"Love You,” (CC-BY-SA) by Doryana02
Posted on 03/03/2015 3:50:18 PM PST by Slings and Arrows
Today’s weird science question comes from Kendraw:
“My cat is obsessed with licking me. She will tolerate pets, but what she really wants to do when she needs attention is to lick me anywhere she can get skin. She won't lick my face, thank goodness, but my arm, elbow, and hand are fair game! She will literally hold me down in her paws and clean me. And it's not just a few licks; she gets quite thorough about it. I've tried bitter spray. No luck. I know it’s a sign of affection, but is there any way I can gently get her to stop?”
Well, Kendraw, you’ve got a question and I’ve got some answers. First I’ll talk about why cats lick, and then I’ll give you some tips on how to persuade your cat that there are much more awesome options than grooming you until your skin is raw.
Kittens groom each other, and older cats who aren’t related but get along well also spend time grooming one another. Often they’ll get the spots that are hard for a cat to reach by themselves, such as the top of the head and inside the ears. Exchanging scents through grooming also increases the bond between a pair of cats. (One Catster writer documented her attempt at licking her cat back.)
A tongue bath from your cat is an indication that she feels totally safe in your presence. You are truly a member of her family, and she reinforces that by cleaning you like her mother cleaned her when she was a kitten.
Your kitty's tongue feels like sandpaper because it’s covered with papillae -- backward-facing hooks made of keratin, the same material that makes your kitty’s claws. The papillae help cats rasp meat off bones, and they also assist in grooming by acting like a comb to pull out loose fur and dirt.
Some cats get so stressed that they begin licking compulsively. (One mysterious condition is called feline hyperesthesia.) Cats who lick themselves bald are often trying to comfort themselves because they’re stressed. Other compulsive kitties might lick and suck on fabric, plastic, or even your skin.
Learn the signs that your cat is about to start licking. Before she starts washing your arm raw, redirect her attention with a toy. If your cat likes catnip, slip a catnip-filled kicker toy in front of her when she’s about to lick you. If she’s not a catnip fan, try a treat-dispensing toy instead.
Play is always good. It keeps your cat fit and trim, and it strengthens the bond between you. Not only that, but the chemicals released during exercise help your cat to relax and feel content.
It’s not easy to retrain a cat who has gotten used to performing a habitual behavior such as licking. Remember to stay gentle and avoid yelling or intense physical reactions like shoving your cat, tossing her off your lap, or (heaven forbid) hitting her.
I read that it was salt on your skin that made them lick you.
It’s part of their being adorable. :’)
Could be worse. There are less subtle hints. ;^)
Thought they were taste testing me to see what I will taste like when they kill me.
For the longest while his tongue has been smooth, which tickled me even more.
I learned a ton I never knew about kittens just by hand raising them... It was extra gnarly when their adult canines started coming in... Double fanged beasts! Also never knew how newborn kittens need to be stimulated (normally momma licking their junk) to get them to excrete waste... I am so happy that only lasted 5 weeks or so.
“”I think my cat uses licking as a distraction before she bites!!!! HARD!””
That’s what I’ve found with a cat our daughter left with us when she got married. Her husband had two cats and they couldn’t mix them for some reason. I know when this cat reaches out and grabs my hand, he is going to smell it six ways from Sunday and then he’s going to bite it. I learned not to trust him and immediately pull my hands back when he’s reaching for them. Even when I willingly try to pet him, he has to smell the hand first and then it means the bite. I have my husband, daughter, son in law and grandson all saying, “He just wants your attention.” I know what that means and they don’t...
This one had a brother who bit my husband and he ended up in the hospital for four days 8 years ago. My husband; not the cat. That one died a couple of years later so we’re left with just the one which suits me just fine.
One of our cats likes to lick my hand when she’s curled up in my lap.
The cat is only taste testing you to see if you are ready to eat.
I know what you mean here, but it was funny as hell to read!
My dearly departed insane Siamese Loco loved to groom my head when I would pick him up. He would wrap his front paws around my head and give me a thorough licking.
Luckily I had a small amount of hair on top back then. It would be painful now. Did not do anything like it with my wife or anyone else, I just had the funk I guess and needed cleaning? Our indoor kitties now just give us a quick one-two kiss now and then when they are in the mood.
:)
(9) To get that butt taste out of its mouth.
Less insulting that the other way around.
Ceiling Cat’s gonna get you for that one!
People think cats are inscrutable. Cats think that Siamese cats are inscrutable.
“In Soviet Union, [cat] licks you!”
Purrr-rrrrrr. (Think Catbert, Evil director of Human-Resources.)
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