Why Does Your Cat Lick Your Hair? And If You Should Let Them · Kinship Leave a comment

Cats do quite a bit with their tongues — discover and examine, soothe others and self-soothe. They lick issues that style good and dangerous. That always consists of us. On this case, we’re speaking about cats licking our hair. 

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Causes in your cat licking your hair 

Cats might solely have about 473 style buds to our 9,000. However I believe it’s protected to say they do extra with their tongues than we do. We’ve checked out why cats lick our faces and our bodies. It’s additionally frequent for cats to lick the hair on our heads. Is there a particular cause for it? Let’s take a look at just a few.  

Affection

Cats study nearly instantly at start that being licked is reassuring. It turns into an indication of affection from their mom. That realized conduct then transfers from mother and child to cat and some other creature they really feel bonded to — cats, canine, folks. They could gravitate towards our hair as a result of a lot of the different critters they lick are fur-covered. Or it may simply be the proximity of our cats to our hair after they’re feeling cozy.  

Grooming instincts

Licking isn’t nearly affection. Cats are additionally groomed by their moms at start. That continues all through kittenhood and, once more, is transferred to different creatures, together with us. Our cats could also be licking our hair to scrub it, particularly since we use merchandise with scent or style they might like or need to take away.  

Playfulness

Cats use their entire our bodies for play — even their mouths and tongues. String is a giant set off for lots of cats. So is motion. And many people have a head stuffed with “strings” that transfer. It’s pure for a cat to see the motion of hair and need to seize, lick, and different playful behaviors. 

Consideration-seeking

Cats study shortly what to do to get what they want. That features our consideration. In case your cat licks or messes along with your hair and also you reply in any means, they make a psychological word. “If my individual is simply sitting there and I am bored, licking makes one thing occur.”

Curiosity 

Curiosity can get our cats into sticky, or furry, conditions. Smells, motion, and different issues can pique a cat’s curiosity and put them in exploration mode. They use all of their senses to research, together with their tongues. If our hair is the goal of that investigation, it’s solely pure that they’d do some licking.  

Scent-marking

One cause cats groom one another is to create a bunch scent. They use this to determine different cats as a part of their social group. Your cat might lick your hair to combine their scent with yours, including you to the social group. 

Underlying well being considerations in your cat grooming your hair 

Whereas there are many behavioral and instinctual causes cats might lick and groom us, there may also be medical causes. If the licking begins all of the sudden, it’s laborious to distract your cat after they’re licking your hair, otherwise you discover different modifications in your cat’s regular conduct, it’s time to talk along with your veterinarian. 

Pica or ingestion of hair 

Consuming non-food objects is named pica, and it wants immediate consideration. There are numerous causes, together with boredom, stress, or sure medical points. One of many massive considerations with pica is inside injury. Ingesting sharp or pointed issues could cause punctures. A set of ingested materials could cause a blockage. Name your vet if you already know your cat has eaten one thing aside from meals. It could be time for an examination and X-ray. 

Keep in mind that your cat’s tongue is roofed in tiny, backward-facing hooks. Issues like string or items of cardboard can get caught on these hooks and labored towards the again of the throat, the place they get swallowed. So, it is probably not pica inflicting your cat to ingest non-food objects if it solely occurs sometimes. They could get pleasure from chewing and licking issues that unintentionally get compelled into their throat. It’s nonetheless very important to speak to your vet. 

Stress or anxiety-related licking

Cats will lick as a means of self-soothing throughout delicate stress. It may be calming. However it may also be extra of a compulsive conduct to cope with extra intense stress and anxiousness. In case your cat appears typically nervous, cannot be simply distracted when licking your hair, or appears determined to begin licking, they might have anxiousness that wants consideration. 

Dietary deficiencies 

In case your cat lacks sure vitamins from, for instance, an unbalanced food plan or medical points, they might lick or eat non-food objects like your hair. Once more, if the conduct appears obsessive otherwise you discover different modifications in your cat’s regular conduct or routine, it’s time to speak to your vet. They will do checks to examine for a deficiency. 

Do you have to let your cat lick your hair? 

To be protected, it’s most likely greatest to discourage your cat from licking your hair. You may use hair merchandise which can be unsafe in your cat to ingest, like gels or sprays. In case your cat does ingest your longer hair, it could possibly be more durable for his or her system to course of and cross as a result of size. And it’s doable there’s a stress or medical set off that isn’t being helped by licking. 

After they’re licking your hair, gently and neutrally interrupt them with out making a giant fuss. You don’t need licking to be a means your cat will get consideration. Wait a minute or two. Then, redirect them to an exercise to burn off that vitality. And attempt to present extra play and enrichment at different instances in order that they’re much less prone to lick within the first place. 

These steps can assist whatever the trigger. However you could must go additional if there’s a medical or stress set off for the licking.

Tips on how to cease your cat licking your hair if it’s medical

Cats are actually good at hiding medical points. The most typical clues we get are modifications of their regular conduct. Issues like consuming, consuming, and sleeping modifications, extra reactivity, not enjoying as a lot, home soiling, and so on., might be indicators that one thing is happening. When you discover something like this, together with the licking, give your vet a name.

Tips on how to cease your cat licking your hair if it’s emotional

If the licking is a stress conduct, you should still discover a few of the identical modifications above. And you continue to need to discuss to your vet to rule out medical causes. Then, you possibly can take a look at emotional triggers. Is there a brand new stressor in your cat’s life (schedule change, new pet or child within the dwelling, and so on.)?

If that’s the case, work on lowering the influence of that set off by eradicating it or reducing the depth and serving to them type optimistic associations with it. Have they got a medical subject that may be inflicting stress? Discuss to your vet about methods to handle the bodily signs to, in flip, cut back stress. You can even cut back stress typically by doing extra play, providing psychological enrichment, and giving your cat a bit extra consideration. When you aren’t seeing an enchancment, a licensed feline conduct guide can assist you discover doable triggers and work up a plan to deal with them. 

FAQs

Why does my cat chew on every part?

Cats chew on issues for a wide range of causes. Boredom and stress are two of the most typical triggers. It may also be associated to dietary deficiencies, different medical points, and even the style and delight they get from chewing. 

Why does my cat lick my face?

The explanations your cat licks your face might be just like why they lick your hair and chew issues. Boredom, anxiousness, medical points, bonding, and extra can immediate your cat to present you a lick. 

Why does my cat lick me?

Cats lick for a lot of causes. It’s typically associated to getting your consideration or displaying you some love via grooming. It may also be the salty style of your pores and skin or many different causes. 

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