- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Dogs aren’t the only pets who love to lick. Cats can be just as enthusiastic lickers. When a cat licks you, they’re showing their affection. Licking is a form of grooming, which is a common way cats bond with each other. Cats in single households may be more likely to lick their human counterparts than cats who live as bonded pairs or with many other cats.
Is there more to licking than affection and grooming? Possibly! Read on to learn more about why cats and kittens lick you. We’ll also cover what to do if licking becomes excessive or a sign of concern.
Reasons Cats and Kittens Lick People
One of the main reasons a cat licks you is that it’s in their nature to groom the ones they love. A kitten, on the other hand, may be looking for comfort or attention. However, there are other aspects to this habit beyond hygiene and comfort.
A note on biting and licking: If your cat also gives you a little nibble, don’t fret. Light nibbling or biting is part of the grooming route for cats. “To a lesser extent, [cats] also groom using their teeth by biting or nibbling their fur to loosen knots,” Stephen Quandt, CFTBS, founder of Stephen Quandt Feline Behavior Associates, LLC, explains.
“So, a kitten (or cat) who licks you and then bites may be grooming you.”
1. Your cat considers you family or part of their social group
If you have more than one cat, you’ve probably seen them licking each other. But it’s not just about keeping clean. “Cats have scent glands in their mouths, and by licking themselves, they are distributing their scent all over their bodies,” Molly DeVoss, Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist and founder of Cat Behavior Solutions says.
When cats lick each other, they’re spreading their scent and creating a group bond. Since cats are very territorial, spreading this scent helps them feel at home in their environment, including with you!
“When cats recognize a combined community scent, it helps them feel secure, reduces stress, and promotes a peaceful coexistence,” DeVoss says. Other ways cats claim you as family include rubbing against you and head-butting.
2. Your cat is affectionately bonding with you
Licking is a way cats show affection and trust, DeVoss says. When your cat licks you, it’s like they’re giving you kisses! Other signs that your cat is bonding with you include head-butting, rubbing, kneading, and purring. Some really affectionate cats might do all these things at once to show their love for you.
If you’re petting your cat and they start licking you, this is likely a happy bonding response.
3. Your cat is curious
DeVoss says licking is one way cats learn about their surroundings and the people in them. If you’ve recently showered, cooked, or bought a new perfume or lotion, your cat might be curious and want to learn more about the new scent. Cats can smell from quite a distance, which means even a lightly scented lotion will reach their noses.
A cat who repeatedly sniffs and licks the same spot on your body is likely gathering information.
If you see them open their mouth slightly for a few seconds and not lick at all, they are smelling you. Cats can smell in two ways—through their noses and by tasting scents with an organ on the roof of their mouths.
4. Your cat enjoys how you taste
Cats and kittens may be intrigued by the salt on your body or natural body odor. This results in them licking and biting us.
“Cats also eat with their tongues,” Quant says. “Those backward-facing spines known as papillae don’t just help groom—they also help separate meat from bones. So, in a way, a kitten or cat who is licking you may be subtly trying to eat you (in a nice way).”
5. Your cat wants attention from you
Stubborn, intelligent, and highly motivated to get what they want, cats can quickly develop learned behaviors based on your reactions.
“Cats will repeat behaviors that get your attention and decrease behaviors you ignore,” DeVoss explains. If you look at them, talk to them, or pet them when they lick you, they’ll learn that licking gets your attention.
Other signs that show a kitten or cat licking you to get your attention include meowing, bringing you toys, following you around, and pawing at you.
5. Your cat still has kitten behaviors
An adult or senior cat showering you with kisses may be because they learned this behavior as a kitten and found it comforting. “Licking is reminiscent of their kitten hood when their moms licked them,” DeVoss says. This type of licking may also mean they comfortable and safe with you.
Or your cat is younger than they look. Kitten will also knead and suckle on a blanket after licking you as a sign of wanting care. You may also see them roll over to show their belly, and trill or chirp to say they’re happy.
6. Your cat has anxiety
DeVoss says that when cats are anxious, they might start to lick excessively. Licking helps cats feel better because it releases chemicals in their brain that reduce stress. As they lick, they start to feel calmer. However, a chronically anxious cat may not know when to stop.
If your cat is feeling anxious, DeVoss says you might notice them:
- Meowing more than usual
- Being aggressive towards other pets or people
- Having trouble with the litter box
- Acting restless
- Displaying body language like flattened ears, a twitching tail, and dilated pupils
7. Your cat has an underlying medical issue
While cats typically do not lick you in response to their pain, it is possible, especially if your cat associates licking you with comfort. Overgrooming is common response to pain, and a cat who overgrooms will also develop bald spots, sores, or unusually large hairballs.
If your cat has suddenly started licking you excessively, see a vet to rule out any medical concerns.
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Is It Safe To Let Your Cat Lick You?
Whether your cat or you will be injured or harmed from a lick bath depends on your immune system and the products you use. It’s not common to experience infections after being licked by a cat unless they are licking an open wound. The bacteria in a cat’s mouth can cause an infection.
When it comes to your cat’s safety, Dr. Bernadine Cruz, an emeritus veterinarian at Laguna Hills Animal Hospital, says that popular topicals can have ingredients that are poisonous to cats. Avoid letting your cat lick you after you have applied:
- scented creams and lotions
- hormone patches
- sprays like sunscreen and bug spray
If your cat licks you after you’ve used these, it could make them very sick.
How to Get a Cat to Chill with the Licking
If your cat is licking you too much, DeVoss says there are ways to help stop this habit. However, it’s important to avoid punishment or negative associations. You don’t want to traumatize your cat when they are just trying to tell you they love you.
Here are some tips:
- Wear clothes to cover the area: Limit where your cat licks with clothes such as long sleeves or knee-high socks.
- Upgrade their environment: Make sure your home has enough toys, litter boxes, and places where your cat can go without being touched.
- Use calming aids: Calming phermone products, like Feliway diffusers, can help if your cat is licking because they’re anxious.
- Redirect their attention: Give your cat toys, especially ones that let them play like they’re hunting, such as wand toys.
- Avoid rewarding them with treats: DeVoss says don’t use food or treats because your cat might think they’re being rewarded for licking.
- Regularly brush your kitten or cat: Grooming your feline friend can reduce stress and the likelihood of them over-grooming themselves.
- Using distance-increasing toys: Toys that encourage your cat to play with you from a distance can teach kittens to hunt other objects rather than your hands.
- Visit the vet: A vet can check if there’s a medical reason for the licking, like a lack of certain nutrients, parasites, or an illness, by doing tests on their blood, urine, and poop.
Licking Is a Form of Communication
One of the main reasons why cats and kittens lick us is to show affection, says Dr. Preston Turano, DVM and veterinary spokesperson at Felix Cat Insurance. However, context clues and behavioral patterns can also tell a different story for why cats lick.
For example, if you’ve recently tried a new body lotion, your cat may be trying to learn what the new scent is. A kitten is also more likely to lick and bite as part of their socialization and grooming process.
If you don’t suspect any anxiety or medical issues, you can probably say that your cat licks you because they have crowned you — or someone you know — as their favorite person.
