Does your cat lick you?

For some people, this experience may be both happy and embarrassing.

Because you know that the cat’s behavior means that it loves you very much. On the other hand, for some people, it is uncomfortable when the barbs on the cat’s tongue scratch your skin.

But that’s how nature designed it. The reason why cats’ hair can be so silky is largely due to this barbed, rough-surfaced tongue.

Before we understand why cats lick people, let’s first understand the nine reasons why cats like to lick people all the time.

　1.

In fact, the barbs on the tip of a cat’s tongue are very important for maintaining its own health.

When the cat combs its fur with its tongue, these barbs can effectively remove parasites, debris and dust, and can also stimulate blood circulation in the skin to keep the fur in good condition.

In addition, "licking" is also a part of cat socialization, and it means different things in different situations. However, it should be noted that excessive "licking" is likely to be a sign of greater stress, and you must pay attention to identify it so that you can help it reduce stress in time.

　2.

The following summarizes nine reasons why cats “lick”:

1. Keep your fur tidy: This should not be difficult to understand, but no need to explain too much.

2. Remove the meat from the bones: Barbs can remove the meat from the bones. Parents who feed raw meat should be aware of this.

3. Regulate temperature: Cover the hair with saliva and the saliva will evaporate, which can relieve the heat in the hot summer.

4. Retrieve normal odor: Cats will comb their hair after going to the veterinarian or being petted by a stranger. This is done to remove foreign odor and find themselves. Personally, I think it's mainly because I dislike it.

5. Establish a group smell: Cats in multi-cat families will groom each other. This is to establish a unified smell in the entire group as a sign of group belonging.

6. Social bonding: Cats may lick each other to keep the peace and deflect tension from a fight.

7. Relieve embarrassment: Have you ever seen a cat start licking itself crazily after falling off the sofa? In fact, this is just a way to restore self-dignity and relieve embarrassment.

8. Stress Relief: Anxious cats may lick themselves excessively because this releases natural morphine into the bloodstream, which makes the cat feel better. haveSome cats become so addicted that they lick themselves naked.

9. Maternity: Mother cats will lick kittens to stimulate them to urinate and defecate.

　3.

What does it mean when a cat licks you

Judging from the reasons listed above, there may be many reasons for your cat to lick you.

But some reasons are obvious. For example, if it sees your hands are dirty, it will probably lick them clean for you.

In fact, more often than not, when it licks you, it is a symbol of love, which means that it is very comfortable in front of you.

Most importantly, it treats you as a member of their group, and it treats you as a friendly big cat.

So I think you should consider licking it back🤣

Generally speaking, cats like to lick you, value your company very much, and are very comfortable with you.

　4.

However, if the licking is too much, it is important to gently reject it. Never punish a dog for licking you as it will find this very uncomfortable.

Instead, try distracting him with toys or games to direct his attention elsewhere.

If you lie down and don't want to move, gently blow on his fur. This will interrupt his licking.

If your cat licks obsessively, it's worth wondering if she's stressed out.

Think carefully about its lifestyle. Is it experiencing boredom or some kind of threat?

Generally speaking, you should be happy to be licked, because this is the only kind of love you can buy in this world, right?