As I say in the infographic there are a few well-rehearsed theories about this, which are incorrect as far as I am concerned 😎🙄. I don’t think science has intervened in this discussion so we are reliant on conjecture. However, I feel my theory which may be novel and unique is the best and most logical. It does not take a lot for a cat to be triggered into autogrooming as mentioned in the infographic as this feline, inherited behavioural characteristic is such a big part of their lives and barely suppressed.
More: autogrooming
I flea comb my cat at least once per day. Not to remove fleas as he has never had them but to groom him. He enjoys the feeling of the fine teeth of the flea comb. It collects some fur which I ball up and offer to him which he eagerly licks. He really wants to do this which for me is indicative of the strong inherited desire for domestic cats to autogroom.
To trigger the activity is very easy which supports my theory.
Sidebar 1: it is sad from the perspective of the human caregiver that in autogrooming the cat deposits their saliva on their fur which contains the Fel D1 protein to which around 10% of the human population are allergic! As I say: sad as it interferes with the human-to-cat relationship.
Sidebar 2: the evaporation of saliva can help cool a cat by the process of evaporative cooling. This is useful as cats can’t cool through sweating except through their paw pads. Cats sometimes pant like dogs when overheating. This is also due to the process of evaporative cooling (of the saliva in their mouths).
