Why do cats and cats lick people?

The content of the article

1 Gratitude and affection
2 Similarity of maternal care
3 Begging
4 Self affirmation
5 Low status
6 Boredom
7 Strong smell

Owners of cats and dogs are accustomed to, that the animal can often show a caress to them. The cats purr, sometimes rub at their feet, sit on their hands, even come to sleep next to their beloved master. Sometimes they even lick people. We take it as an expression of love. But in fact there may be several reasons for this. Cats are so mysterious creatures that no one doubts that they see the world at all like us. Licking for these pets is a form of communication, as well as a way of knowing the world around them. Numerous studies have been conducted. It turned out that the motive for licking a cat can be different. We will understand in more detail in each of them.

Gratitude and affection

For dogs, this way of expressing loyalty and love is familiar. But cats lick people for this reason much less often. They often resort to purr.But sometimes a cat can express love by licking the face or hands of the owner. It will be a short-term action, committed as a sneak. This happens more often in neutered cats, because after such an operation, the animal's domination is reduced. They no longer see so sharply a competitor in a person, and can afford to show love.

Similarity of maternal care

When the kitten is just born, it communicates with the mother caresses. This is because he is deaf and blind. Cat licks the kitten's belly. In this way she calms him down. Another reason for licking the abdomen to the kitten is stimulation of the digestive system. This action bumps into the cat's memory for life. When it grows, it starts ripening. The body is preparing to be able to produce offspring. If the animal has not been sterilized, but it doesn’t have kittens, then there comes a period when it seems to the cat that she is pregnant, or she has kittens. In cats, this is manifested as a result of hormone level failure. When cats and cats experience different emotions as a result of such hormonal changes, they try to express them in every possible way.When an animal feels attached to a person, for her the expression of feelings in this way becomes an alternative to caring for offspring. It may seem very nice, but in fact, when the manifestations of caress occur for this reason, it harms the health of the animal. Therefore, experts recommend sterilizing cats up to a year, if they are not planned to breed.

Begging

If the cat often licks your hands, it can be a manifestation of begging. After all, hands for a cat are the main source of food. This is manifested to a greater extent when, from childhood, you fed the kitten with hands, and he got used to it. He will lick the palm of the back and bite her. Also, a manifestation of what the pet asks for food will be a combination of licking hands, along with kneading on the front paws. This is because for kittens this is a way to get milk from a cat.

Self affirmation

This is due to the fact that when communicating in a flock there are older and younger animals in the hierarchy. A cat that is higher in status can lick another animal. This may mean that she shows condescension in this way.

This can be understood by the behavior of the cat.She shows with her appearance that in this case, licking is not tenderness, but merely condescension towards you. Such a manifestation of feelings is inherent in more adult pets, those who have gone through puberty. In this manifestation of dominance there is nothing dangerous. The main thing is that the animal does not begin to show excessive aggressiveness on its part.

Low status

This is a situation when a cat, on the contrary, considers itself in a flock to be lower in status in comparison with others. This is manifested in licking the hands or neck. Here the reason can also be determined by behavior.

Her behavior is not arrogant and not gentle. This stiffness in movements and emotions. In a pack, the lowest status of the animal usually falls on its back, and then licks the animal, which is the oldest by status in their pack. This is a way to say that the animal does not claim its place. This condition can be bad for the psyche of the cat. When your pet is constantly affected by a stressful situation, it leads to fears. A cat that is often stressed will be sick.

Boredom

Another reason for licking a person may simply be animal boredom.This is a way to find something for yourself. Often the owners forget about the pet. It sits at home and does not receive affection and attention from anyone. Sometimes it happens that animals from boredom can constantly overeat. But some resort to another method - this is licking all around. At first, the cat can constantly lick its wool, and over time it moves to everything that comes across to it. This clothing, and skin, and human hair. In fact, this is not a harmless symptom. Lack of attention to the pet can lead to the fact that the cat will lick itself until weeping wounds appear on its skin. And this will be a problem. Therefore, it is necessary to pay due attention and affection to your pet.

Strong smell

An animal that has a pungent smell is doomed to death in nature. It attracts predators. If an animal lives in a flock, then its smell can cause death not only for itself, but also for everyone. At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the fact that animals smell much better than ours. Therefore, when we come from the street, we emit various smells for the animal. When we come home and lie down to rest, the cat comes and begins to lick us, eliminating odors in this way.She can lick her head, legs and other parts of the body that have absorbed the harsh smells of the street. The cat is sure that any sharp smell is dangerous, as it will attract other animals and people that can harm.

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