Have you ever seen your cat licking themselves and body and wondered what the reason is for the peculiar habit? It turns out that they don't just do it to be clean. As dedicated followers of a regular grooming routine, cats spend a lot of time keeping themselves in tip top condition, but this grooming behaviour is also tied to your cat’s physical and emotional wellbeing.
Why Do Cats Lick Themselves?
Licking is one way that cats clean themselves; distributing saliva all over their body helps them with grooming and they tend to use their front paws to wash their faces and behind their ears. Primping takes up a lot of a cat's time, with some cats spending up to half their day grooming, according to the PDSA. Because evaporating saliva helps cats cool off when they're overheated, licking their paws provides the added benefit of cooling relief in high temperatures.
According to Cats Protection, another reason that cats lick themselves is that licking — and grooming in general — releases endorphins, the body's feel-good hormones. It's a calming activity.
Tasty Tips
When is it too much?
If your cat is spending more time than normal grooming themselves, paying too much attention to their paws or other parts of their body, or actually pulling out bits of fur, it likely indicates an underlying medical issue. Take your cat to the vet so they can identify and treat the issue behind your cat's behaviour.
There are several physical and psychological issues that can lead to excessive grooming, explains the PDSA, including:
- Allergies
- Parasites
- Injuries or skin infection (including the nail bed)
- Pain
- Dry skin
- Stress or anxiety
Causes of cat anxiety include: being separated from their pet parent; environmental changes, like moving into a new home; and perceived threats, such as having another pet in the household that they don’t get on with, or seeing neighbourhood cats outside, close to (or in!) their territories.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Is your cat licking too much? If you think their behaviour is excessive, keep a closer eye on them. Take note of when they lick their paws or other parts of their body and how long they spend doing it. Note any changes to their skin or fur, such as irritation or hair loss. Additionally, check for any signs of pain such as changes in behaviour or reluctance to jump. If you notice any of these changes make sure to bring them in to their veterinarian. This information will help your vet to make an accurate diagnosis.
At the appointment, your vet will complete a physical exam of your cat. They might run a few tests to help determine the cause of and treatment for their behaviour. Treatment will vary based on what your veterinarian diagnoses, but may include skin cream or shampoos, oral or injected anti-inflammatory medicine, changes to your cat's food, flea and tick prevention medicine, or antidepressant or anti-anxiety medicine.
The PDSA adds that environmental changes, like using a pheromone diffuser at home or making sure your cat isn’t competing with other cats for resources, will help to decrease stress. You can also add enrichments so that your cat can get more activity and stimulation within your house. This can be as simple as feeding them using a food puzzle, providing them more opportunities to utilise their climbing instincts by installing cat trees or shelves, and having them hunt for their toys.
Your vet may also refer you to a cat behaviourist if they think that stress is contributing to the problem and that environmental or social modifications could help to reduce stress, notes Cats Protection.
Basically, licking themselves is a completely normal cat behaviour, , but if they show signs of excessive licking, speak with your vet as soon as possible. Together, you and your vet can determine the best treatment for your furry friend.
Related products
Sensitive Stomach & Skin Adult Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Sensitive Stomach & Skin Adult Wet Cat Food with Turkey is a complete pet food for adult cats, aged 1–6 years. This highly digestible wet food comes in a pouch and supports healthy digestion, as well as nourishes skin and promotes a thick and lustrous coat.
Hairball & Perfect Coat Adult Dry Cat Food with Chicken
Hill's Science Plan Hairball & Perfect Coat Adult Cat Food with Chicken is formulated to effectively help avoid hairball formation in adult cats while promoting a beautiful coat. Thanks to its mix of essential omega-6 fatty acids, this food benefits the cat's skin and fur, keeping them healthy and shiny. Our Advanced Fibre Technology helps reduce hairballs by naturally promoting their passage through the gut. This food is formulated with high-quality protein for a perfectly balanced, great-tasting recipe.
Sterilised Adult Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Adult Sterilised Cat Dry Food with Salmon is specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology. It is a precisely balanced nutrition, tailored to meet the needs of sterilised cats, to help keep them lean & healthy.
Perfect Digestion Adult Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Perfect Digestion Cat Food with Chicken & Brown Rice nourishes your cat's unique microbiome and helps them reach their full potential.
Related articles
How Often Should You Feed A Cat?
Feeding time can be a wonderful bonding opportunity for you and your cat. Find out how to make the most of it and create a healthy habit with HIll's Pet UK.
How To Feed a Cat With a Sensitive Stomach
Discover what you can do to spot and support a sensitive cat stomach. See what routines and food you can implement to help your cat be happy and healthy.
How To Support Your Cat’s Digestion
Find out about how you can support your cat's digestion to boost overall health. Diet is key to a long and happy life for your cat, so discover what you can do.
Hill's Cat Foods: Nutritional Balance Just for Indoor Cats
Find the right Hill
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavourful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavourful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.