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Why does your beloved cat often lick your hands or fingers? What does that action mean? Are they showing affection for you? Let’s find out together!
Unlike dogs, the actions of cats often leave us with no idea what the intention or purpose of their actions is. Sometimes, they roll on the floor, lean on you, or gnaw on plastic, etc. Or cats often lick your hands or fingers, but have you wondered why “the boss” does that? They may do this because they love you, it may be because they are stressed or for other reasons.
However, cats’ tongues when licking us cause us pain, or they can’t stop licking your hand or fingers when you’re around them, making you feel uncomfortable sometimes. How to stop them from licking your hand and fingers so much? We will explain these reasons in the article
Reasons why your cat often lick your hands or fingers
Cats are licking animals, you often find them lying in the corner of the house and licking themselves to groom their fur. So what does it mean when they lick your hands or fingers?
Show cohesion in the relationship
It is not difficult to see cats licking each other, or licking themselves to groom themselves. However, in some cases, the act of licking has other meanings. They want to create bonds in the relationship, such as mother cats licking their babies. In other words, it means that your cat is very fond of you.
If cuddling and petting are our actions when we show our affection for our beloved cat, cats reciprocate that affection by licking their owners back.
Mark you as its own
Like dogs, cats use pheromones to mark possession in a variety of ways, and the tongue is one of them. For example, when two cats brush each other’s fur they will “mark” each other by exchanging scents when licking each other. Likewise, licking your hands or fingers is the cat’s way of identifying you as their person. So cheer up, they really like you!
Do the cleaning for you
If a cat likes you and considers you part of it, they will lick you in order to “groom” you. Like a mother cat licking her kittens to clean them, or they often “groom” their mate by licking their fur. So, if they lick your hands and fingers in order to clean you, you should feel honored that they see you as “a member of their family”.
They are stressed or anxious
Sometimes, they lick when feeling stressed and anxious. If you feel your cat licking things or your hands in an unusual way, determine if they are under stress. Find out what causes this and find ways to help your cat relieve stress.
If your cat’s condition still does not improve, take him to the vet right away for treatment. Besides, you should also spend time playing with them to relieve stress and anxiety.
They want to get attention from you
Occasionally, cats will also lick your hand to get attention, and then quietly stare at you. It could be that they want you to pamper them or play with them. It could also be that they need you to do something like open the door or feed them.
They smell something interesting from you
Sometimes they simply lick you because they smell something interesting on your skin. Maybe you spilled something on your hands or you touch things that have a strong scent. Then, when you are near them, they recognize the strange smell and want to taste what it is.
They see you as their “mother”.
There are kittens who are weaned from their mothers and stay away from their mothers, but they can still retain some behaviors into adulthood. Hand licking is also an example of this residual behavior. They see you as their mother, a supporter for them to feel secure and comfortable. So they lick you as a way to feel more secure. That means they are trusting you!
Why does it hurt when your cat licks your hands or fingers?
Surely when you have been licked by “your boss”, you will feel pain and a rough feeling. The reason is that the cat’s tongue is covered with a layer of tiny spines of different sizes, and is covered with a very strong keratin layer like their claws. These spines help them protect their tongues from foreign objects or support them in grooming.
Limit your cat licking your hand
Distract their attention
Learn the signs that your cat is about to start licking and then distract them immediately. Before it starts to lick your arm clean, redirect its attention to a toy. If your cat likes catnip, hold a kick toy filled with catnip in front of them when they try to lick you. If he doesn’t love catnip instead, try a toy that spits out treats.
Play with them
Sometimes, we are too busy with our work to spend much time with our beloved cats. When cats feel lonely, they are prone to psychological problems, so spend your free time having fun with your boss as much as you can. Not only help them relieve their psychology, but also help them have a balanced body. Furthermore, playing together increases the close relationship between you and the cat.
Use scents they don’t like
Wash your hands after handling food or sweating, using soaps with scents your cat doesn’t like, such as citrus. Experiment with shower gels and toiletries, looking for ones your cat doesn’t like. After a while they don’t smell your hands as often, you can reuse the cosmetics you used before.
Be patient!
Although a cat licking your hands makes you feel uncomfortable, be patient with them and support them to eliminate this bad habit. Try to be gentle and sit still, avoid yelling or pushing them away, and most importantly, never hit them.
Does your cat lick your hands or fingers? Raising a pet requires a lot of time and patience. Therefore, try to understand more about your boss through our sharing articles.
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