Why does my cat lick me?
“Why does a cat lick me?” was a genuine question years ago. But 15 years of the cat internet and people have learned what it means. And what it means is what it looks like: domestic cats lick their human … Continue reading →
Category Archives: allogrooming
This Cat Clearly Loves His Ear Being Nibbled
I have presumed that she is nibbling his ear. It looks like that. I do see pleasure on his face. There is the faintest of smiles and there should be because it is very loving. This is a real sign … Continue reading →
Why do cats groom each other?
When cats groom each other it is called ‘allogrooming’ by scientists. It is essentially a bonding behavior which is what it looks like. Humans also engage in social grooming. It can happen after two cats greet each other with the … Continue reading →
I have one cat that likes to chew on my hair while I’m sleeping. Why? Two reasons.
A visitor asks: I have one cat that likes to chew on my hair while I’m sleeping; why? There are three possible reasons as I see it. Grooming – specifically ‘allogrooming’ When one cat grooms another it is called allogrooming. … Continue reading →
Domestic cats lick their fur when it is not on them
Domestic cats lick their fur when it is not on them i.e. not a part of their coat, indicating an instinctive behaviour. If you groom a domestic cat’s coat, keep a small bundle of fur and offer it to your … Continue reading →
Cats: Love Hate Relationship (short video)
It looks like a love-hate relationship but something else very feline is probably going on. The cat being groomed did not nothing wrong but the grooming cat becomes irritated and smacks him/her for no apparent reason. There is probably ‘history’ … Continue reading →
Why Do Cats like Being Tickled under the Chin?
Allogrooming refers to one cat grooming another. Between adult cats, especially if they have grown up together, mutual grooming is primarily about cementing friendly relations with each other and not really about mutual hygiene. This is why domestic cats like … Continue reading →
When Did You Last See a Domestic Cat with a Greasy Hair Problem?
A domestic cat’s saliva does not contain shampoo-like substances. It does not act like a shampoo. It contains bacteria and it also contains certain enzymes which encourages blood to clot and wounds to heal (I am told). It also contains … Continue reading →
Feline Allogrooming
‘Allogrooming’ means social grooming between members of the same species. The origin of the word comes from ‘allo’ which in ancient Greek means ‘different’ or ‘other’. So it means grooming another animal. One interpretation of allogrooming holds that it is … Continue reading →
When a Cat Licks Another Cat is this Friendly Behavior?
Apparently, only one study has tried to elucidate what is going on when a cat grooms (licks) another, which as you might know is called allogrooming. The study took place in 1998 (van den Bos). The study concerned an indoor … Continue reading →