The Reasons Why Cats Lick Themselves So Often

VIVA – Many people know that cats often lick themselves, but actually this is a normal thing. A cat can spend as much as 50% of their waking time grooming itself (or another cat). As a result, cats are typically very clean animals, though in some cases grooming can become a form of obsession.

Well, what are the reasons cats lick themselves so often? Here’s the explanation.

1. Clean the body

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• Animal Library

The mother cat's first job after giving birth is to remove the amniotic sac, then lick the kitten with her rough tongue to help stimulate its breathing. Later, when the kitten begins nursing, she will stimulate the kitten to urinate and defecate by licking its hind end.

Later, kittens start self-grooming by the time they’re a few weeks old. If they are part of a litter, they are likely to lick and groom one another as well

2. Cleanse injuries

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Cats will instinctively lick areas that are painful or inflamed, including wounds. Though it may initially seem helpful for the cat to rid the site of dirt and blood, excessive licking can lead to infection and delay wound healing.