When a cat licks a human, it is a common and often endearing interaction that sparks curiosity in many cat owners. This behavior stems from various motivations, reflecting the complex nature of feline communication and their relationship with human companions. Understanding these reasons can deepen the bond between a cat and its owner.
Expressions of Affection and Social Bonding
Licking is a display of affection and trust in the feline world, often signifying a strong social bond with humans. Cats learn this behavior early, as mother cats lick their kittens to groom, comfort, and connect. This maternal grooming helps kittens feel safe, and adult cats often extend this behavior to humans they consider family.
Cats grooming each other, known as allogrooming, reinforces social structures within their social group. When a cat licks a human, it extends this behavior, viewing the human as a trusted companion and social group member. This strengthens relationships and creates belonging.
Licking also functions as scent marking. Cats have scent glands in their mouths, and by licking, they transfer their unique scent. This marks the human as part of the cat’s territory or group, fostering familiarity and security. Marking a human claims them as part of the cat’s inner circle.
Licking’s comforting aspect is rooted in early kittenhood. The repetitive motion is soothing for cats, reminiscent of comfort from their mother. This suggests the cat feels safe and content in the human’s presence.
Seeking Your Attention
Cats sometimes use licking to gain human attention. This is a learned behavior, as cats observe and understand which actions prompt a desired response. If a cat learns that licking results in petting, talking, or other interaction, they will likely repeat it. Even negative attention, such as gently pushing them away, can reinforce the behavior if perceived as interaction.
A cat might lick to initiate play, signal a desire for food, or indicate they want a door opened. This attention-seeking licking can be more persistent than affectionate licks and accompanied by meowing or pawing. These actions communicate a desire for interaction or a specific need.
Practical and Less Common Reasons
Cats may lick humans out of curiosity about a taste or scent on their skin. Human skin can carry residues like salts, sugars from perspiration, food particles, or lotions, appealing to a cat’s sensitive palate. While a cat is unlikely to be trying to “eat” a human, investigating these tastes and smells is a natural feline behavior.
Excessive licking, of themselves or others, signals stress or anxiety. Licking serves as a displacement behavior, a coping mechanism to alleviate stress by releasing endorphins. This is often accompanied by changes in demeanor or environment, such as increased vocalization, restlessness, or litter box habits. If anxiety is the cause, licking might feel compulsive or focus on specific areas.
Some female cats, especially spayed, may exhibit a maternal instinct by licking humans. This behavior is reminiscent of a mother cat caring for her kittens, a sign of comfort and nurturing. It signifies that the cat views the human as someone to be cared for, similar to tending their young.