Have you ever wondered: Why do cats lick each other — or you for that matter? When you see your cats groom each other, or sometimes you too, it can be both heartwarming and a little strange. According to Pamela Perry, DVM, cats spend 30 - 50% of their day grooming themselves or others. Yes, cats spend up to half their day grooming with their unique, comb-like tongues. So, is there more going on beneath the fur?
Turns out that when cats groom others, it’s not just about staying clean. This behavior, called allogrooming, helps cats bond, communicate, and even express instinctive behaviors. Whether it’s affection, trust, or survival, your cat’s grooming habits reveal a lot about them.
Stop Googling - Ask a Real Vet
Content:
- Why Do Cats Lick Each Other
- Why Do My Cats Lick Each Other and Then Fight
- Is It Normal for Cats to Lick Each Other's Butt
- Conclusion
Why Do Cats Lick Each Other
What does it mean when cats groom each other? The social grooming habit, known as allogrooming, says a lot about your cat’s relationships, and sometimes their health too. Let’s get to know more about why cats are grooming each other.
- Bonding & Affection: Cats groom each other to express social bonds and affection, according to Steve Dale, CABC. This mutual grooming, known as allogrooming, is a sign of trust and friendship.
- Hygiene Help: While cats are meticulous groomers, they may struggle to reach certain areas. Licking each other helps clean hard-to-reach spots, ensuring both cats stay clean and healthy.
- Stress Relief: The act of grooming releases endorphins, which are natural mood enhancers. This helps cats relax and reduces stress, promoting a calm environment.
- Scent Sharing: Licking transfers each cat's scent to the other, reinforcing their bond and marking them as part of the same social group.
- Hierarchy & Dominance: In multi-cat households, grooming can indicate social structure. Dominant cats may initiate grooming to assert their position, while submissive cats may groom others to show respect.
- Health Issues: Excessive grooming in cats may signal allergies, parasites, or skin issues. Other cats may sense these changes and respond with extra grooming. But note that cat saliva can cause infections too. Know your cat’s normal behavior to spot health problems early and call your vet if anything seems off.
To better monitor your cats and understand their allogrooming behavior, the Petcube Cam can be of great use. With it, you can closely monitor your cat and detect any signs that are out of the ordinary early on.
Why Do My Cats Lick Each Other and Then Fight
Why do cats groom each other, then suddenly fight? Oftentimes, this behavior isn’t true aggression, but more like a cuddle that went too far. Grooming, or allogrooming, helps cats bond, but just like people, they have limits too. Missed signals such as: ears back, tail twitching, or a tight body can lead to tensions after grooming.
Dr. Kat Pankratz, DVM, DACVB, and veterinary behaviorist shares that play fighting is balanced and injury-free, while real fights involve chasing, hissing, and signs of fear or pain. If tensions rise, gently distract and separate them. Interestingly, mutual grooming can also be a way for cats to make peace after conflict.
Is It Normal for Cats to Lick Each Other's Butt
In a Reddit discussion, a Redditor sheds light on this behavior. She shares that when a cat sniffs or licks another’s butt, it’s because of instinct. She adds that the behavior taps into the Flehmen response, a scent-analysis tool cats use to read pheromones and gather info, especially after a cat marks their territory by pooping.
While it’s normal behavior, there are possible health and sanitation risks. With this, having a Petcube Fountain can go a long way, since it purifies water through eliminating bacteria, parasites, as well as harmful pathogens. that way, you can keep your cat hydrated without worry.
It can also be grooming. For example, kittens aren’t great at cleaning themselves, so older cats often help out. It’s all part of how cats bond, communicate, and keep their world (and each other) in check.
Conclusion
Cats groom each other (also known as allogrooming) not just for cleanliness, but also to bond, show affection, relieve stress, share scent, and establish social hierarchy. This behavior helps them connect, especially in multi-cat homes, and may even indicate health issues if excessive.
Meanwhile, grooming can sometimes lead to play fights due to overstimulation or missed signals. Cats also lick each other’s butts as part of instinctive scent analysis or to assist with hygiene, especially in kittens. Overall, grooming is a key part of feline communication, social structure, and well-being.