Why Do Cats Groom Themselves? The Meaning of Grooming and Key Points to Remember

You often see cats grooming themselves, don't you? Is it because cats are clean animals that they groom themselves so meticulously?

Many cat owners are probably worried that their cat grooms too much and might even go bald.

So, this time, we'd like to consider the meaning of cat grooming and the reasons why cats groom themselves.

Frequency and Timing of Cat Grooming

Cats spend two-thirds of their day sleeping. It is said that they spend about half of their waking hours grooming themselves.

Indeed, if you observe cats carefully, they groom themselves quite frequently. Even kittens start grooming around two months old.

What is often seen ispost-meal grooming. After eating, they meticulously lick and clean their mouth, chest, and front paws. This is a remnant of their carnivorous hunter days, where they focused on grooming areas that would get dirty when eating prey.

Also, you may notice that they groom themselves when they are relaxed, such asafter using the litter box,before sleeping, orafter playing. Conversely, they may also start grooming themselveswhen startled by a loud noise orwhen scolded by their owner.

Reasons Why Cats Groom Themselves

As you know, a cat's tongue is rough. It can even feel painful when licked.

A cat's tongue has many small spines called filiform papillae, which are used to scrape meat from bones when eating prey.

By meticulously grooming with this spiky tongue, they also keep their fur clean. They do this to eliminate their scent and avoid being noticed by prey.

Cat grooming is an instinctive behavior with an essential meaning for survival.

However, these are not the only reasons why cats groom themselves. There are many more meanings, so let's introduce them one by one.

1. To keep their body clean

Keeping their body clean is the role of grooming. By removing dirt from their fur, not only can they prevent odors, but it also helps prevent skin diseases. Neatly grooming their fur also helps prevent matting, fleas, and ticks.

Cats also have ashedding season. Especially in early spring, when their winter coat is replaced by their summer coat, a large amount of shedding occurs. This can easily lead to hairballs and skin problems, so grooming helps remove loose hair.

2. Temperature regulation

Cats don't sweat. By licking their body during grooming, they lower their body temperature using theevaporative cooling from the saliva.

Conversely, when it's cold, they fluff up their fur to enhance its insulating effect.

3. Relaxation effect

Cats also groom themselves to calm down, recalling the sense of security they felt when their mother groomed them.

This is called"displacement activity," and it's a behavior seen when they are surprised, make a mistake, or feel stressed. They often lick one part of their body intensely.

3. Expression of affection

Grooming among friendly cats is called"allogrooming." They show affection by licking each other's heads, under the chin, and behind the ears, areas they can't reach themselves.

When a cat licks its owner, it also signifies affection, building trust, and communication.

Beware of excessive grooming

While grooming is essential for a cat's survival, excessive licking can lead to baldness and dermatitis.

If a cat's feelings of anxiety are not eased even after extensive grooming and they experience significant stress, it can develop into"over-grooming", where they groom themselves too much.

Pay attention to your cat's grooming habits, checking if they are persistently licking the same spot, if there are any bald patches from over-licking, or if they are pulling out their fur.

Other things to watch out for besides over-grooming

Grooming is indispensable for cats to live. If a cat suddenly stops grooming, it might be because they are not feeling well.

Also,it's not okay to interrupt a cat's grooming. Don't pet a cat while it's grooming, or stroke it in a way that messes up its freshly groomed fur. This will only add more stress, so it's best to quietly observe.

Furthermore, cats swallow loose hair when they groom. Since this hair cannot be digested in the stomach, it is either passed in their feces or vomited out. However, it can accumulate in the stomach and lead to"hairball disease." Long-haired cats are particularly susceptible.

It's also important for owners to "groom" their cats.

For cats, their owner is their mom and their companion. Instead of allogrooming as an expression of affection, gently brush them.

Gently and slowly brush them, checking their entire body for lumps or bumps. It also helps with shedding, so brushing once or twice a week is ideal, or daily for long-haired cats if possible.

If your cat dislikes brushing, try to gradually accustom them to it.

Summary

It's incredibly cute to see a cat meticulously grooming itself. However, excessive grooming can lead not only to hair loss but also to dermatitis.

The cause of a cat's excessive grooming, known asover-grooming, is "stress." Reconsider if there have been any environmental changes or anything that your cat dislikes.

If your cat won't stop over-grooming and the dermatitis worsens, it's recommended to physically prevent grooming with askin protective suit or a less restrictiveElizabethan collar.

Brushing from the owner is a happy and loving time for cats. Just as you groom your cat, please enjoy the time you spend strengthening your bond with your cat.

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