Why does the cat lick the head of the person

If the cat has no signs of stress, and it just wants to take care of you, you can not abruptly refuse its care – you can easily offend the animal, and already believe me, the pet will not forget this. But if the process is unpleasant for you or you are worried about the health of the cat, you can try to gently and unobtrusively wean it from this not quite safe habit. Here are a few tips that will help you do it:

Why a cat licks your hair or even chews it

Sometimes you can notice a rather strange and obsessive love for the owner's hair behind the house cat.

As soon as a person sits down on the couch or lies on the bed, as soon as the tailed pet appears and begins to imitate a professional hairdresser.

The cat thoroughly licks your hair, as if brushing it with his tongue.

So, licking your hair may be of interest to the purr in several cases:

– he takes you for his own, so he takes care of you in this way. Very often in a house where there are several cats you can see that the animals are actively licking each other;

– The cat likes the smell of your shampoo or hair mask, so he enjoys the pleasant aroma;

– your head smells like something foreign and unfamiliar, maybe even some strange cat. This oversight must be corrected urgently.

However, if you are not attracted to such cat care then you can remove the kitty from you or simply walk away, strictly punishing him not to do so.

However, some pets do not just lick hair, but even try to eat it.

Yes, some owners have noticed that their cats literally sit and try to chew individual curls.

Your wet hair reminds them of their mother's hair and the times they fed on her milk.

That's how they try to find tasty sustenance on your head for themselves.

However, it also happens that an adult cat behaves in this way.

This most likely occurs because he had some kind of psychological trauma in childhood that provoked this behavior.

Here, too, you should remove the pet from yourself at such moments, even get up and leave.

You can also talk sternly about what you do not like or even try to make a hissing sound, which is a warning signal to the cat.

Soon, the cat may develop an understanding that such an action of hers is followed by her owner's departure or other punitive measures.

A cat licks your hair: causes

Cats lick themselves every day. This is normal, it's part of their hygiene, aimed at removing dust, dirt, small debris and parasites from their fur. But why does the pet suddenly switch to the owner? And why is he attracted to our, human hair? In fact, cats often even jump up on their owner on purpose to mess with his or her hair. Experts name several possible reasons for cats' interest in human hair:

• Care. For cats, licking their hair is a regular routine. If a human is lying nearby, the cat can take care of him by washing and combing his hair the way he knows how.
• Smell. If it wants to lick your hair it's probably because something attracted it to you, be it the scent of shampoo or conditioner or the smell of food that your hair absorbed while you were in the kitchen.
• A sign of affection or gratitude. It's common for felines to lick each other, showing their friendly disposition and close bond with their kin. If a cat feels good, warm and nourished with you and sees you as part of its family, this behavior is just a way for the cat to let you know.
• A hint that the cat needs something.. Cats have different ways of getting a human's attention. Licking is one of them. The pet may be trying to gently wake you up because it is hungry. And if the cat licks and then bites, it may indicate that the pet is upset or doesn't like something.
• Stress, anxiety .. Sometimes licking a person can indicate that the cat is experiencing discomfort. Occasionally, this behavior becomes compulsive and develops into a compulsive disorder: the cat cannot stop and does not respond to external factors. In this case, professional help is needed.

Is it harmful for cats to lick their hair?

As in the case of cat hair, human hair is not capable of being digested by the animal's body. It can form a lump in the digestive system and prevent the passage of stools, or block the intestinal passage entirely, causing intestinal obstruction. And while there is less risk with short hair (the cat will just throw up the lump), swallowing long hair can be a problem. Intestinal obstruction is a painful and life-threatening condition. Trust me: it's better not to take any chances.

There's another potential danger: non-washable conditioners, oils and other hair care products. If your cat starts vomiting or diarrhea after licking your head, keep her away from your hair. This is poisoning from toxic substances in your cosmetics.

Basic Instinct.

It's no secret that cats mark the territory they consider their own by spraying their own urine everywhere. For many people, this becomes a real challenge and the reason that they simply do not get a whiskered pet. And indeed, the unpleasant and extremely corrosive smell in the apartment is sometimes stronger than love for the animal. Fortunately, it can be dealt with, and veterinarians know very well how to wean cats from peeing on furniture, walls and owners' clothes.

However, this is not the only way for these animals to mark their own, or even "repel" someone else's. Pheromones that "mark" the possessions of a cat are also released with saliva and with the help of sebaceous glands located near the tail, behind the ears, around the mouth and on the head, between the eyes and ears.

Therein lies the mystery of why a cat licks its owner and rubs his feet: it simply leaves his secretions on him. A human can't smell it, but other animals (including cats) can.

Cats instinctively bring this peculiarity into people's lives. For instance, cats lick their cubs when they come back from their walks, not only to wash them, but also to "domesticate" them and remove foreign, strange smells from them.

Rubbing their feet

With people, the same natural and natural mechanism works for cats. When a human comes in from the street, he smells wrong, which means it needs to be corrected. The cat rubs its muzzle against the owner's legs, licks him, trying to reapply the lost lusciousness marker.

By the way, the cat's pheromones evaporate on their own with time, and this explains why the cat licks the owner's head and other parts of his body, even if he is home for a long time and there are no competing individuals nearby. And of course, with the help of rubbing and licking, the animal attracts the attention of people, shows sympathy for them.

Why does the cat lick my face? Its owner is a big cat.

A cat licks your face probably for two reasons. First, it is a signal that she is looking out for you. There is a high probability that cats perceive people as bigger cats who can't take care of themselves. Your pet wants to help you with your daily hygiene routine, just like he does with this little kitten who can't yet do it himself.

Cats' tongues have many functions

The second reason your kitty licks you is because he wants to "mark you" as his property. In a group of cats, licking each other helps create a common group scent that allows you to recognize your own family members. So don't worry if your cat licks you. It doesn't want to eat you at all. It's just letting you know that you are her family.

Cats aren't mean at all! If you get that impression, it's probably because you just misinterpreted their body language. If a kitten, for example, in the midst of having fun, just a minute ago very satisfied with petting, suddenly bites your hand, that doesn't tell you he's mean. You have probably just found a place on the animal's body that the kitty doesn't want to be touched.

If the cat turns away, it means he trusts you. It is as if he is telling you to take care of his safety.

Why do cats lick their owners' hair?

If you have several cats, you may notice that they are grooming each other. This is called allogrooming (or social grooming). Many species of animals practice allogrooming.

Studies have shown that domestic cats are much more likely to care for family members and cats they live with or know than are outdoor animals.

Mostly this manifests itself in one cat licking the head, neck and ears of another cat. Grooming helps animals maintain their own scent and create group cohesion. Essentially, if we all smell the same, we know we all belong to the same group.

Allogrooming is used as a method of keeping the peace. Cats who live in the same house but are not littermates cannot always get along well with each other. Taking care of each other is one way to get on the same level and form a calmer relationship. That's why if your cat starts licking your hair, she most likely sees you as a member of her feline family and wants to make sure everything is okay between you.

Best of all, another study found that cats with higher social ratings are more caring than animals with lower ratings. And if your kitty is taking care of you, she's trying to include you in her pack.

Is it bad for a pet to lick its hair?

Veterinarians say that most cats prefer to stay away from a place where they smell or taste something unusual, such as hair oil or indelible conditioner. So, most likely, there is no danger for your pet with this habit. But if your cat suddenly starts vomiting or diarrhea after licking your hair, you should not allow him to do this.

If your cat's hair licking habit has become unpleasant for you, you should stop these actions. As soon as the pet starts licking you, try to leave the room. You should try not to pay attention to the cat. Spraying citrus-scented or apple cider vinegar hair spray can also help to wean the pet from this not entirely pleasant habit for owners.

If a cat licks its owner's hands

By compulsively licking its hands the cat may be trying to attract attention if it lacks companionship. In this case, it will not only lick the person, but also demonstrate other friendly gestures inviting to mutual pastime and mutual "grooming": rubbing its sides against the owner's legs, touching its muzzle and paw, exposing various parts of its body to stroking, lying down on or near the person and touching it.

Why a cat licks the owner's head

Human hair is good at absorbing various smells. Some of them may seem inappropriate to a cat, or on the contrary, attractive. In the first case the cat will try to clean the owner from the smelly substance, in the second case it simply cannot resist the pleasant smell and taste. Such behavior should be restricted, since most hair care products are not at all useful if ingested.

Licking the owner's face often serves to attract attention. But a cat may also try to wash its human to get rid of the smells of food or cosmetics. In addition, decorative cosmetics and facial care products often contain substances and scents that are attractive to cats. Many cats, for example, like the smells of lavender, honeysuckle, olive tree.

Also, do not be surprised that the pet licks you if you have just put a tasty cat food Purina ONE in a bowl, and you left particles of it on your hands.

Reasons

Licking the head of any member of the family, the cat can for a variety of reasons. The first, and most basic, is a natural craving for cleanliness. In this way, they are trying to show their care and show that they care about you.

1. The appearance of love. Just as a cat licks its newborn kitten, so your pet licks you, too. All the tenderness, love, and care that only a cat can give you goes into this, a special ritual for them;
2. It is not uncommon for a cat to lick its owner's hair, hands, or face in order to get something tasty. When the cat sees a treat in your hands, it shows all its cunning to get it;
3. Dominance cravings. Sometimes, the animal wants to show who's boss in the house, and by licking the person, shows its dominance. Like a mother who takes care of her child in every way, the cat shows care of its owner;
4. If a cat is very stiff and tense while licking a hair, it means that the owner is totally dominating her. This is a direct signal to the uncomfortable feeling of the pet, it is tense all the time, and this can negatively affect the psychological and physical health of the animal;
5. If the cat licks the hair on its head, it may indicate that it is simply bored. The petted friend does not get enough attention. If such gusts are constant, it is worth worrying about her psychological health, and visiting a specialist to fully examine and solve the problem;
6. When a person has strong and pungent odors, the cat tries to get rid of them. Any cosmetics, perfumes, creams, ointments, and even sweat secretions, are perceived sharply by the pet and in their opinion are dangerous. Therefore, by licking the owner, the animal wants to protect him and itself from the impending danger;
7. The presence of diseases. It is worth examining the cat carefully, monitoring its behavior and possible accompanying symptoms. Profuse licking may indicate the presence of parasites, dermatitis, allergic reactions, skin irritations, rashes and various infections.

How to wean a cat

If you notice that your pet often licks his head, or any member of the family, and you are sure that he is in excellent health, you can try to wean him from this habit.

• Distract the cat from licking with any playful activities that he likes;
• Pretend that you are busy;
• get off the couch and do chores so that the cat can't reach your hair;
• take him in your arms and pet him, play with him, this will help calm him down a bit and pacify the animal;
• You can make him get high by scratching behind his ears or on his tummy.

If you still don't like your pet's behavior, it's best to ask your veterinarian for a recommendation. He will answer any questions you may have and examine your pet.

✔️ A cat likes the smell of hair

We are our cats' favorite owners, and our tails know this very well, so they love our smells and take a special interest in us. So if the cat shows interest in our hair, it tells us that it has come to enjoy our scent. That's how your cat gets great pleasure.

✔️ A cat shows care

To tailgates, our hair is like our fur. When a cat wants to show concern for her kittens, she licks their hair. A cat does the same when it wants to take care of its owners – it can start licking us, our hands, face and hair. A cat takes care of us.

Reasons why a cat "washes" its owner's hair

Licking a cat's hair is a daily routine to take care of its hair, removing dust, dirt and harmful parasites from it. Sometimes cats will switch from licking their coats to human hair.

Sometimes a cat will purposely climb on a person's lap to chew or lick the hair of its beloved owner. Experts explain this behavior of our moustached friends as follows:

• Caring for the owner. Cats are clean animals, they carefully monitor their hygiene and cleanliness of their coats. If there is a person near the cat when it is licking, it can wash its owner at the same time. In this way, the cat shows care.
• Scent. If you have a shampoo or conditioner with a scent that seemed attractive to the purr-fect, it may tend to lick the hair. Maybe the strands of your owner's hair absorbed the smell of food when he was cooking in the kitchen, then the cat will gladly lick the hair, too.
• Appreciation and affection for a loved one. When cats lick each other, in this way they show their friendship and affection. It is the same in relation to humans. If a moustached friend treats its owner as part of the family and feels comfortable, nourished and cozy with you, this behavior shows the cat's care and affection.
• The cat needs something from you. Pets have many different ways of getting their owner's attention and licking their hair is one method. In this way a cat can gently wake up a person because it is hungry. If the purrfect cat doesn't like something, it will first lick a strand of hair and then start biting.
• The pet is stressed. Licking the owner's strands can indicate that the pet is stressed. Rarely, this behavior can develop into compulsive behavior: the cat cannot stop and does not respond to anything. In this case, only a specialist can help.

Is it harmful for a cat to lick its owner's hair

A cat can't digest human hair as well as hair. The danger of licking is that the swallowed hair forms a lump in the cat's stomach, which can clog the intestinal lumen and prevent the passage of stools.

If the person has short hair, it is not as dangerous because the cat will simply throw up the lump. And long hair is dangerous for the pet because it can cause intestinal obstruction.

If the cat's owner uses indelible conditioners or oils, licking a person's hair can poison the cat with toxic substances. This is fraught with diarrhea or vomiting.

Take care of your pets because they love us very much and show their loyalty and warmth to us through licking their hair.

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Why does a cat lick a human – Top top reasons!

Many centuries have passed since cats began living with humans, and during this time, furry animals have managed to lose some of the skills that helped them survive in the wild and acquire new habits. One of these newfound traits in a cat's character was licking humans. Let's take a closer look at why a cat licks, sometimes surprising its human owner.

The first place in the top 7 reasons why cats lick people is the communication factor. It is known that smell is very important for these animals. On their bodies there are special glands that produce odorous substances. At the same time, the caudal glands are responsible for substances carrying group information, and the head glands are more individual. Thus, by licking the host and then applying fresh tags, our pet is trying to leave a message. 2. Expression of affection – the theme of pheromones continues. Zoopsychologists attribute our affection for furry creatures to the presence of these substances. By licking the owner and then, by wiping its muzzle, the animal applies its own scent, thereby marking the person as "its own." 3. Hygiene. This reason logically follows from the previous one – obviously, the kitty is interested in the creature she loves so much to be just as clean and tidy as she is. In addition, in the wild, the smell can attract the enemy, so in order to protect the owner from a potential enemy, a caring fluffy will carefully rid the owner of the treacherous smells of perfume and other fragrances. 4. Manipulation. In some cases, licking a person by a cat can indicate a desire to play, or an attempt to hint that it would be nice to give her something tasty. 5. The remedy for homesickness is a lack of experiences, a way to amuse yourself. Zoopsychologists say that house cats are more prone to lick their owners, and these softies do so because of the lack of impressions. That's why cats lick, to please people – it turns out, they expect an emotional response! 6. A way to show their leadership position. This is how a caring mother cat takes care of her children. 7. The cure for stress. The fluffy cat's tongue massages the skin and promotes the production of endorphins. And the cat's fur contains a substance that normalizes mental equilibrium. By licking its fur, the cat also takes care of the human when it feels that it urgently needs to calm down. Thus, furry animals are able to relieve the representative of Homo sapiens from depression, stress and bad moods.

Why do furry pets lick their skin?

If cats show increased attention to the skin of the owner – hands, or face, and especially when they lick their armpits, we can assume that they need pheromones. The fact is that sweat contains hormones similar to substances that cats use to attract the opposite sex. Thus, the pungent smell of sweat has a calming effect on kitties. Similarly, these animals react to catnip, valerian and peppermint, which have a very relaxing effect on furry pets. It is possible that your pet simply lacks salt with sodium and other minerals.

Cat owners sometimes notice their pets behaving in a way that is characteristic of dogs – licking their hands. In fact, this is completely normal behavior. The first explanation is the most common desire to show affection and love to their owner. Some kittens are convinced that this behavior is obligatory when the owner pet them. But there are cases when this behavior becomes manic in nature – licking the cat's hands becomes so obtrusive that it may distract you from your daily activities and work, and even prevent you from sleeping, if it happens during sleeping hours.

Such behavior is peculiar to a cat that has recently had kittens – in this way, she shares her excess of tenderness and care with her owner as well. In this case it is quite easy to stop the cat's distracting actions – just move her to the kittens and her attention will be transferred to them. All of the above reasons do not require special attention and concern. But when this behavior is not related to the maternal instinct, or the desire to express affection, you should contact a specialist, because licking the hands of the owner in some cases is a signal of pathological processes in the body, or severe stress in the animal. In this case you should urgently call the veterinary clinic and consult – the doctor will make an appointment, conduct a diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment. See also: causes of homosexuality in cats