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The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,280 posts)
19. Cats lick themselves for a number of reasons,
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:40 PM
Sep 2012

all of which have an evolutionary basis. They do it because it keeps their fur clean, smooth and free of burrs and parasites; it helps keep the cat cool in hot weather (they can't sweat except on their paw pads); it helps their fur stay waterproof; and in cold weather it fluffs up the fur to help the cat retain heat.

You don't want your cats to stop licking themselves; if they did, they'd soon become smelly and their fur would be sticky and dirty. They'd be miserably hot in the summer and cold in the winter and would probably get sick. You can't keep them clean in the same way - their saliva has a surfactant cleaning quality you can't duplicate. You can't keep them cool or warm, or free of parasites. Nature has given them that ability and they have to use it.

If your cats are licking themselves so much that they are developing bald spots, that's probably an indication of an allergy, which can usually be treated with cortisone injections. But normal licking is something cats have to do to stay clean and healthy. You will have to live with it if you want healthy cats as pets.

Perhaps if you joined them it would not bother you so much Angry Dragon Sep 2012 #1
Don't get me started on why my cat decides my hair needs grooming. Liberal Veteran Sep 2012 #5
+1110 geardaddy Sep 2012 #45
No. It's a cat thing. Get over it. TrogL Sep 2012 #2
Dogs are worse Ter Sep 2012 #3
Perhaps you shouldn't have pets then if they are too annoying or too much trouble Lionessa Sep 2012 #4
I knew I'd get an answer like this Ter Sep 2012 #6
And nowhere do I read "love" or even "like". I stand by my opinion of you owning pets. Lionessa Sep 2012 #7
Perhaps you need to open your eyes more Ter Sep 2012 #11
Do you have any scratching posts for your cats? avebury Sep 2012 #9
Yeah, but they still love scratching couches Ter Sep 2012 #12
Wait a minute? Where'd we get to declawing?? TrogL Sep 2012 #10
?!?!? Is this something personal between you two? MiddleFingerMom Sep 2012 #24
Perhaps a roomba with a cat costume is more your style of pet. Lionessa Sep 2012 #8
You could kill them, I guess. harmonicon Sep 2012 #13
Wheels turning don't bother you Ter Sep 2012 #14
You don't like cats. harmonicon Sep 2012 #15
I don't like assumers Ter Sep 2012 #17
See, that's a worse analogy. harmonicon Sep 2012 #18
Really, not liking your cat being a cat (cats must lick) is more like not liking your Honeycombe8 Sep 2012 #23
Dog hater! Texasgal Sep 2012 #31
Not at all!!!! (says proud mother of two rescue dogs!) Honeycombe8 Sep 2012 #33
I was being silly... Texasgal Sep 2012 #34
Oh, good. Thx. nt Honeycombe8 Sep 2012 #48
You obviously haven't met my cats TrogL Sep 2012 #54
Ear plugs - for you, not the cats. HopeHoops Sep 2012 #16
Cats lick themselves for a number of reasons, The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2012 #19
I can always tell after my cat has just completed its bath...Its fur is extra smooth and ... yawnmaster Sep 2012 #28
Your hands do not meet his cleanliness standards. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2012 #29
Yes he is. And he doesn't wait and do it discreetly... yawnmaster Sep 2012 #30
When I fed my cat some food that didn't agree with him, he stopped grooming Lydia Leftcoast Sep 2012 #35
What do you do, though, when your cat literally licks herself raw? AngryOldDem Sep 2012 #43
I guess it's back to the vet. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2012 #47
I've heard that cats that lick themselves too much LishaD35 Sep 2012 #52
Channel their activities into something more productive and socially-acceptable. MiddleFingerMom Sep 2012 #20
YOu might as well ask, "Can I teach my cat not to purr?" It is what they do, per nature. Honeycombe8 Sep 2012 #21
Sounds like your house is way too quiet. Turn on some music. reformist2 Sep 2012 #22
lol, seriously OriginalGeek Sep 2012 #32
As a person who has a cat who REFUSES to lick his own ass IVoteDFL Sep 2012 #25
YOU say cleaning isn't necessary, but the cats have a higher standard! yawnmaster Sep 2012 #26
Let cats be cats. Wear earplugs. nt valerief Sep 2012 #27
I am astounded at your assertion that you can hear your cats licking Lydia Leftcoast Sep 2012 #36
My kitteh is a very thorough groomer and I have never hifiguy Sep 2012 #38
I can hear mine 20 feet or more away Ter Sep 2012 #51
I hear them daily Ter Sep 2012 #50
Can you hear your cats stamping their feet on the carpet, too? Lydia Leftcoast Sep 2012 #57
Buy 50lbs of raw meat and bath yourself in it LynneSin Sep 2012 #37
Adrian Monk, is that you? nt raccoon Sep 2012 #39
Win! geardaddy Sep 2012 #46
I hope this is a joke ceile Sep 2012 #40
Cats lick as a means of grooming, relaxing, calming, to show affection Solly Mack Sep 2012 #41
Do what I do. Lick the cats. TrogL Sep 2012 #55
Bath them in Tabasco. nt hack89 Sep 2012 #42
Man walks in a bar and sees a cat on the floor licking his balls Teamster Jeff Sep 2012 #44
That's a keeper! nt raccoon Sep 2012 #49
You can have a republican do it for them. GreenTea Sep 2012 #53
Let answer a question with a question; Dyedinthewoolliberal Sep 2012 #56
About as much chance as getting a teenage boy to stop rubbing himself. Good luck. HopeHoops Sep 2012 #58
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