We have to collectively accept that we all enjoy cuddling with cats and letting them lick our hands, face, or even hair. This is a habit they all have, but you might wonder, “Why is my cat licking me?”. Or “Why does my cat treat me like an ice cream?”
There are more answers, it can be because they are seeking affection, grooming, or they are trying to bond with you. Each lick has its own story, you just need to understand the story behind it.
What Does It Mean When a Cat Licks You?
We can never be sure why our cats are licking us, it can be a habit or their way of bonding with us. With licking, they even show affection to their newborn kittens. But most importantly, they show you that they treat you like a part of their family!
We don’t like to say “Why is my cat licking me?”, we like to say “Why is my cat kissing me so much?”. So, let’s discuss the most common reasons why your cat is licking you!
6 Common Reasons Cats Lick Their Owners
These are some of the 6 most common reasons why do cats lick you:
- Affection and bonding: This is their natural way to show you love. It will feel like they are grooming you, but it is also a sign that they feel safe and connected to you.
- Marking territory through scent: Pets use their natural scents to mark their territories. It is also another way of saying that something is theirs. This is their way of claiming ownership.
- Mimicking kitten grooming behavior: Adult cats, especially mothers, enjoy licking their kittens to show love and affection.
- Seeking attention or interaction: If you are too busy, cats might feel left behind, and they might come to lick you. This can be a sign to pay more attention to them and hang out more frequently.
- Exploring taste: If you have a new perfume, believe us – your pet will know this and will try to lick you to taste you. Cats can also be curious about lotions, and even food remnants that you might have on your hands.
- Stress, anxiety, or compulsive behaviors: In some cases, licking can be a mechanism to relieve stress, anxiety, or compulsive behaviors. You just need to watch out for their environment and see what might trigger them.
We never know what exactly triggers cats and causes licking behavior. You know your cat the best, and you should be able to recognize it. Even in cases when you don’t know, there are some smarter tools than us that might help. One of those tools is the Maven pet smart collar. This collar can help you track your cat’s behavior. With its help, you will be able to recognize what bothers them or what excites them. There are guidelines from which you can learn and recognize common behavioral problems in cats.
Read More: Now that you know what it means when a cat licks you, you also probably want to know what it means when a dog constantly licks paws, if you also have a dog in your household! So, read more here!
When Should You Be Concerned?
Most of the causes that we mentioned might seem harmless, and the truth is that they are. But excessive licking in some cases should concern you. Here are some situations where you should be careful.
Excessive licking that interrupts normal activities
Occasional licking is okay until some point. Until the moment your cat feels okay and does its ordinary stuff, it is all good. But if your cat’s licking interrupts them from normal behavior like eating, playing, or sleeping, then it is a big problem.
It might be a sign of an underlying anxiety, stress, or even some hidden disease. With the Maven collar, you can track your cat’s behavior 24/7, and you can always be sure what your cat is doing.
Accompanied by other stress signals
Okay, so your cat licks everything around, but what other behaviors does your cat show? Does it hide from you often? Is your cat very vocal? Or is your cat overgrooming itself? If your cat does all of the mentioned, or even some of the mentioned, it can be a sign of stress, fear, and even pain.
If it is stress, then Maven will track your cat’s breathing and even sleeping patterns. With its help, you can recognize if something is wrong with your cat. And you can continue with timely management.
Read More: Find out here how Maven also helps and detects issues in cats even when they only sneeze!
Changes in appetite or rest levels
Licking itself is not something that you should be super panicked about, but you have to observe everything else that happens around. If your cat also changes its eating, drinking, and even sleeping patterns, it may be time for a vet checkup. And Maven will alert you on time!
How the Maven Pet Health Monitor Can Help?
Your cat’s health is in your hands, and with Maven, it is in your hand literally and figuratively. You will catch signs before they become symptoms. With a monthly subscription, you can track their behaviors, activity, restlessness, and even breathing.
Maven Pet
Health Monitor
#1 Vet-recommended pet monitor! Tracks activity, rest, respiratory rate, water intake, scratching and other health indicators 24/7
This app will also send you alerts when it detects patterns linked to stress, anxiety, or illness. Even if the licking seems harmless, Maven will detect whether there are additional linked cat licking behaviors.
To Sum Up
Stop asking yourself, “Why is my cat licking me?”. Even if you don’t know the answers, Maven will tell you everything you need to know to improve your pet’s wellness. Cats lick humans because they seek affection, bonding, attention, or simply because they want to explore around them.
When licking becomes excessive, it is an alert for you and might signal a deeper issue. That is where Maven comes in and informs you.
Explore more about Maven and find out why it is one of the best things you can get for your pet. Your cat doesn’t have to have any underlying health issues for you to spoil it with Maven. In fact, it is recommended and desired for pets without any issues. If you have any concerns about this smart monitoring, feel free to contact us!
Maven Pet focuses on improving the quality of life of our pets with technology, using artificial intelligence (AI) to enable proactive pet care. By accurately collecting and monitoring pet data 24/7 and flagging any irregularities, Maven Pet empowers pet parents and veterinarians to stay ahead of potential health issues, ensuring the well-being and longevity of our beloved companions.
