Why Does My Cat Immediately Groom After I Pet It? Decoding the Licking Behavior

It's a common sight for cat owners: you pet your feline friend, and the moment your hand is away, they begin meticulously grooming themselves. Many wonder, "Does my cat dislike being touched?" The truth is, when your cat immediately starts licking after you pet it, it's usually not a sign of dislike but rather an act of affection and a display of their remarkable sensory abilities.

While cats are indeed capable of expressing disapproval towards their owners, it's usually not done through post-petting grooming. If a cat truly dislikes something on their owner, like an unpleasant smell or perceived dirtiness, they won't allow the petting to begin with. Instead, they would exhibit clear signs of avoidance: moving away, hissing, or even using their claws as a form of protest. These actions, characterized by vocalizations, body language, and direct physical rejection, are the true indicators of a cat’s displeasure and heightened guardedness towards its owner. So, if your cat allows you to touch them, it's a good sign.

So, why the grooming after petting? It stems from the cat’s keen sense of smell. Cats have a very strong sense of smell—far superior to dogs—which they use to gather a lot of information. They use scent to communicate and mark their territory. When your cat is licking after you pet it, they are actually spreading and familiarizing themselves with your unique scent. They're essentially creating a comforting, olfactory "blend" of you and them. It's a way of mixing your smell with their own, a behavior rooted in their natural instincts. This behavior is very common and should not be interpreted as being disliked or unhygienic by your feline companion.

A cat's strong sense of smell also plays a critical role in hunting. They can use their nose to find prey. Additionally, their sense of smell stimulates their appetite, showing that cats depend on their sense of smell to evaluate their food and not so much their sense of taste. This explains why cats love smelly foods like fish, even though they don't particularly need to eat fish, but it is the strong smell that stimulates their appetite. You may also notice cats that are sick with a cold or similar ailments also lose their appetite for food, as their ability to smell is reduced. Therefore, the licking after petting is most likely your cat marking you as a member of its family with your scent.Follow us for updates:Pet Training