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Why Does my Cat Lick Me?
Petside.com ^ | April 6, 2012 | Jo Singer

Posted on 08/17/2012 12:40:58 PM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at petside.com ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: cats; kitties; kittyping
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To: Slings and Arrows
“What does it mean when my cat licks me?”

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

41 posted on 08/17/2012 1:15:07 PM PDT by Cowboy Bob (Greed + Envy = Liberalism)
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To: dfwgator

LOL I’m the head chef! :)


42 posted on 08/17/2012 1:15:07 PM PDT by mardi59 (THE REBELLION IS ON!!! LET THE GAMES BEGIN!)
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To: knittnmom

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

They’re so different!


43 posted on 08/17/2012 1:16:49 PM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Eat Mor Chikin!)
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To: BubbaBasher
Who the hell cares?

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

44 posted on 08/17/2012 1:20:11 PM PDT by Isabel C.
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To: Slings and Arrows

pussy licking is natural.


45 posted on 08/17/2012 1:20:53 PM PDT by School of Rational Thought (Fun for women ages 21 through 35)
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To: Yashcheritsiy

Cause you just had a tuna sandwich?


46 posted on 08/17/2012 1:24:09 PM PDT by raccoonradio (")
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To: School of Rational Thought

(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.”


47 posted on 08/17/2012 1:26:02 PM PDT by raccoonradio (")
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To: Slings and Arrows

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


48 posted on 08/17/2012 1:26:55 PM PDT by zeugma (Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.)
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To: zeugma

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


49 posted on 08/17/2012 1:27:57 PM PDT by livius
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To: Slings and Arrows
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.
50 posted on 08/17/2012 1:28:20 PM PDT by righttackle44 (I may not be much, but I raised a United States Marine.)
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To: Slings and Arrows
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.

51 posted on 08/17/2012 1:36:59 PM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (People should not be afraid of the government. Government should be afraid of the people)
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To: Slings and Arrows
[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?
52 posted on 08/17/2012 1:38:12 PM PDT by aruanan
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To: rockinqsranch

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.


53 posted on 08/17/2012 1:40:24 PM PDT by bgill
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To: Clay Moore
To get that butt taste out of his mouth.

Exactly.

54 posted on 08/17/2012 1:48:06 PM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (People should not be afraid of the government. Government should be afraid of the people)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Because he ain’t big enough to eat you.


55 posted on 08/17/2012 1:49:28 PM PDT by wordsofearnest (Proper aim of giving is to put the recipient in a state where he no longer needs it. C.S. Lewis)
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To: rockinqsranch
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.

56 posted on 08/17/2012 2:08:48 PM PDT by Churchillspirit (9/11/2001. NEVER FORGET.)
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To: Slings and Arrows; LucyT; Yaelle; All

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?


57 posted on 08/17/2012 2:24:10 PM PDT by justiceseeker93
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To: Churchillspirit

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..


58 posted on 08/17/2012 2:26:43 PM PDT by xrmusn (6/98 "It is virtually impossible to clean the pond as long as the pigs are still crapping in it")
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To: xrmusn
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.

59 posted on 08/17/2012 2:44:53 PM PDT by Churchillspirit (9/11/2001. NEVER FORGET.)
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To: Slings and Arrows
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.
60 posted on 08/17/2012 2:51:58 PM PDT by JoeFromSidney ( New book: RESISTANCE TO TYRANNY. Buy from Amazon.)
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