Why Do Cats Lick Each Other?
Why do cats lick each other? It’s not just a playful game! In fact, it may have important physiological and social benefits. Licking each other is a sign that cats are socially bonding. Smell transfer is an important component of social bonding, so your cat should be happy to interact with other cats. Read on to discover the reasons behind this behavior. Here are a few reasons why cats lick each other.
Dominant cat behaviour
In the wild, cats maintain a territory, and they do the same in our homes. This is most obvious when a dominant cat chases another cat, growling and swatting at intruders. Some tomcats even engage in combat with other males, a behaviour that comes from the desire to dominate other males for mating purposes. In these cases, a dominant cat may lick the other cat to mark its territory.
If a dominant cat tries to assert its dominance, you should take action immediately. The more you delay, the harder it will be to break this behavior. In a multiple-cat household, the dominant cat may urinate in areas frequented by other cats or push them out of a food bowl. It may also target sick cats in the house. It’s important to understand why a dominant cat acts out aggressively in this situation, because cats can sense the changes in another cat even before their owners do.
Social bonding
Cats lick each other for many reasons, including social bonding. Some cats lick one another to keep themselves clean and a few cats lick each other simply to show affection. Cats lick each other in a variety of ways, including rubbing their faces and ears, but there is a more obvious reason for this behavior. It’s believed that cats who lick each other are closer to each other than those who do not.
Besides keeping themselves clean, cats lick each other to form close bonds with other cats and strengthen their families. Not only do cats lick each other for social bonding purposes, they also lick themselves to rid themselves of odor and bacteria. Cats also lick one another to signal health problems and help them get along. Mothers of kittens lick their babies to protect them from predators, and cats in one household may lick to show acceptance. Cats also lick each other to establish dominance and reinforce the social hierarchy.
Smell transfer
Why do cats lick each other? The reason is simple: cats have an extremely sensitive sense of smell. As such, when cats meet one another, they usually approach each other’s face or neck to sniff them. Their facial and neck glands secrete similar chemicals, which enables them to pick up other cats’ smells. For example, a cat can detect the presence of fear by sniffing a human’s face, and vice versa.
The licking of domestic cats is a way of showing trust and dominance. The act of grooming also allows them to share their group scent with other members, strengthening their group membership. Unlike dogs and humans, cats cannot see as well as humans, so they rely on smell as a means of recognizing each other. Hence, it’s not surprising that cats lick each other to convey a message.
Health signs
Cats will lick each other to soothe themselves. But sometimes, excessive licking signals a health issue. If your cat licks at something that hurts or is damaged, you should visit your veterinarian. It could be a wound or a symptom of a disease. Read on to learn about some of the most common reasons your cat licks. There are also ways to make the problem go away!
If your cat licks a specific area frequently, there may be a problem. While it might be nothing more than a plant awn or a burr in their hair, excessive licking can indicate something more serious. If your cat refuses to groom itself, it could be a sign of illness or infection. In some cases, a cat licks inanimate objects, such as the lunch meat wrapper or plastic. If this behavior is excessive or is uncontrollable, consult your veterinarian.
