Why Do Cats Lick Themselves?

Cats spend as much as 50% of their waking hours licking themselves. But why do cats lick themselves? Licking is instinctual in cats. Cats groom themselves by licking. A mother cat’s first job is to ensure her kittens are clean. The mama cat removes the amniotic sac and then licks the kitten with her roughly-textured tongue. This also stimulates the kittens’ breathing.

Kittens learn from their mothers, so they’ll pick up the behavior of self-grooming by the time they’re a few weeks old. If the kitten is part of a litter, the kittens will lick and groom each other. However, personal hygiene is not the only reason why cats lick themselves. Continue reading to discover other reasons our feline friends are lickers.

Wound Care

An injured cat will instinctively lick the affected area. Licking an open wound cleanses it of dirt and debris. However, cat saliva is not antiseptic and does not prevent infection. Cat saliva may increase the likelihood of infection because it can contain harmful bacteria, so it’s best to treat the wound with traditional antiseptic and antibacterial medications. Consult your vet for serious wounds to ensure they receive proper care.

Scent Reduction

A mother cat removes the scent of her milk from her kittens by grooming herself and the kittens thoroughly after nursing. Without a scent to track, the mother and her litter are less likely to become another predator’s lunch.

Grooming

If you’ve ever been licked by a cat, you know that cat tongues are rough. A cat’s tongue is barb-like and rough to assist in the grooming process. Their prickly-textured tongues groom and clean their fur. While grooming, the tongue stimulates the sebaceous glands located at the base of their hairs. Licking spreads the sebum from the glands throughout the hairs. This keeps their coats healthy and shiny. Self-grooming will also help rid the fur of dirt and parasites such as fleas.

Thermal Regulation

Licking their fur can help cats stay cooler on hot days. Though cats do have sweat glands, they are only found on their hairless parts. When a cat licks its coat, the moisture from the saliva cools the skin as it evaporates, similar to sweating in humans. As their longer fur traps more heat, your Persians and Maine Coons are more likely to engage in this behavior than their short-haired cousins.