Many people wonder why cats lick their owners’ hands, feet or faces. Here’s the answer from science!
Millions of Italians share their homes with various pets . Dogs and cats are the animals most present in people’s homes. Those who love these four-legged friends will never let them go without anything, treating them – as it should be – as actual members of their family!
In this article we want to talk specifically about cats and their unusual behaviors. In particular, we want to focus on one specific aspect. Why do these cute happy cats tend to lick their owners in certain situations ? Here is everything you need to know about it.
Cats are very clean animals and tend to take care of their own hygiene . In fact, they use their tongue to wash every part of their body and to eliminate some hairballs. Those who have pets at home know how “painful” it can be to have to take care of removing hair from the various surfaces of the house every day.
Returning to cleaning cats, in some cases it may be important to clean the animal in a “normal” way, washing the particularly dirty fur with a cloth soaked in water . Cats do not like to bathe. For this reason, it may be better to wet and wash only the fur with water and with some specific products!
However, cats use their tongues not only for hygiene purposes, but also to lick their owners . Let’s find out the reason for this seemingly unusual gesture! Here’s what veterinarians say about it!
Is your cat constantly licking you? This is the reason!
Despite what you might think, it is not only dogs that shower their owners with affection. Even cats, in fact, despite being more solitary animals, tend to express their emotions in a very obvious way !
Cats use various ways to express themselves. The part of their body that is most used to express their different moods is, without a doubt, their tail . When we come home, cats tend to come to greet us and to let us know how happy they are to see us again.
In doing so, they raise their tail straight up, rubbing their body against our legs. The tail placed in this way, therefore, is synonymous with contentment and excitement!
When, however, the tail is low and swollen, then the cat will not be perfectly at ease and will be scared of something. It will be very important, therefore, to know the various ways that our feline friends have to express their feelings .
In the next paragraph, however, we want to mention the singular method of felines to show their emotions with their tongue. This is why they can lick us in some specific situations !
The explanation of this gesture
Cats are accustomed to the contact of the tongue on their body from an early age . In fact, the mother tends to use this part to clean her kittens in the first months of their life. This gesture of the mother, then, is not only done for purely hygienic purposes, but also to show the kittens her closeness.
A gesture full of affection and warmth, then. Animal behavior experts are keen to underline how much this move is loved by cats.
For this reason, therefore, our four-legged friends tend to emulate their natural behaviors to show closeness and affection to humans too !
If your cat licks your feet, hands or face, do not push him away. This is simply a way for the animal to let you know how much he loves you ! However, you can train him to reduce this behavior, if the excess bothers you!
Do this, however, without scolding him or anything else. The cat, in fact, could resent this and move away from you a bit! Finally, pay attention to which area of your body the cat is licking. If there is a wound, make sure that the cat does not come into contact with it!
