Cat Grooming: Why Do Cats Lick Each Other?

Ever catch your cats giving each other a good lick and wonder what’s up? It might look like just a grooming session, but there’s actually a lot going on. Cats groom each other to bond, keep healthy, and chat in their own way. Understanding why they do this can give you a better look into their friendships and help you take even better care of them. In this guide, we'll dive into what’s behind this behavior, its benefits, and when it might be a sign of something more serious.

The Role of Grooming in Cat Social Bonds

Cats are social animals, and if you’ve ever wondered, "Are cats clean?" grooming is not only about hygiene but is also essential for reinforcing their social bonds. The act of licking each other goes beyond mere cleanliness—it’s a central part of their social structure.

Why Grooming is Important for Cat Relationships

In multi-cat households, mutual grooming is a sign of trust and affection. This bonding ritual is especially common between mother cats and their kittens, but it continues into adulthood, particularly among cats that have grown up together or developed a close relationship.

Mutual grooming can also communicate social hierarchy. Sometimes, the dominant cat may initiate grooming to assert its position, while the submissive cat accepts this behavior as a sign of respect. However, grooming isn’t always about dominance; it’s often a simple expression of affection between feline friends.

Licking as a Sign of Social Connection

Licking helps strengthen the social bonds between cats by transferring scents. Cats have scent glands located in various parts of their bodies, including their faces and paws. When they lick each other, they’re essentially mixing their scents, which creates a shared group scent. This scent is crucial in how cats identify each other and recognize members of their social group.

In a multi-cat household, this shared scent helps reduce tension and aggression, as all the cats begin to smell alike. It’s a way for cats to reaffirm their social connections and maintain harmony within the group. This behavior is deeply rooted in their instincts, as even domestic cats retain many of the social behaviors observed in wild felines.

Health Advantages of Cats Grooming Each Other

Grooming contributes to a cat’s overall health and social bonding. When cats lick each other, they bond and support each other’s well-being.

Hygiene and Health Maintenance

Grooming is important for maintaining a cat’s coat and skin health. When cats lick each other, they help remove dirt, parasites, and loose fur from areas that might be difficult for a cat to reach on its own. This mutual grooming ensures that both cats maintain a clean and healthy coat, which is important for their overall hygiene, especially considering how often cats groom themselves.

For example, a mother cat will groom her kittens regularly, not only to keep them clean but also to stimulate their bodily functions, such as urination and defecation. As kittens grow, they learn this behavior from their mother and begin to groom themselves and each other, continuing the cycle of hygiene maintenance.

Stress Reduction and Comfort

Grooming also serves as a calming activity for cats, helping to reduce stress and provide comfort. When cats groom each other, they’re engaging in a soothing ritual that can alleviate anxiety. This is particularly important in a multi-cat household, where stress levels can rise due to competition for resources or changes in the environment.

Licking releases endorphins in cats, which are chemicals in the brain that promote feelings of well-being. This is why you might notice your cats licking each other more frequently during stressful situations, such as after a visit to the vet or when there’s a change in the household dynamics. By grooming each other, cats can provide mutual comfort and reassurance, helping to maintain a peaceful environment.

Recognizing When Licking Becomes Excessive

While grooming is a natural and healthy behavior for cats, there are times when it can become excessive. As a cat owner, it’s important to recognize when licking might indicate an underlying issue.

Identifying Potential Health Issues

Over-grooming may indicate a health issue in one or both cats. For instance, if one cat is constantly grooming a specific area on another cat’s body, it could suggest a skin condition, parasite infestation, or injury. In such cases, the licking cat might be trying to alleviate the other cat’s discomfort, but it could also exacerbate the problem by irritating the skin further.

It’s important to observe whether the licking is one-sided or mutual. If one cat is receiving all the grooming attention and not reciprocating, it might be a sign that the other cat is experiencing discomfort or stress. In these situations, it’s a good idea to consult with a veterinarian to rule out any potential health issues.

Behavioral Signs of Stress or Anxiety

In some instances, over-grooming can be a behavioral response to stress or anxiety. Cats are sensitive animals, and changes in their environment or routine can trigger stress-related behaviors. If a cat is licking itself or another cat excessively, it could be a coping mechanism for dealing with anxiety.

Signs of stress-related licking include over-grooming to the point of creating bald patches or skin sores or obsessively grooming the same area repeatedly. This behavior can also be accompanied by other signs of anxiety, such as hiding, reduced appetite, or increased aggression. Addressing the underlying cause of the stress is essential to helping your cat return to normal grooming habits.

Caring For Your Cat With PrettyLitter

At PrettyLitter, we’re more than just a cat litter company—we’re dedicated to helping you keep your cat happy and healthy. In addition to our health-monitoring cat litter, we provide valuable resources and guides on cat care, so you can stay informed and give your feline friend the best life possible. Whether it’s grooming tips or understanding your cat’s behavior, we're here to support you every step of the way.

Ensuring Your Cats Thrive Through Healthy Grooming

Understanding why cats lick each other reveals the deeper connections they share through social bonding, health maintenance, and stress reduction. While grooming is a natural behavior, it’s important to recognize when it might indicate an underlying issue. By staying attentive to your cat’s grooming habits and using tools like PrettyLitter to monitor their health, you can ensure that your feline friends continue to thrive in a happy, healthy environment.

Sources:

1. Zoetis Petcare. Cat Overgrooming: Causes and How to Stop It. https://www.zoetispetcare.com/blog/article/cat-overgrooming. 
2. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Cats That Lick Too Much. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/cats-lick-too-much. 
3. GoodRx. 7 Common Reasons Cats Lick Themselves — and When It Becomes a Problem. https://www.goodrx.com/pet-health/cat/why-do-cats-lick-so-much. 
4. Catster. Understanding Your Cat’s Scent Glands and Their Role in Communication. https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-scent-glands/. 
5. Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Cat Grooming Behavior. https://www.texvetpets.org/article/grooming-behavior-of-cats/. 
6. National Geographic. Understanding Cat Tongues: Papillae. www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/understanding-cat-tongues-papillae. 
7. Journal of Ethology. The Function of Allogrooming in Domestic Cats (Felis silvestris catus); a Study in Clowder Cats. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02896348.