Is it a form of affection or some other reason?
2006-12-08 06:52:04 · 7 answers · asked by Ordog 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
When a cat licks you, it can serve several purposes. Grooming, affection (which grooming is a part of), tasting, and leaving their scent on you.
Especially kittens use licking to taste new things. Even if their sense of taste isn't as developed as that of humans, they still behave like human children and learn about new things by tasting them.
If you meet other cats while you're away, your cat will smell them on you -- even if you didn't really cuddle the other cat, since a cat's sense of smell is about ten times as acute as ours -- and will "mark" you as HER (or his) human, so the other cats don't think you're a stray and try to adopt you ;p If you did pet the other cats, your cat will cover their scent with her (or his) own, and at the same time learn as much as possible about the other cat.
Cats groom their kittens to care for them, to keep them healthy and to show them they are loved. A cat will do the same to you, of course, since she likes you and wants to show you that she cares about you. =)
I don't know that much about dogs and why they lick people though ^^ So I can't say if they have different reasons or not (well, slightly different, I guess).
2006-12-08 07:21:24 · answer #1 · answered by chibs 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Why Do Cats Lick You
2016-10-05 12:32:06 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Grooming... with cats it is a form of affection because cats groom each other when they like one another. With dogs it has nothing to do with grooming, it is actually a way of strengthening pack bonds by reinforcing social status, a submissive dog will always lick more than a dominant dog because it is thier nature to appease others in this way and establish thier place in a family pack.
2006-12-08 08:04:38 · answer #3 · answered by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
There are a few reasons. One is that the cat likes you. Another is the sweat on your skin tastes like salt. The last one I can think of is that for cats, the act of grooming is very social. The cat respects you. I have a friend who has a cat that pets you. He will sit on your lap and rub your skin with his paws.
2006-12-08 07:06:57 · answer #4 · answered by Mandy 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's usually a sign of affection. Cats also like the natural salty taste of human skin so that can be another factor.
2006-12-08 07:35:18 · answer #5 · answered by MasLoozinIt76 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
the reasons a cat may lick you are-
affection- your kitty is saying he/she likes you
to clean you- they might want to try and groom you, which is natural behavior for a cat
or- they may just like the taste of your skin
whenever my kitten licks me, i like to think of it that she is accepting me as her new mother :)
she also tries to lick my face, and this is NOT a good thing, and please dont EVER let kitty lick your face, it may have worms and you could end up losing an eye. This happened to my cousin.
2006-12-08 08:07:51 · answer #6 · answered by He moonwalked on my <3 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
This is from a book, they do that for grooming reasons but they only groom people they like. So if they lick you they are showing you they like you and you are apart of their family.
2006-12-08 07:26:11 · answer #7 · answered by candy803 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have a kitty and when she is laying with me on the couch and all cuddled up, that's when she licks my hand....I think she is saying she is happy and expressing affection.
2006-12-08 07:03:27 · answer #8 · answered by Tallulah 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Humans secrete body chemicals, mostly salt and cats love salt. That is the main reason they lick you, to taste you. Dogs do it for the same reason as well as affection.
2006-12-08 07:41:36 · answer #9 · answered by arwentheelf24 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It can be looked upon two different ways. It's a form of affection. It's a sign of trust.
Or you can look at it as they are marking you as their territory.
Also, they like the naturally occuring salt on your skin.
2006-12-08 07:00:37 · answer #10 · answered by jessi.swimchick 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋