Why Do Cats Lick Their Kittens?

• The Potty Button: This is the most vital reason. Newborn kittens cannot pee or poop on their own. The mother licks their rear end to stimulate the muscles needed to release waste.
• First Breath & Warmth: Immediately after birth, rough licking removes the amniotic sac to help the kitten breathe and dries their fur to prevent hypothermia.
• Predator Protection: In the wild, scent attracts danger. By constantly cleaning the kittens and removing waste odors, the mother is hiding them from predators.
• When to Worry: While frequent licking is normal, watch for bald patches or red, irritated skin. This is “Overgrooming” and signals anxiety or a medical issue.

While it might seem unpleasant to us, this action is strictly business for a mother cat. Newborn kittens have a very immature nervous system; they literally cannot urinate or defecate on their own. The mother must lick their rear ends (the perineal area) to stimulate the muscles required for these bowel movements. Without this crucial assistance, a newborn kitten would not survive.

There is a secondary, equally important reason for this. In the wild, the scent of waste is a beacon for predators. By cleaning up the waste immediately and keeping the kittens odorless, the mother is protecting her vulnerable litter from danger. Additionally, the anal glands secrete unique scents. By grooming this area, the mother is constantly identifying her kittens and reinforcing the family scent profile.

This initial rough licking serves three immediate purposes:

• Breathing Stimulation The kitten is born inside an amniotic sac. The mother must vigorously lick the kitten’s face and body to remove this membrane and stimulate the kitten to take its first breath.
• Temperature Regulation Wet newborns lose body heat rapidly. The mother’s licking acts like a towel, drying their fur to keep them warm and regulating their tiny body temperatures.
• Initial Bonding This is the moment the kitten is “wired” to associate the rough texture of the mother’s tongue with safety, warmth, and affection.

Usually, high-frequency licking is normal. The mother is essentially running a “cat school.” By constantly grooming them, she is teaching them how to groom themselves—a behavior they will start to mimic as they gain coordination. It also serves as a major stress reliever. The rhythmic action of licking soothes the mother, and the sensation calms the kittens, reducing overall stress in the “nest.”

However, there are medical red flags to watch for. If the mother is licking so aggressively that she is causing bald patches, red skin, or open wounds overgrooming you need to step in. This can signal high anxiety in the mother, skin inflammation, or a misguided attempt to “heal” a small scratch that she is actually making worse with bacteria.

If you see signs of injury, contact your vet. Otherwise, it is best to let the mother do her job.

Human intervention is rarely needed unless you spot signs of overgrooming or injury. For the most part, you can simply sit back and appreciate the incredible, instinctual bond being formed right in front of you.