Why Does my Cat Lick Me?

Petside.com ^ | April 6, 2012 | Jo Singer

[Slings and Arrows]

When a cat jumps into your lap, settles in, relaxes and shortly thereafter starts licking your face, you have just received the feline version of a huge compliment. Since this behavior is an expression of deep affection and trust, it is truly a moment for cat guardians to treasure.

-snip-

[O]ne of the most common questions asked by folks who live with felines is, “What does it mean when my cat licks me?”

-snip-

As social beings, cats lick each other for a variety of reasons. As newborn kittens, their very first worldly experience is being licked clean by their mother and as they get older, for grooming. Kittens groom one another, and adult cats who are not related, but get along well who get along often spend considerable time grooming one another.

If you have ever watched cats licking one other, it’s obvious that the cats receive great enjoyment from the tactile sensation of a rough, moist tongue grooming their bodies. It is not only pleasant and calming, while exchanging their scents, mutual licking helps to build and maintain close bonds.

-snip-

But even the most passionate cat lovers don’t lick their kitties to return the favor. Instead, we pet them. The sensation cats feel, as we gently stroke their fur, may in fact resemble their mother’s loving touch. Of course there are some of us who do sniff our kitties, since the scent of a healthy cat is delightfully subtle to feline connoisseurs. But don’t knock cat-sniffing until you try it.

[Cowboy Bob]

“What does it mean when my cat licks me?”

What does it mean when a dog sticks it's nose in your crotch?

[mardi59]

LOL I’m the head chef! :)

[Not A Snowbird]

It’s weird. Her twin sister couldn’t care less.

They’re so different!

[Isabel C.]

Who the hell cares?

Cat owners, that's who the hell cares. Why are you even on this thread?

[School of Rational Thought]

pussy licking is natural.

[raccoonradio]

Cause you just had a tuna sandwich?

[raccoonradio]

(Saturday Night Live)
DON PARDO: “And now, Weekend Update, with the Weekend Update news team. Brought to you by...Pussy Whip. The first dessert topping for cats.”

[zeugma]

I always figured my cat was tasting me to decide whether or not to let me live another day.

[livius]

If a cat licks its shoulder, that’s supposedly a sign of hostility. So watch out.

[righttackle44]

When your cat licks you, remember that he or she may have just killed mice and eaten, squirrels, insects including crickets, and other small mammals and birds.

So--is your cat licking you? Or tasting you?

If you are home alone with your cat, and you feel something drag you down by your heels, be afraid. Be VERY afraud.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

When a cat jumps into your lap, settles in, relaxes and shortly thereafter starts licking your face...

Was that before or after it, er, um, 'cleaned' itself.

Personally, I would never let an animal that licks its own butt, lick my face.

[aruanan]

[O]ne of the most common questions asked by folks who live with felines is, “What does it mean when my cat licks me?”

Because you taste like cat butt?

[bgill]

Anytime I settle in my chair for tv watching, mine immediately curls up on me and proceeds to lick my face like crazy. She won’t stop until I make her and then a second later, she starts it up again. We’re in a constant battle of lick, stop it!, lick, enough already!, lick, you’re cute but really!, lick, lick, lick, lick, lick, lick.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

To get that butt taste out of his mouth.

Exactly.

[wordsofearnest]

Because he ain’t big enough to eat you.

[Churchillspirit]

This is really cheating but if you want your cat to lick you scratch him right where the tail joins the body and put your other arm between his mouth and the rest of his body.

I use "him" not "her" because the voluntary "lickers" among my cats have all been boys.

[justiceseeker93]

What breed would the cats shown in the posted video be? Seems as if they have unusual contours of their heads, more elongated than the garden variety “domestic” cat.

And what about the author of the posted piece giving her cat the noble title “Sir” as part of his name? Is that common?

[xrmusn]

I use “him” not “her” because the voluntary “lickers” among my cats have all been boys.
= = = = = == = == = = = == = = == = = = = = =
‘Cat’ (her name), whom I have served since she was about 7 mo old, became an avid licker, I would have to force her to stop.
Now that she is gone (couple of weeks now), I am sorry I stopped her from doing something she obviously enjoyed.

I did get a substitute, a 6 month old black - boots and a white swatch on his belly. Must have been selected by Cat cause this little terror seems intent on keeping me busy enough to forget her...it wlll never fully happen etc..

[Churchillspirit]

Sorry to hear that you lost Cat. She obviously loved you very much.

We never forget the kitties that have blessed our lives....they live on in our memories.

[JoeFromSidney]

I awakened one morning feeling what I thought was my wife scratching my back. But no, one of my cats had crawled under the cover and was grooming my back. Yeah, I know it's hairy, but I thought that was a bit much. Now he just grooms my arms while he's sitting on my lap.