Cat owners are just realising pets lick them for ‘adorable’ reason

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Cats are one of the most popular pets in the UK and are known for their range of behaviours.

It is common for these animals to express vocalisations like meowing, purring or hissing, groom themselves, jump onto high places and show signs of hunting, including stalking or pouncing. One habit lots of cat owners experience they don’t understand is their pet licking them.

Felines lick humans in various places, such as on the hands, arms or face. Some cat parents are only just realising the adorable reason behind this.

A man shared a video on Reddit of his cat licking his arm while he was sitting on the sofa. He asked the question: “Why does my cat do this?”

In the clip the cat repeatedly licks the man’s arm and the post has racked up 2,800 upvotes and more than 300 likes, so far. Several users took the comments section to try to explain this feline behaviour.

One said: “He’s grooming you, it’s a bonding thing with cats. They do this with those they love. »

Another agreed: “He’s grooming you. When my cat and I snuggle he’ll go from bathing himself to then bathing me and then back to himself. He just loves you.”

A third commented: “Natural instinct. Grooming is a sign of love, family, safety, bonding, marking territory. Sign of affection marking you as THEIR human. They adopt us.”

A fourth user chimed in: “My aunt’s orange boy also does this to me! It’s a bonding activity; some cats use it as a way of saying they love you or view you as part of their gang!

“Not all kitties show affection this way, but yours does! Feel honoured, human! He loves you.”

The Reddit commenters were correct as Cats Protection, the UK’s leading cat welfare charity, states felines in the same social group may lick and groom each other because this helps them to form a close bond but this can sometimes happen across species too. The organisation explains if your cat starts licking you, this could be their way of trying to show affection and make friends with you.

Purina, a popular dog and cat food company in the UK, shares from a young age, a mother cat licks her child not just to keep it clean, but also as a way to express love and care. As cats grow up, they often mirror this behaviour by licking their humans as a natural way of showing affection so it’s an instinctive gesture.

Cats Protection details another reason cats might lick their owners and other felines they’re bonded with is to share their scent. By spreading their saliva, they make each other smell more alike, which helps them feel more connected and part of the same group.

This lets them recognise, just by sniffing, the other cat belongs to their group and is someone they trust. When your cat licks you, they might be tagging you as one of their own and showing that you’re a trusted member of their circle.

Purina elaborates that cats like to mark their territory so other felines and animals know what is theirs. If a cat sees you as theirs, they may begin to lick you to claim you as their own and tell other animals who you belong to.

The company notes while this behaviour is perfectly natural, it can sometimes cause issues in multi-pet households, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for signs of territorial behaviour. Most of the time getting licked by your cat is nothing to worry about however it could be a sign they’re not happy.

If your cat is licking you a lot more than usual, they might be feeling stressed or anxious, as per Cats Protection. The charity advises taking your feline friend to a vet to see if they can help to find a cause.