Why my cat licks my hair ???
One of the questions we often ask about cats is : why my cat licks my hair?
If this has happened to you, you may have asked yourself “Why is he doing that? The gesture and the intention are nice but I really don’t see why he shampoos me regularly”. The answer is not intuitive and in the end it is very nice.
A cat intervenes live on TV
Previously, I’ll tell you how a cat invited itself on live German TV in the middle of a weather report. The scene was seen by millions of German viewers. They were amazed by a very friendly cat who was very comfortable with live TV. The presenter reacted very well, as you will see at the end of this video.
British shorthair :
Siamese cat :
For those of you who ask me how you can access the Cat Parents training, I’d like to remind you of something very useful. In order to live happily with your cat, to be able to solve all kinds of behavioural problems, I will warn all those who are on the waiting list as soon as it opens. If you want to be sure not to miss this opening, it is best to register on the waiting list. This registration on the waiting list is free, it is here in 1 click. As soon as you have left your name and email in the form, I will send you the Complete Training Plan by email.
Cat grooming
In the language of cat behaviour, we call the cat’s frequent toilet grooming. It is primarily to clean itself. The cat is programmed to leave its coat intact at all times. This goes back to the origins of the domestic feline, which I will tell you about in Cat Parenting.
A cat can groom itself, grooming, also to dress a wound. Licking is also used to calm and reassure itself. That’s why in a tense moment, it’s a way for him to calm down. Finally, you have probably already seen two cats grooming each other. In this case, it is called allogrooming.
Cat allogrooming
Allogrooming describes the way they groom each other. Obviously, they know and trust each other, they strengthen their social relationship through this licking. Through this activity, they exchange pheromones. It is therefore an opportunity for each of them to spread their olfactory signature. “I’m licking you because I know you, I trust you, I’m putting back a little of my pheromones because the ones from the other time, we don’t smell them much anymore”.
This is the meaning of this allogrooming, a social and mutual cleaning gesture. You can see me coming now to explain why your cat licks your hair. Yes, this licking is done for the same reasons and the same function.
“You are a cat like any other cat.”
“I consider you like any other cat I know and trust. I express this by licking your hair. Plus, I have to spread my pheromones on your hair because I can’t smell the hair I left behind last time.”
Yes, it’s official, you’re a cat. A daddy cat or a mommy cat, you can shout it to the whole world: your cat has made you a cat among all the other cats on the planet. How’s that for good news?
Your cat may also love to lick your hair because of the scent of the shampoo or cosmetic product used.
How do you repel a cat that licks your hair?
As an anecdote, a lady asked me to help her gently prevent her cat from licking her hair when she was sleeping. I didn’t want to separate them during the night as they both enjoyed each other’s company. So I offered to try a trick inspired by other CatLife techniques and it worked the first night. She used a shampoo with a lot of citrus scents (lemon and others). As the cat doesn’t like citrus smells, it didn’t go near her hair anymore.
Citrus, which cats hate, is what I have also used among the many techniques when a cat is determined to scratch a piece of furniture that it has started to lacerate. I also use citrus fruits in one of the many methods in the “Recipes against cat pee … or how to get him back in his litter box”.
