If you have more than one cat at home, you might have seen a cat licking or grooming each other. You must have smiled, looking them behaving like this. But the question here is that why do cats groom each other? To get an answer to this question, you need to take a careful look at your cat’s behavior.
According to scientists, this behavior in cats is known as allogrooming. It may seem just a sign of affection to you, but this situation is not that simple.
Therefore, this article will focus on the complete details about cat licking or grooming each other. It will help you to find the answer to the above questions. So be with us to learn about this behavior of your feline fellow.
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What Will I Learn?
Why Do Cats Groom Each Other? (7 Reasons)
Cat grooming each other is simply not a sign of affection. Not every cat shows this behavior. There are several reasons why you find your cats rubbing tongue on each other. So let’s take a look at these reasons.
1. A sign of Social Bonding:
It has been observed that cats already having a social bond develop this behavior. If you have multiple cats at home that do not fight, you may show this behavior. There are more chances for these cats that they will develop allogrooming.
2. Close Bond between Cats:
Cats that groom each other are usually close to each other. Living together for a long time, develops a close bond between them. So licking each other may be a sign of affection. But if you see your cats washing each other, then it means that they have developed a trusting bond.
Your cat may sometimes want to groom you as well. It can be a sign of intense bonding with, but sometimes it is just that your cat likes to clean you.
3. Cleaning Kittens:
Mother cats clean kittens right after their birth. They do this to clean all blood and to transfer her smell among them. In this way, a mother cat can quickly identify them and can rescue them. Male cats also do this because this is what they have seen in their young age, so they may mirror mother instinct.
4. A sign of being Dominant:
If you have multiple cats at home, you might have noticed that the dominant cat always groom other cats. It can be a sign of social ranking that it wants to be on top of the hierarchy. Less dominant or submissive cats will always be behind the dominant cat and expose their head or neck.
5. Giving a Helping Hand:
Sometimes cats lick each other just as a help. There are some tricky areas in the body, such as the top of the head, back, and tail, where the cat may feel difficult to reach. Washing these areas is difficult, so the cat may take the help of another cat. This behavior is common in young and older cats, mainly. Young cats always need a helping hand.
7. Protection:
Having a new cat is always tricky because you don’t know how the other cat will react. Not all cats are welcoming to the newcomer feline fellow. Some may feel relaxed, while others will show signs of discomfort. Cats are also very conscious about marking their territories.
They are afraid of letting someone in their territory. Therefore, it can be problematic to introduce a new cat home. Sometimes your cat will lick and smell newcomers and will show an adopting and protective behavior. In this way, they transfer their smell to the newcomer and welcome it to a new home.
Conclusion
Now you probably have got the answer to the question that “why do cats groom each other?” Cats licking and grooming each other is a specific behavior in cats, which is known as allogrooming. They may do it to mirror their mother instinct or just giving a helping hand to other cats.
Cats can groom dogs and other animals as well. It all depends upon the social bond and trust in each other. Cats can lick human beings also. It can be a sign of affection, or because they don’t like your smell, clean you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do cats lick each other’s private areas?
Licking each other’s private areas is normal for cats. They do it to keep the private parts clean. Somebody areas are tricky to reach, and cats may need a helping hand to clean them. Therefore, cats lick other’s private areas for cleaning purposes.
Why do cats bite each other while grooming?
Biting other cats during grooming is not a sign of aggression. Most of the cats chew themselves just to clean or remove waste from their body. They do it get rid of flea that is attached to their skin or to remove matted or tangled spots on their fur.
They do the same thing with other cats while grooming it and bite just to remove any dirt or waste in their fur.
Why cats groom humans?
Usually, cats love to lick human hair and other body parts, they groom humans as a sign of affection because they consider you as their family. They will show you love and respect by licking or grooming you. However, sometimes it is not just affection. Your cat may not like your smell. It will lick you only to remove that smell from you.
Why do cats lick each other’s ears?
Cats licking or grooming each other is a sign of affection, and this bond between cats is known as allogrooming. It occurs when two cats completely trust each other. Biting or licking ears of each other has been seen as a sign of communication between cats. They lick each other and communicate in this way.
Why don’t my cats groom each other?
Cats will only groom each other if they completely trust and love each other. Grooming is not common with all cats. Therefore you don’t need to worry if your cats don’t groom each other. Your cat may not warmly welcome the newcomer, so there will be no bond of affection between them.
Why do cats groom other animals?
If you have different pets at home, they may develop a strong bond between them. If your cat trusts other animals and has a social bond with them, it will likely groom them. So it all depends on trust and love. A cat can groom other cats and other animals as well.
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Why do cats groom dogs?
It may seem weird to people seeing a cat and dog together. However, if they both live together and develop a strong bond, they can also groom each other. There is nothing wrong with it. It is even best for you as they both will stay clean; there will be social bonding.
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