Why it happens
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Grooming each other
Friendly cats lick each other's head and neck, the places they cannot reach themselves. When it licks you, a cat shows the same attachment and trust.
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A shared scent
Licking leaves the smell of the cat's saliva behind and marks you as one of its own, much like rubbing against your legs.
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Asking for attention
If every lick earns a stroke or a few words, the cat learns that it works and licks for longer and longer.
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Taste and smell on your skin
Sweat, hand cream, traces of food or another animal's smell on your hands are interesting to a cat. After exercise, a meal or stroking the neighbour's dog it licks with extra zeal.
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Anxiety and tension
Some cats, especially ones weaned early, lick or suck skin and fabric when they feel unsettled. If the licking has grown after changes at home, it may be a sign of anxiety.
What helps
- Take it as affection Brief licking is friendly and harmless. Answer it by calmly stroking the cat's head and cheeks.
- Redirect gently A cat's rough tongue can irritate the skin. When you have had enough, calmly move your hand away, stand up or offer a toy; do not scold or push the cat away.
- Keep it off creams Some creams, lotions and essential oils are harmful to a cat if it licks them off. Do not let it lick freshly creamed skin or wounds.
- More to do If the licking becomes insistent, the cat may be short of things to do. Play with it every day and give part of its food in puzzle feeders or on lick mats so it has something to work at.
- Calm and routine If the licking increased after a move, a new animal or changes in the family, keep feeding and play times regular and leave the cat a quiet place to rest.
Related product categories
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When it is a question for a vet
If the cat licks not you but itself, so much that bald patches or red skin appear, see a vet: the symptom page on a cat grooming excessively has more. Also ask a vet if the cat has suddenly started licking or sucking people, fabric or objects obsessively, swallows them, or drools.