Cat question

[Oeditpus Rex]

Lucy washes my beard when I scratch her back. I don't mean a few licks; I mean she'll wash it until I make her stop.

Is this an affection thing or is she actually grooming me? Do I need to do a better job of shampooing my beard? :shrug:

[SeattleGirl]

1. Well, not having a beard, I'm not sure how to answer.....

:evilgrin:

[NMMNG]

2. It could very well be a grooming thing, particularly since she's female

Mother cats groom their kittens, so she may just be acting on misplaced instinct. :shrug:

[ForrestGump]

3. When was the last time you ate clam chowder?

Actually, it's probably more affection than anything else. Maybe a bit of a salt fix, at times, but it usually seems less a dietary requirement than plain old bonding. Try to move away, sometimes, and the furry beasts can (depending on the cat) delpoy the talons of doom as restraints.

[Oeditpus Rex]

5. I wondered about salt...

Could be, I reckon. :shrug:

And, Buffy... good point. She never had kits of her own (and never will), so yeah — it's likely the grooming instinct.

Is it weird that I like it? :7

[leftstreet]

4. Don't bother cats with questions, you'll only annoy them.

[pokerfan]

6. I read this somewhere recently

It could be grooming but it could also be an infantile response. Kittens will often lick their mother's face to taste/learn what she has been eating. In many ways domesticated cats remain forever kittens to us, e.g. the kneeding reflex which is designed to produce milk whenever they are being petted (licked).

[REP]

7. Both

Cats groom cats (and people) that they like. It's a social activity. My big tom Thomas grooms *everybody* including me, and he was never separated from his mother as a kitten.

[khashka]

8. Par for the course.

Stevie would wash my hair with cat spit. Til every hair on my head was standing straight up. I used to ask her "You really think I look better this way?" And she'd purr.

Grooming and affection are pretty much the same thing with cats.

Khash.

[LaurenG]

10. Oh man, what a visual lol

Got any pictures? :rofl:

[khashka]

12. You think I'm that dumb?

Of course, there are no pix!

Khash.

[Callalily]

9. Yes, most likely

a grooming thing. You should catch the show "Calling All Pets" on NPR. It's a call in show and the vet is exceptionally knowledgeable. It's a great show. Just a suggestion . . .

[MissHoneychurch]

11. ya know

I do expect a picture of your cat when you ask cat questions ..... :P

[Flaxbee]

13. my girl Clarisse grooms me or my husband if we sit still for a

minute -- actually we have to be on the bed with her, and then she'll kick into gear, grooming my hair, licking my face (salt, probably) and going absolutely wild over my husband's hair (which is much thicker than mine). All the while, she's purring like a maniac. I think it's just fondness, connectedness, and some baby memories all rolled up into one.

[China_cat]

14. Cats licking when you scratch their backs

is the equivalent of the dog's hind leg thumping when you find that 'special' spot.