The science of self-grooming 🐈
Most cats spend a good part of their day grooming (or licking) themselves — in fact, this can easily take up 30% to 50% of their day!
Cats’ tongues have teeny tiny barbs or spines called “papillae” that naturally equip them to self-groom. Grooming helps distribute natural oils produced in the cat’s skin evenly around their fur, making their coats healthy and shiny ✨
There can be plenty of reasons why your cat licks themselves, such as keeping their fur clean, regulating body temperature, keeping themselves cool, soothing injuries or just plain boredom.
Do cats overgroom?
Yes, sometimes self-grooming can become excessive and lead to other medical conditions. The common signs are:
-
Hair loss or skin irritation
-
Redness, rashes or scabs in bald areas
-
Discomfort when scratching
-
When grooming isn’t functional or interrupts your cat’s activities.
Here are some reasons why cats lick themselves excessively:
🩺 Medical conditions
Your cat may be over-grooming to relieve itchiness. This can be caused by underlying medical conditions such as allergies to food or something else in the environment, or fleas. Other reasons why your cat may be itching can be something infectious like ringworms or skin mites ( these are less common in indoor-only cats but not impossible).
😰 Stress or Anxiety
Sometimes over-grooming can be stress-induced. The medical term for this behaviour is “psychogenic alopecia.”
Stress can be triggered by any changes in your cat’s environment such as moving to a new house, the appearance of a stranger, a new pet in the house, etc. Finding solace in self-grooming may not necessarily be a bad thing, as it can help your cat overcome stressful situations. But it can lead to physical problems such as hair loss or skin infections if the behaviour is prolonged.
Is there something you can do to help lower your cat's stress?
✅ Yes! You certainly can help manage their stress. Here are a couple of things you can try:
-
Create a safe zone for your purry bestie that they can escape to when they feel anxious or stressed.
-
Provide plenty of distractions! Just like humans forget about their stressors by distracting themselves with nice things, our cats can do the same! Cat toys, towers or scratch poles are good distractions that can keep your cat’s mind occupied.
-
Spay pheromones such as Feliway around your cat’s personal space or their bedding. These are designed to soothe anxious or stressed cats.
-
Spend time with your kitty! Take time out of your day to check up on them and invite them over for cuddles and playtime.
If you are concerned about your cat’s over-grooming, it’s best to consult your vet for more advice or treatment options.
Why is your cat licking you?
Looks like you made it to your cat’s favourites list! Being the social butterflies that they are, cats like to display affection by licking their humans, like they would their siblings or mother as kittens. Sometimes cats may also lick their humans if they feel anxious.
You can curb this behaviour by using positive reinforcement rather than punishing them. For example, you can try distracting them with their favourite toy when they start licking you.
Need more information about excessive grooming? Check out the resources below: