Cats lick themselves countless times.
They are known for their fastidious grooming habits, so it stands to reason that frequent licking is simply a normal part of feline hygiene.
In most cases this is true, but sometimes this behavior can indicate that something serious is bothering the cat.
Experts have listed possible reasons why a cat licks itself frequently.
Self-care
The most common reason why cats lick themselves is to clean themselves after eating.
This behavior is based on the cat's instinct to remove the smell after eating prey.
The remaining scents can be detected by other prey and alert them to the cat's presence.
Since cats are prey animals due to their small size, it is important to remove traces of the scent after eating to avoid putting yourself in danger.
Pain in the oral cavity
Licking may indicate a dental problem or pain in the mouth. You may also notice drooling that is different from the normal drooling that occurs when the cat is happy.
Along with frequent licking and drooling, the cat may bring its paw to its mouth, show a decrease in appetite, and an unpleasant odor may also appear from the mouth.
Fear
Cats that lick themselves when there is no food nearby may be nervous or fearful.
To more accurately determine what the reason is, observe the circumstances and pay attention to other body language signals.
Nausea
Licking followed by swallowing may indicate that the cat is feeling nauseous. Vomiting may occur shortly after.
Upper respiratory tract diseases
Upper respiratory problems or allergies may cause cats to lick themselves frequently. It is also common for cats to lick themselves after sneezing.
Excessive salivation
Ptyalism (excessive salivation) causes frequent licking. This may indicate a more serious health problem.
Some causes may include foreign body ingestion, tumor, periodontal disease, nausea, oral trauma, abscess, kidney disease, upper respiratory disease, toxic substance ingestion, and more.
Dry mouth
Severe dry mouth, known as xerostomia, can lead to frequent licking.
This can be caused by health conditions such as fever, dehydration, kidney or liver problems, endocrine disorders, side effects of certain medications, and more. Cats may also experience dry mouth when they are nervous or afraid.
