Many cat owners will experience their cat licking them from time to time. Cats will lick your face, hair, hands or clothes, and usually it’s a sign of affection.
Cats Licking People Is Instinctual
Cats have been known to lick and groom each other. This is a way of showing affection and bonding within a group. Cats have a hard time grooming their own head and neck, so it’s thought that they lick each other in order to solve this problem. In addition, licking other pets, people and things helps spread their scent, essentially marking their territory.
Likewise, cats will lick and groom people for the same instinctual reasons. They see you as part of their tribe, and want to help clean you. While it might not actually help get you clean, having your cat lick your hair is a cute sign of affection.
When Are Cats More Likely to Lick You?
Your cat will be more likely to lick you when they’re grooming themselves and/or feeling relaxed. If your cat starts licking you while you’re cuddling together, they might expect you to groom them in return!
You might also notice your cat licking you more after you shower. This is because they’re trying to reestablish their scent after you just cleaned it off.
Cats might also try to lick you more if you’ve used any products containing mint, such as toothpaste. This is because mint is from the same plant family as catnip, which we know cats go crazy for.
Is it Ok to Let My Cat Lick Me?
In general it’s safe to let your cat groom you and lick your hair. The only exception to this is if you’ve used any products toxic to cats, like certain shampoos and lotions. Also be aware of your cat actually eating your hair. Cats can ingest their own hair and expel them as hairballs, but they may not be able to process your hair properly.
