Do you know why a cat licks its owner? What lies behind these actions - weasel or exclusively selfish claim to the territory? Today we will try to understand this issue and find out if there is a difference in which part of the body the mustachioed-striped shows its feelings, licking a person’s legs, arms or face.
Why the cat licks the owner: the main reasons
Every real catman knows that his pet is an extremely independent and self-sufficient creature. Most of the owners of this animal in their hearts probably have creeped in more than once the thought that his cat actually believes that he is the main one in the family, and the person for him is by no means a master, but a stupid slave. But we are accustomed to thinking of ourselves as intelligent creatures, so we are often mistaken about the true reasons why a cat licks its owner. A person is pleased to think that this is from pure love and affection, that in this way the animal demonstrates its warm feelings for the person - his benefactor. This is partly true, but nevertheless we are forced to dispel this error a bit and bring some clarity to this issue. So, here are the main reasons why a cat licks the owner’s feet, his hands or head:
- She marks the territory.
- She expresses her warm feelings and sympathy for the owner.
- She asks for affection.
- She take care of her master.
- She asks to eat.
As you can see, in half the cases, the pet actually shows good feelings towards the person if it licks it. But often he simply achieves some of his goals.
The basic Instinct
It's no secret that cats mark territory that they consider to be their own, spraying their own urine everywhere. For many people, this becomes a real test and the reason that they simply do not give birth to baleen pets. Indeed, an unpleasant and extremely pungent smell in an apartment is sometimes stronger than a love for the animal. Fortunately, this can be fought, and veterinarians are well aware of ways to wean cats from writing on furniture, walls and housekeeping.
However, in these animals this is not the only way to mark your own, or even “beat off” someone else's. Pheromones that “brand” the cat’s possessions are also secreted with saliva and with the help of the sebaceous glands located near the tail, behind the ears, around the mouth and on the head, between the eyes and ears.
This is the whole mystery of why a cat licks its owner and rubs against its legs: it simply leaves its mark on it. A person will not be able to smell this smell, but other animals (including cats) can very well.
Cats instinctively bring this peculiarity to their lives - for example, a cat licks its cubs when they return from a walk, not only for washing, but also to “domesticate” them, remove extraneous, foreign smells from them.
Rubbing on the legs
The same natural and natural mechanism for cats works with people. When a person comes from the street, he does not smell right, which means it needs to be fixed. The cat rubs its face on the owner’s legs, licks it, trying to put the lost olfactory marker on it again.
By the way, cat pheromones eventually evaporate by themselves, and this explains why the cat licks the owner’s head and other parts of his body, even if he is at home for a long time and there are no competing animals nearby. And of course, with the help of friction and licking, the animal attracts people's attention, shows sympathy for them.
Manifestation of love
And yet, no matter how impudent and isolated cats may be, they also know how to sincerely love their master! They demonstrate their warm feelings precisely by licking his hands, head and other parts of the body. Therefore, if you wondered why the cat licks the face of the owner and what this could mean, know: she just loves him!
This way of transmitting positive emotions in the purr is laid from a very early age, when a cat-mother licks her babies, caresses them and takes care of them in every possible way. It has been scientifically proven that animals feel their hosts very well, they are able to empathize with them, to rejoice and be sad with them. Moreover, they also want to receive affection and care. But if the owner is in no hurry to show his warm feelings, the cat can easily take the first step and caress its owner, prompting him to stroke or scratch himself.
Tender request
Now let's understand why a cat licks its owner’s hands. It can also be a surge of warm feelings towards a person, but more likely it is a banal request for food. Firstly, cats have a great sense of smell, and they smell food coming from the owner’s fingers, and secondly, they remember how people feed them from their hands, which eventually become associated with food.
It should also be noted that pets perceive themselves as a full member of the family, so they often project their "kitty" habits on people. So, it is customary for the mustachioed to lick in order to maintain hygiene. Adult cats wash their babies, teach them to take care of themselves, and in the same way they can patronize human cubs, and sometimes adults themselves, washing them and licking with their rough tongue. This may be unpleasant for someone, but you need to understand that the cat does not do so out of bad intentions, but rather wanting to show his love.
Basic rules for caring for cats
Well, and finally, we will briefly talk about how to care for representatives of the cat breed. You can’t say much about this, because at least once in your life, but everyone started a purr, and therefore, in general terms, everyone knows what and how to do it, nevertheless, not everyone knows the nuances of such a crucial task:
- The animal must have at least two bowls (one for food, the other for water). It is better to choose dishes made of stainless steel or food grade plastic. Plates need to be washed after each meal, it is very important!
- You can’t bathe cats. They themselves do an excellent job with their hygienic procedures, and the “brainwash” will only hurt them.
- In order for the hair of a pet to gloss and not crumble, it must be well and properly fed.
- The cat must be trained in the toilet in one specific place. It is best to use special granular fillers that are poured into plastic containers.
- The animal should have its own corner for rest and sleep, a secluded place where he can hide from people. It can be a basket, a box or a special house, the main thing is that the cat can easily get into its lair and feel comfortable there.
That's all our recommendations. We hope you were interested in reading our article!