This question (Why Does my cat lick my hair?) was asked by one of my readers who wants to find out why her cat licks her hair all day long! The reason is probably because she likes the flavor. LOL.
Does your cat lick your hair? Mine does. Actually, it’s more like a scratch. She doesn’t bother me that much, especially when I’m petting her and then she gets kind of in the mood for a little licky scratchy action.
I’ve been trying to figure out why my cat licks my hair and I think I finally figured it out, I shall explain full details below.
If you have a long haired cat like me, you’re probably wondering for the same question. There’s a perfectly logical explanation behind why your cat licks your hair and it’s not as gross as you think.
Sometimes it feels like your cat is just doing things to frustrate you. Since she’s more of a dog person and wants to sleep with your dog, you don’t understand her.
Why Does Your Cat Lick You? Get the Scoop: A blog about why cats lick their human’s hair and more.
Cat Licks because of the fun facts She assumes.
- Because it’s you.
- Something is wrong with your hair and I can smell it.
- O man, the taste of your shampoo and conditioner is so addictive for me.
- Your hair is my hunting prey.
- Your hair is free dry shampoo.
- I want you to be clean.
- Your hair is weird and I like it the most.
So, Seriously, What is this all Licking for? 6 Common Reasons Behind Cat Licking.
When a cat, whether your own or a friend’s, licks your hair, there are a variety of things they could be trying to communicate.
Cats want to socialize with us.
The first is that they simply want to socialize with you. Cats need social interaction with their owners and other cats, and licking can be an important way for them to express affection and establish trust.
Cats are grooming you.
This is the most common reason why a cat licks your hair. Cats spend a lot of time grooming themselves, so it makes sense that they would try to groom their human friends too! And since you’re not covered in fur, your hair probably feels nice to them.
It’s an affectionate thing to do for Cats. It builds a bond.
A recent study has found that when cats lick their owners, it has nothing to do with grooming, but instead is a sign of affection.
When you come home after a long day and your cat starts licking your hair, you may think they’re just trying to clean your hair or help you get ready for bed. But a recent study suggests that cats lick their owners to show affection, not because they’re grooming.
Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna found that cats who licked their owners were more likely to be relaxed and calm than those who did not. The research team concluded that cats were using licking as a way to show affection and bond with their people. These findings are in line with previous studies suggesting that cats use licking as an expression of social bonding and as part of playtime activities.
They want your attention
Another possibility is that they are trying to get your attention so that you will pet them, feed them, or play with them.
If you have ever had a cat lick your hair for an extended period of time, then you know how annoying it can be.
However, it does work; even if we don’t want them to do so, we eventually give in and pet them or stop what we are doing to look at them! This behavior is known as “petting aggression” by veterinarians and is caused by frustration when humans do not respond quickly enough to their demands for attention.
Hey Mama, I need your attention …………
Licking or grooming others is just your cat’s way of showing love.
Your cat loves you and is trying to bond with you by licking your hair.
According to a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, cats mark their human companions by licking them. This can be considered a social bond, similar to how dogs lick their owners when they get home. It is also similar to how cats groom each other when they spend lots of time together.
If your cat licks you, that means they consider you part of their family!
How cute is that, isn’t it?
Cat licking is not that big of a deal.
Licking is a normal cat behavior that can seem strange to humans. For a cat, licking helps keep the quick on their claws clean, so it keeps their nails sharp and doesn’t get snagged. It also helps spread their scent around in what’s known as scent-marking, thus giving other cats a heads up that they’re sharing the area.
How to Respond when your cat licks your hair?
You know what’s the best? When a cat licks your hair. Even though it’s not a very nice thing for you, it feels really good when a cat does it.
I had a friend who had one of those cats that licked her hair. She was really into grooming, so she’d brush it constantly, and the cat would just lick her hair all day long. It was really cute, in an annoying way.
I don’t think I’d ever have a cat like that—they’re too weird for me. But I’m glad I got to see it happen once!
The next time your cat licks your hair, take a moment to enjoy the gesture!
6 Ways to Keep Your Cat Off Your Hair
If you love the feel of your cat’s tongue licking your hair, well then, read this section with caution. But if you like to keep your hair clean and free of cat saliva, we’re right with you.
There’s nothing wrong with keeping your cat off your hair. Here are a few ways to stop your cat from licking your hair:
- It may be hard to stop this licking habit. You can try spreading some lemon juice on your head or some bitter apple spray (sold in pet stores). These are relatively harmless substances that can help break the habit of licking.
- Try to stop the behavior as soon as you notice it happening by using positive reinforcement techniques.For instance such as offering treats.
- Keep in mind that even if you manage to stop the licking, you may still have a problem with cat dander and allergies. There are dander-control products available in most pet stores that can help prevent this problem. However, if all else fails, consider getting a hypoallergenic breed of cat!
- Ask help from a friend who trained his/her cats. They may be able to offer some advice or show you a technique that will work better with your Cat.
- Finally, if none of these methods work then consider getting professional help from an animal behaviorist or veterinarian who specializes in feline behavior modification techniques like clicker training (which uses sound to reward good behaviors).
- If all else fails there are several anti-licking products available online that may be worth trying out first before resorting to harsher measures such as electric shock collars etc.
Watch-out! Cat licking is a source of Diseases Transmission.
Did you know that around 47% of cat-owners have had an issue with their pets licking their hair? Cats also have a long and rich history of licking things—themselves, their people, and even their favorite toys.
For most cats, grooming is a comforting ritual, especially if they’re licking you. Grooming cats is a sign of affection, but it can also mean that they’re just trying to keep tabs on your scent.
Besides all of the lovely facts above, the licking habit of cats can lead to some diseases transmission to owners.
What you need to Know!
For cat owners worried about potential diseases, it’s important to know that there are some that can be transmitted from cats to humans and vice versa. But for most pet owners, the risk of contracting a disease from your pet is extremely low.
Zoonotic diseases can be spread from animals to humans through bites, scratches, or by touching an infected animal’s saliva.
The best way to avoid this is by washing your hands after coming into contact with your cat’s saliva. Take precautionary measurements when playing or cuddling with an unfamiliar cat who may not be up-to-date. Where up-to-date means their vaccinations or other basic health care needs are always refreshed.
Cat bites are the most common way for zoonotic diseases to spread. While cats have sharp teeth and claws that can easily puncture skin. If you do get bitten by your cat rush for first aid and take necessary treatment without any delay.
So what’s the best way to keep yourself safe from these potential dangers? Even if your cat seems perfectly healthy, there’s no way to know if they’re carrying an infection or virus.
It’s best to avoid letting them lick you at all. Especially keep your head and face at a safe distance to reduce the risk of disease contract.
Final Words
When you find your cat licking your hair, feel flattered, because your cat loves you. And by doing this, the cat is also making use of his sense of smell. To some people it might be quite unpleasant and they may try various techniques to stop this annoying habit.
There’s a good chance that your kitty friend has licked your hair once or twice. While this action may seem harmless enough but it can actually put us at risk for some serious health dangers.
It is best to take preventative steps to minimize the potential harm from such habits of our pets.
Thanks for reading this article. I hope the article was helpful and you’ll share it with your friends who might find it interesting as well. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you.