Licking Her Fur Off, What Do I Do? Licking genitalsOne of the biggest concerns about cat licking is when it is a new behavior and involves excessive licking of the genital area. It is normal for cats to lick the genital area as part of the normal grooming process. However, excessive licking can be a concern because of life-threatening urinary problems that can affect cats. Cats with feline urinary obstructions or urinary tract infections may excessively lick their genitals and can be one of the first signs a cat owner notices. If you notice that your cat is excessively licking at the genital area, closely monitor for other signs of problems such as not eating or straining to urinate. Are the piles of urine in the litter box the same size or are they smaller? Smaller balls of urine in the litter box can be a sign of a problem. Any abnormalities should warrant an immediate visit to your veterinarian or closest veterinary emergency clinic. Licking woundsA common sign of a wound is a cat licking at a certain area. The most common type of wound is a bite wound or abscess. If you notice that your cat is focusing on and licking a certain area, look at that area to determine if there is an underlying problem. Sometimes it can be something minor like a small burr in their hair or a plant awn to something more serious like a wound or bite wound. Licking plastic bagsSome cats will lick inanimate objects such as metal or plastic. This can be caused by something simple such as the juice on a lunch meat wrapper to a behavioral fetish. Learn more about the interesting reason Why is My Cat Licking Plastic? When Cat Licking is ExcessiveIf your cat is licking particular areas and the behavior is new, examine that part of their body. Look for any signs of external parasites such as fleas or signs of infection such as redness, swelling, or discharge from the skin. Please call your veterinarian to have your cat examined if you notice a problem. When Cats Quit Licking Equals a ProblemNormal healthy cats spend anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of their time grooming. Grooming is a good barometer of overall health. Cats that don’t feel well will often quit grooming. Some cat owners and veterinarians notice the lack of grooming at one of the first signs of a medical problem. The hair will often appear matted with dandruff. What You Can Do About Cat LickingIf your cat is having normal grooming behaviors, let them be. If you believe it is abnormal, please see your veterinarian to determine the underlying problem. Some cats enjoy being groomed. Brushing or combing your cat daily can enhance your bond and help avoid hair mats. Brushing your cat can also prevent them from ingesting hair and getting hairballs. Additional Articles that May Be of Interest About Cat LickingWhy Do Cats Lick You? |