Small animals can sometimes be very funny, so it is interesting to observe the behavior of pets. Of course, their actions need to be corrected. Especially if you are raising a kitten. Large pets can also behave incomprehensibly, puzzling the owner. The cat's actions can be so funny that owners don't have to lose heart. But the reasons for your four-legged friend's actions may remain unclear. Does your pet manage to lick your hands and face? Let's think about why the cat does this.
Communication between cat and owner
Our pets are loyal and open to communication. And if you want to find yourself a loyal friend who will simply be nearby and give you good emotions, get an animal. But now I would like to talk about an interesting phenomenon in the behavior of cats. You've probably seen a cat lick a person's hands or face. There are reasons for this:
- Your pet wants to show you love. While humans can express feelings through words or hugs, cats have other methods. This behavior is instinctive, and later we will look at why the pet exhibits it. You may already understand what we're talking about. But for now let's move on to the next point;
- Each animal has its own territory and “its own owner.” Therefore, with this behavior, the cat simply designates you as a member of the family. There is another option, when the pet does not perceive the owner as the main one, but, on the contrary, tries to clean it like a junior;
- You are in a bad mood and your pet wants to feel sorry for you. The cat also reacts to its stress. If you notice that your four-legged companion spends a long time cleaning himself, it could be stress. Or dermatological problems. But if an animal likes to lick a person, then she wants to comfort you.
No matter how rough your pet’s tongue is, you should always accept his affection and care. After all, this is how your pet expresses her feelings, wants to distract you from negative experiences, and feel sorry for you. There are other reasons, for example, the desire to get a treat. But even in this case, the animal shows sincere love for you. Why a cat likes to lick a person’s hands is a rather broad question. To understand your pet, you need to observe and communicate with him. Each animal has its own unique character. Yes, and a person influences the behavior of a pet. We talk about his actions, parenting methods, reactions to pranks and satisfaction of food needs.
There is no doubt that felines can be very smart and funny at the same time. And in their behavior you can find care for a person, their owner. Where there is a cat, there is an opportunity to console yourself and enjoy pleasant communication with the animal.
Don't leave your cat alone for long!
They do not need a full bowl of food, but human presence.
The cat sitter will take care of your pet, clean the litter box and make sure the bowls are clean.
Meet the cat
Postoperative area care
To prevent the cat from licking the wounds and gnawing on the stitches, after the cat has recovered from anesthesia, put on a protective cone (Elizabethan collar) for the pet. A similar accessory can be purchased at a veterinary clinic, pet stores, or veterinary pharmacy. If desired, you can make the collar yourself using cardboard, flexible durable plastic or thick fabric. Give preference to durable material, since the cat will try to pull it off in every possible way.
To ensure that the collar does not cause discomfort to the cat or hinder movement, it must be suitable for the pet in size.
You can also protect the postoperative area from licking by using baby diapers (for newborn babies). For convenience, cut a hole for the tail.
To speed up the healing process, treat wounds with antiseptic and disinfectant solutions. You can use hydrogen peroxide, furatsilin, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, wound-healing liniments, ointments, gels.
To normalize the general condition, the veterinarian may prescribe a special diet, vitamin and mineral complexes, and hormonal medications.
Licking kittens and humans: what are the similarities?
It is not without reason that a cat shows care by licking. Even in childhood, your mother cat took such care of your pet. This action is associated with pleasant emotions that are associated with safety and protection. Have you noticed how a cat licks kittens? In fact, there is something similar in the behavior of a pet with a person. Cat love manifests itself in different ways, but it is through licking that the mother takes care of the kitten. She hides him from predators by licking his scent, and also teaches him to care for her fur. But even in the usual washing of children, the cat shows maternal affection.
In other cases, the owners observed that small predators can also lick each other. If your cat shows you such caring attitude, then he perceives you as part of his family.
What to do
The exact treatment will depend on the underlying cause.
Recommendations may include:
- Treat any abscess in the area with drainage, antibiotics, and pain medications.
- Identifying anal glands if they are affected, or treating anal gland infections if necessary.
- Prescribing antibiotics for dermatitis, vaginitis or urinary tract infections.
- Catheterization of cats with urinary tract obstruction
- Surgery (cystotomy) or dietary treatment for bladder stones.
- Sterilization surgery for uterine infections (pyometra) or fetal retention.
- Mass removal of tumors.
- Fluid therapy to correct dehydration, as well as anti-inflammatory and pain medications as needed, and other treatments deemed necessary based on clinical signs.
How does a cat become domestic and loyal?
The first few days of your interaction with your cat can affect subsequent trust. A small animal must adapt after moving to a new home. And if this is also a new owner, especially after weaning from the mother, then you have to work a little with the baby’s sense of security. Comfort and trust are closely related. And at the very moment the kitten meets a new person and the first few weeks, the owner is responsible for the emergence of a trusting relationship. If at an older age you observe licking the owner’s hands, then your cat has gone through the adaptation process well and an emotional attachment has arisen. Sometimes it can be quite difficult to win over a pet, but many owners still succeed. The most important thing is to treat the animal well.
Cat, kitten licks eggs after castration
If a kitten or cat licks its eggs after castration, but the animal’s condition is stable, there are no uncharacteristic symptoms - this is normal. After surgery, some time is required for tissue restoration, so the cat will lick the postoperative suture. Animal saliva has antibacterial properties and contains the enzyme lysozyme, so regeneration processes occur faster.
After castration, a kitten or an adult pet may experience stress, so for the first time after the operation they lick their testicles.
If castration is carried out in adulthood, the period of adaptation and hormonal changes in the body occurs more slowly and will take longer than in a kitten.
In case of deterioration of the condition, excessive discharge, suppuration of the suture, wound, fever, swelling of the groin area, immediately contact your veterinarian!
Is your cat sick?
There is also some not entirely pleasant information about why cats lick themselves and their owners. According to one version, the cat reacts with this behavior to skin diseases or parasites. In order to accurately determine whether there is any need to worry, the animal must be examined by a doctor. Beforehand, at home, you can identify whether there are reasons to worry. Rashes, dermatitis, and lichen will be noticeable. But to find out whether there are worms, monitoring the cat’s appetite, its well-being and feces will help.
You will be able to notice from the behavior of the predator what the mystery of this phenomenon lies. When she licks her owner's hands, she can do it with love or confusion. Observe your pet's behavior. Perhaps she just wants to show how she feels about you.
Symptoms of the disease
The severity of symptoms depends on the cause of the lesion, the duration of the disease, the age of the cat and concomitant diseases.
Manifestations of the initial stage of balanoposthitis:
The pet often licks the problematic part of the body.
- inflammation of the foreskin and glans;
- frequent licking of the cat's genital area;
- purulent discharge of varying intensity of yellow or green color on the penis;
- unpleasant odor of discharge;
- swollen, edematous penis and affected area;
- decrease and absence of sexual instincts;
- restless behavior;
- discomfort, soreness of the genitals.
Balanoposthitis is complicated by the following symptoms:
- blood in the discharge;
- weakness, lethargy;
- decreased or lack of appetite;
- the appearance of compactions, ulcers, blisters;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- temperature increase;
- blood and erosions on the head;
- difficulty urinating.
Long-term balanoposthitis becomes chronic with a decrease in the severity of pain and the amount of purulent discharge with constant discomfort and aching sensations. The tissues of the head and foreskin undergo cicatricial changes with subsequent difficulty in completely exposing the organ.
What other reasons for licking?
Another option is if the cat is licking itself just to keep itself busy. Let's say it's raining outside or the owner is constantly busy. In the second case, try to pay attention to your pet, because a cat can lick itself if it wants to feel calm. For large or small pets, the care and affection of the owner is extremely important. You can replace a family for kittens and therefore you should try not to offend them.
We have looked at the most common reasons why a cat licks its owner. This behavior expresses natural instincts, as well as the predator’s care for herself and her younger kittens. If a pet licks its owner, it trusts him. You need to maintain communication with your pet as often as possible. Otherwise, small predators may lick themselves out of boredom.
The pet can also lick its hair. The reasons may be the desire to give or receive attention, the desire for care or dominance. Some owners of furry cats say that the cat may begin to zealously wash away the “dangerous” smell of shampoo, trying to save the owner. As you can see, even toxic substances on the hair sometimes do not become an obstacle.
Pay attention to whether you have recently eaten meat, fish or other tasty food. If the smell remains on your hands, the cat will feel it and lick it off. But here there are two explanations. In the first case, the animal wants to eat. In the second, she hides you and herself from danger. In nature, such a smell could be smelled by predators.
Stress management
The cat carefully licks itself not only to clean and comb its fur. The animal's tongue has hard papillae that massage the skin and stimulate the production of endorphins - the hormones of happiness. In addition, on the surface of the animal’s fur there is a substance similar to B vitamins, which normalize mental balance and calm. If a cat is not allowed to lick itself, it will get sick and die.
In the same way, a pet takes care of its owner. The cat is very sensitive to the emotional state of a person. Scientists believe that during stress, biochemical processes in the body change, and substances released to the surface of the skin also change. A cat can “smell” when its owner is sad, afraid or angry. The only available way to calm him down is licking, massage, sound vibrations - rumbling.
The cat not only treats some diseases, as bioenergetics claims, but also monitors the mental balance of its owner, curing stress, depression, and bad mood.
