Anyone who knows two cats who like each other can, with a little luck, watch them take care of each other. Cats lick each other with devotion. But what does it mean when cats lick their human?
Why do cats lick each other?
To understand why cats lick humans, let’s take a look at cats’ social relationships with each other. This helps us to better understand the role that language plays in the cat’s social interactions.
Reasons why cats lick each other are:
- Hair Care : Even thelittle kittens enjoy the “wet” hair care from their mother.
- Strengthens bonding : Based on the memories of young cats, hair care among adult cats is also an expression of sympathy and mutual trust.
- Detects the smell of hair : Through licking the cat better perceives the smells of another cat.
- It changes the smell of the hair : The cat masks the unknown smells of another cat with its own aroma molecules. For example, after returning from a visit to the vet.
Three reasons why cats lick humans
Cats apply to humans what they know about social interaction with other cats. Here are some explanations for why a cat likes to lick you.
By licking she shows her sympathy for you
The most beautiful and important reason for a man’s enjoyable licking: The cat wants to express its great sympathy. If you caress your cat and then she licks your hand purring, you can rejoice: your cat likes you and enjoys spending time with you. But do not worry if the cat never licks your hand. Because cats do this less often than dogs. It’s literally true: licking loved ones is purely a matter of taste.
She licks to mark her area
Sympathy goes hand in hand with the next reason for the courageous use of language. Because your cat likes you so much, he wants to express it to you accordingly: “This person belongs to me!” Quadrupeds have a much more sensitive nose than we do. What we do not notice when cats lick our skin: they leave tiny fragrance particles. These signal to other cats or dogs that you belong to the cat area. The lick therefore expresses a property claim. The situation is similar if you have petted another cat or dog before meeting your cat. The cat smells of possible competition. By licking the cat not only removes their scent molecules, but overlaps them at the same time as yours.
The cat licks sweat from your skin
Are you lying on a lounger at 30 degrees Celsius and the cat is licking your hand? Maybe she just likes the taste of your sweat. The slightly salty aroma is interesting to many animals. Even if you have eaten something tasty before, it is very likely that the cat will notice the smell in your hand. So it is no wonder that she does not miss it.
What should I do if my cat licks me?
If your cat licks you out of sympathy, you may want to reciprocate. Caress her with your free hand. Many cats also like to treat their hair with a soft brush or massage glove. If your cat is one of the cats that enjoys grooming, treat it with a few more caresses, using a brush. Thus, you can strengthen the bond with your cat.
Cats can transmit diseases through licking?
It is not just the parents of young children who are wondering: Can a cat’s tongue transmit diseases? Basically, it is good to follow some hygiene rules: if the cat has licked your hands, you should then wash them. But when young children live in the house, the hand first lands quickly in the mouth. Regardless of the licking, the following applies: If free cats and young children live in the same house, you should deworm the cat regularly. If the cat’s saliva is slightly sore, in very rare cases it may cause an infection with the pathogen Bartonella henselae and therefore». However, as the name suggests, this is mainly transmitted by scratch injuries. The chance of transmitting diseases through licking is minimal. For reasons of hygiene, do not let the cat lick the face of your loved ones.