Reviewed by Dr. Sarah Yosry
Updated on 1/3/2025
Reading time 3 min.
Overview
Severity: Low
Life stage: All
Cats are curious animals; sometimes, they want to get a closer look at what you’re up to. Cats can be pretty adorable when trying to be cute. But if your cat keeps licking you or scratching at your face, it might mean something more serious than just curiosity is involved. Here’s why:
Why Do Cats Lick You?
Cats lick to show affection. When you pet your cat, it will often lick you or your hand. This is a sign of affection and trust. If a cat is uncomfortable with the situation (for example, if the person holding its food is unfamiliar), it may lick to show its displeasure at being handled by someone new or unfamiliar with them.
Cats also use licking for self-grooming purposes: they’ll often put their tongues inside their mouths when grooming themselves on objects like furniture legs or posts to clean out any debris stuck between them!
This behavior also serves as an early warning system; if something isn’t right with whatever object it’s licking, there might be something wrong nearby too!
Is It Normal for Cats to Lick You?
Yes, it’s normal for cats to lick you. Cats use their tongues to clean themselves and groom themselves, but they also use them to show affection. They’ll often lick you when you’re sick or injured to help heal you faster.
Cats also use licks as a way of bonding with humans. Suppose your cat feels insecure about something, such as being separated from another family member or being placed in a new environment (like a shelter). In that case, he may be likelier to try and show love by licking his owner instead of acting out aggressively or defensively.
Is It Safe to Let Your Cat Lick You?
It’s important to know that your cat has a good sense of smell. He can tell when you’ve been sick or have had too much fun, and he’ll use this information to his advantage if you’re not careful.
Cats are clean animals who prefer to lick themselves rather than get dirty by licking the dirt off their fur. They also like to clean their fur after they’ve eaten something yummy (or at least play with it).
How To Stop a Cat from Licking You?
Several things can be done if you want to stop your cat from licking you. The first is simply teaching them how to lick in the first place. This can be done by having a command word or phrase that they learn when they want their attention and affection. When giving this command, make sure that it’s an action that will help keep them happy and healthy (e.g., “give me some loving”).
Another option is teaching your cat where exactly he should be licking at all times—especially during playtime! Cats love being scratched under their chin; therefore, if you permit him to every time he starts scratching himself, there will likely come a time when he decides it would be wise not only for himself but also for his owner as well; however, if this happens before then again then maybe even more often than just once per week until finally becoming routine enough so no longer cause any concern at all whatsoever about whether or not we need these services provided once again each day throughout our entire lives together.
Conclusion
You don’t need to worry about the licking because it’s normal behavior. Cats lick themselves because they want to clean themselves or eliminate fleas and ticks on their fur. This is why they will lick their paws if they are dirty or have fleas.
Our Modern Vet Palm is located within 2 minute’s walk from Golden Mile 3, near Hilton Dubai Palm, Jumeirah. You can drive from Al Wasl by Sheikh Zayed Road to Dubai Internet City. It takes just 2 minutes from here to Modern Vet Palm.
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Writen by
Dr. Sarah Yosry
DVM
A product of a rich Australian/Egyptian heritage, Dr. Sarah Yosry stands as a testament to the union of diverse cultures and a shared love for animals…
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