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

We often see cats grooming themselves, don’t we? Is it because they are tidy creatures that they groom so thoroughly?

Many cat owners likely worry that their pet might be grooming too much or might even develop bald spots.

In this article, we will explore the significance of a cat’s grooming habits and the reasons why they do it.

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.

If you observe your cat closely, you will see that they do indeed groom quite frequently. Even kittens start grooming as early as two months old.

A common time to see this is after meals. After eating, they carefully lick their mouth, chest, and front paws to clean them. This appears to be a vestige from their days as carnivorous hunters, focusing on areas that get dirty when consuming prey.

You may also notice them grooming when they are relaxed, such as after using the litter box, before sleep, or after playing. Conversely, they may also begin grooming when surprised by a loud noise or scolded by their owner.

Why Cats Groom

As you know, a cat’s tongue is rough—so rough that it can actually hurt when they lick you.

A cat’s tongue is covered in tiny spines called filiform papillae, which are used to scrape meat from the bones of their prey.

Grooming thoroughly with this barbed tongue also serves the purpose of keeping their coat clean. By doing this, they remove their own scent so that prey does not notice them.

It turns out that cat grooming is an instinctive behavior with essential, life-sustaining meanings.

However, this is not the only reason why cats groom. There are many other meanings, so let’s look at them one by one.

1. Keeping the body clean

One role of grooming is to keep the body clean. Removing dirt from their coat not only prevents odors but also helps prevent skin diseases. Keeping their coat neatly groomed also helps protect them from hairballs, fleas, and ticks.

Cats also go through a shedding season. Especially in early spring when they switch from their winter coat to their summer coat, a massive amount of hair is shed. This can easily lead to hairballs and skin problems, so they remove the loose fur through grooming.

2. Regulating body temperature

Cats are creatures that do not sweat. By licking their bodies, they use the evaporative cooling of their saliva to lower their body temperature.

Conversely, when it is cold, they fluff up their coat to improve insulation.

3. Relaxation effect

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

This is known as a "displacement behavior," which is observed when a cat is startled, makes a mistake, or feels stressed. They often focus on licking a specific part of their body.

4. Expressing affection

The grooming performed between cats that get along well is called "allogrooming." By licking areas they cannot reach themselves, such as the head, under the chin, and behind the ears, they are expressing affection.

When a cat licks its owner, it also serves as an expression of affection, a way to build trust, and a form of communication.

Beware of Excessive Grooming

While cats have necessary, life-sustaining reasons to groom, licking too much can lead to "bald spots" and "dermatitis."

If a cat cannot find comfort through grooming and is under significant stress, it can develop into "over-grooming."

Pay attention to your cat's grooming habits: are they obsessively licking the same spot, are there bald patches from over-licking, or are they plucking out their own fur?

Other concerns besides over-grooming

Grooming is essential for a cat. If they suddenly stop, they may be unwell and unable to groom themselves.

It is also NG (not good) to interrupt a cat's grooming. Petting them while they are grooming or petting them in a way that messes up the coat they just finished smoothing is not recommended. This only causes extra stress, so it is better to watch over them quietly.

Also, cats swallow loose fur while grooming. Since they cannot digest this fur, it is passed in their stool or vomited up, but it can accumulate in the stomach and lead to "hairball obstruction." Long-haired cats especially require caution.

Owners "grooming" their cats is also important

To a cat, you are their mother and companion. Instead of allogrooming, you should help them out by brushing them gently.

While checking for lumps or bumps all over their body, brush them gently and slowly. It also helps manage shedding, so brushing once or twice a week is ideal, or daily for long-haired cats.

For cats that dislike brushing, try to help them get used to it little by little.

Summary

It is very cute to see a cat grooming itself thoroughly. However, excessive grooming can lead to not only bald patches but also skin inflammation.

The cause of over-grooming is stress. Check if there have been any environmental changes or if there is something your cat dislikes.

If they cannot stop over-grooming and the skin inflammation worsens, it is also recommended to use skin protection clothing or a comfortable Elizabethan collar to physically prevent them from grooming.

Brushing is a happy, affectionate time for your cat. Just like grooming them yourself, please enjoy the time you spend deepening your bond with your cat.

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