You might be sitting on the sofa and scrolling in your telephone when, swiftly, you begin to really feel an uncommon feeling on the highest of your head or arm. Your cat is licking you latterly, and you may’t appear to determine why. Cats lick people for varied causes. Some are harmless and just because they’re displaying you affection, whereas others might be a trigger for concern.
The 8 Possible Reasons Why Your Cat Is Grooming You
1. Showing Affection
This is by far the almost certainly purpose your cat is licking you. Cats lick and groom one another to indicate affection, so it’s solely pure that they’ll need to present their affection to you in the identical approach.
2. Spreading Scent
Cats are territorial creatures, and in the event that they such as you as a person, they’ll need to mark you as their very own. They can do that by rubbing up towards you and your stuff or by licking you. They need to present the world that you’re theirs, and it’s a giant praise after they declare you.
3. To Clean You Up
Cats will typically lick you as a result of they prefer to groom the individuals they love, so in the event that they suppose you’re wanting a little bit untidy, they could begin doing this a bit extra. While you won’t really feel like you could be groomed, your cat clearly does.
4. They Want Your Attention
Sometimes your cat licks you just because it’s a straightforward approach to get your consideration. This is particularly true for those who’re continuously reacting after they lick you since they’ve discovered that you’ll repeatedly reply.
5. You Taste Good
Just since you style good doesn’t imply your cat needs to eat you, but it surely might be the rationale they hold coming again for extra. It might be that you’ve got some leftover meals in your pores and skin, or your cat would possibly similar to the saltiness of it. Either approach, you style good, they usually can’t appear to assist themselves.
6. They’re Bonding With You
Just such as you need to spend a while bonding along with your cat, generally all of your cat needs to do is spend a while bonding with you! And similar to the way in which you need to bond along with your cat won’t be the way in which you need, the identical might be true the opposite approach. This doesn’t imply you could allow them to lick you, but it surely might be as harmless as desirous to really feel near you.
7. They Want to Play
If your cat needs your consideration, it might be as a result of they need to play. If they’re operating round, bringing toys, or anything on high of licking you, that is seemingly the trigger. Cats are fun-loving creatures, and when the temper strikes, they are often extraordinarily artistic in how they get their level throughout.
8. Underlying Medical Problem
If your cat by no means actually licked you a lot earlier than however the habits has elevated, then it might be due to an underlying medical problem. This isn’t the almost certainly situation, however for those who suppose your cat is appearing in another way, you could take them to the vet to get checked out.
How to Get Your Cat to Stop Licking You
Just as a result of your cat needs to lick you doesn’t imply you could allow them to. The excellent news is that it’s fairly straightforward to get your cat to cease licking you so long as you constantly do it the correct approach.
When your cat begins to lick you, merely redirect them to one thing else. Don’t begin enjoying with them, as this could encourage the habits sooner or later. Avoid damaging reinforcement too. Simply ignore them or redirect them to one thing else, after which don’t give them further consideration.
If you do need to play along with your cat, give them a couple of minutes earlier than beginning. This approach, they don’t affiliate the licking with getting your consideration. If you do that constantly, it ought to end in a cat that doesn’t lick you as a lot earlier than too lengthy.
Conclusion
Usually, in case your cat is licking you, there’s nothing you could fear about or do for those who don’t thoughts the licks since this can be a pure habits for them to indicate. Of course, you will get them to cease, and if the habits is extreme and fixed, it might be an underlying medical downside. If you watched that is the case, don’t ignore it and take them to a vet instantly.
Featured Image Credit: Caterina Trimarchi, Shutterstock
