The 6 Most Common Reasons Behind Your Cat's Tongue Baths

We all know cats love to lick. It's cute when our kitten gives us a kiss on the nose with her tiny, velvety tongue. But when your cat keeps licking you, it's irritating and uncomfortable.

Why does your cat lick you, and why is it that your cat's grooming behavior seems to break the rules of what is considered a good or appropriate pet behavior? Unfortunately, cat language can be difficult to decipher. But in this article, we'll explore why cats lick their human companions. We will also examine what a licking cat can mean.

If your cat constantly licks you, there may be a reason behind it. Here are six of the most common reasons why cats lick people.

1. Your Cat Shows You Affection

Your kitty might be licking your face because she feels completely at ease with you and considers you part of her family. This behavior is similar to how a mother cat grooms her kittens in their first weeks of life. Now, the roles are reversed, and your kitty is showing you affection the best way she knows how—by licking your face.

2. Cats May Demand Attention

If your cat becomes bored or lonely, she may begin licking you obsessively. Licking is a form of communication and could be telling you that she wants to play with you or be petted. However, in some cases, this behavior can be a sign of stress or separation anxiety.

If your cat is licking you or her own body excessively, it may be a sign that she’s stressed. Talk to your vet about scheduling a wellness exam if the excessive licking is interfering with your daily life.

3. Cats Mark Their Territory

Cats will lick objects (and sometimes your face) to mark them as their own, leaving their scent on you to establish you as “hers.” Mama cats will do the same with their kittens, and friendly cats who get along well with one another will often lick one another to bond socially.

4. Grooming

When your cat licks your face, it may be because she wants to clean you. Although bathing in cat saliva doesn’t sound that clean, this grooming helps create a bond between pet and owner. In the wild, cats who are part of the same group will often lick one another to form tighter bonds. Face licking just means that your pet considers you part of her pride.

5. A Human Pacifier

Kittens who were taken away from or abandoned by their mother before they were eight weeks old may develop an oral fixation. This can be a result of not getting the appropriate amount of time to suckle, and licking can be a soothing substitute.

6. She Finds You Tasty

If you’ve ever noticed your cat licking your sweat off of you (doesn’t everyone?), and wondered what might be going through her fuzzy little brain, rest assured that it really could be because she loves the taste of salt and protein you’re secreting.

When your kitty licks you, she may be enjoying the taste of your sweat or salt from a spill on your arm.

How to Stop Your Cat from Constantly Licking

Stopping your cat from licking excessively can be a challenge. The behavior is a sign of affection, so stopping it could damage your relationship with your pet.

The best way to prevent your cat from licking is to stop her before she starts. If she licks your face, move away from her and give her a nice petting instead. Similarly, if she licks you while you are holding her, release her immediately and praise her for doing something else instead or some favorite treats for your cat. After a few times of this treatment, your cat will begin to associate licking with the absence of your attention as opposed to the presence of it.