Why Do Cats Spend So Much Time Licking Themselves?
Licking, or self-grooming, is a fundamental, non-negotiable part of a cat’s daily routine. If you’ve ever watched your feline companion, you know they are fastidious creatures, spending anywhere from two to five hours a day—or roughly 30% to 50% of their waking hours—engaged in self-care.
If you’ve wondered, “why do cats lick themselves,” the answer is that licking serves a multitude of purposes far beyond mere cleanliness. This innate behavior is essential for survival, involving temperature regulation, stress relief, communication, and even serving as a subtle signal of pain or discomfort.
Main Reasons Why Cats Lick Themselves
Grooming and Maintaining Hygiene
The primary and most obvious reason cats lick is to maintain hygiene. The cat’s tongue is highly specialized for this purpose; it is covered in tiny, backward-facing hooks called papillae, which give it a rough, sandpaper-like texture. This structure acts like a natural comb to effectively remove loose hair, dirt, debris, and even parasites from the coat.
The licking motion also stimulates the sebaceous glands in the skin, distributing natural oils across the fur to keep the cat’s coat well-oiled and healthy. When they lick their paws (Why Do Cats Lick Their Paws), they use those moistened paws like washcloths to meticulously wipe and clean their ears and face.
Temperature Regulation
Unlike humans, who rely on sweating, cats only have sweat glands on a few small areas (like their paw pads, chin, and lips). They primarily rely on licking to cool down. Licking spreads saliva across the surface of their fur. As the saliva evaporates, it carries excess body heat away, creating an efficient process of evaporative cooling that helps them regulate their body temperature, especially in warm weather.
Stress Relief and Self-Soothing
Licking is a crucial form of self-soothing. When a cat feels anxious, stressed, or uncertain, the rhythmic, repetitive motion of grooming releases endorphins in the brain. This makes the cat feel calm and comfortable, helping to mitigate the feelings of distress.
When stress-related, the licking may become excessive and focused on specific areas, such as the lower legs, belly, or tail. If you notice your cat consistently grooming during a tense situation—perhaps the cat is licking themselves when embarrassed or nervous—it’s a coping mechanism.
Signal of Pain or Irritation
A significant change in grooming behavior, particularly over-licking or hyper-focusing on a single spot, can be a subtle indicator of pain or irritation. Cats have an instinct to lick an injured or uncomfortable area. For example:
- A cat with arthritis may excessively lick the skin over a painful joint.
- A cat suffering from allergies or a flea infestation will constantly lick the itchy area to soothe the irritation.
If the focused licking is sudden or persistent, it warrants a veterinary check.
Licking Behavior in Specific Contexts
Licking During/After Eating or Play
Why do cats lick themselves after eating? After finishing a meal, a cat will often lick their face, paws, and whiskers to remove all food residue and odors. This is an instinctive behavior that, in the wild, helps prevent attracting predators to the site of the kill.
Why do cats lick themselves while playing or why do cats stop playing to lick themselves? Licking in the middle of or immediately after a high-energy play session is often a transition behavior. It helps the cat shift from a state of high arousal and excitement back to a calm, restful state.
Sleep-Related Licking
Why do cats lick themselves before sleeping? Grooming is a natural ritual that promotes relaxation and comfort, often occurring just as the cat is preparing to settle down for a nap. If a cat wakes up and licks themselves vigorously, particularly in the middle of the night, pay attention to the frequency, as excessive nighttime grooming can be linked to anxiety.
Licking After a Bath
If you have ever given your cat a bath (why do cats lick themselves after a bath), you know they immediately begin grooming afterward. Cats must lick their fur to help it dry properly and quickly. More importantly, they need to re-establish their personal scent and redistribute their natural oils, as bathing washes away these vital scent markers.
Licking After Human Interaction
Why do cats lick themselves after you pet them? When a cat licks themselves after you touch, scratch, or even kiss them, it is usually one of two things:
- Re-establishing Scent: The cat is mingling your scent (which is now on their fur) with their own, essentially re-marking themselves with their signature perfume.
- Over-Stimulation: If the petting was too intense, too long, or focused on a sensitive area (like the lower back), the licking is a quick, self-soothing mechanism to discharge the built-up nervous energy.
When Licking Becomes a Problem?
While grooming is normal, overgrooming is a serious red flag.
When licking is done excessively, it can break the hair shafts or damage the skin, causing a condition called Feline Psychogenic Alopecia.
- Signs of Overgrooming: Patches of thinning hair or bald spots (why do cats lick themselves bald), visible skin irritation, frequent hairballs, or persistent licking of a single area.
- Licking and Biting: If your cat licks and bites themselves (why do cats lick and bite themselves), the cause is often a severe underlying issue such as flea infestation, food or environmental allergies, skin infection, or deep pain (like osteoarthritic discomfort).
When to See a Vet: If you notice any change in your cat’s grooming habits (either excessive licking or a complete cessation of grooming), or if it is paired with other behavioral changes like loss of appetite or lethargy, consult your veterinarian immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1：Are cats happy when they groom themselves?
Licking is typically a calming and comforting activity. However, if the grooming is done to excess or is accompanied by other signs of distress, it indicates that the cat is anxious or in pain, not happy.
Q2：Why do cats smell good when they lick themselves?
Why do cats smell good when they lick themselves? Licking removes external dirt and grime and, crucially, stimulates the sebaceous glands to secrete natural, healthy oils. This process distributes the cat’s own clean, natural scent, keeping their coat fresh and vibrant.
Q3：What does it mean when cats lick each other?
When cats lick each other (known as allogrooming), it is a powerful sign of social bonding and affection. It helps them establish a unified “colony scent” and reinforce their familial relationship.
Q4：What does it mean when a cat licks a human?
When a cat licks you, they are trying to groom you as a member of their trusted social group. It is an attempt to bond, express affection, and mix their scent with yours.
