licking

[tvt]

I have a question about my cat licking me all the time. She insists on doing it even though I tap her on the head to stop. Even when I'm sleeping she will wake me up licking on me. I had let her do it when it first started thinking it would quit, but it hasn't. I am persistant in trying to stop her habit, but she is persistant in licking me. If I knew WHY she was doing it it would help me understand her need to do it.

[Randi]

Welcome to PT!

Do you use any body lotion or hand creme? My cat Fister licks me when I put some on. He may think I need a good wash. Or perhaps it's pure love!

[reddice]

Our cat Socks keeps licking my hair.

[tvt]

I gave up in trying to stop the licking because I know it's not hurting me or her physically, although her tongue is one of the roughest I've ever felt in a cat.
It does gross me that cats lick their butts and us too, but being an "OWNER" that's just all part of having a cat. Now I just let her wash me down (except I still refuse to let her lick my face) and then I go wash. I admitted I lost the fight and battle on this one.
The cat was thoroughly checked by a vet to make sure she wasn't lacking vitamins or anything to cause the excessively licking, and all that was fine.
I had posted for any suggestions because I thought someone else might have experienced an excessive licker, and the posting about using hand lotions was something to consider, but that wasn't the problem either.
But, anyhow, things are going very well with our Mystery. We have just come to accept that she is a tongue-aholic and can't control her "licker". NO BID DEAL!

[furrykidsmother]

Actually cats mouths are quite clean. I read it somewhere on this website where they (I believe) must produce something, I can't remember what or how, but it cleanses their mouths much quicker than humans or dogs. Maybe someone can help me out here and make it sound a bit better. I just wanted you to feel more comfortable about her uncontrollable licker!

[LeahMM]

Cats mouths are not clean. One of my precious kits sunk her teeth into me while I was trying to pill her and infection set in within 8 hours. It was very painful. I had to get a tetanus shot and take anitibiotics for ten days.

[kittycats_delight]

Their tongue is very clean...it's teeth on the other hand is another story. Just like people no matter how clean your mouth is the teeth if not cleaned themselves keep bacteria, and food and such. But yes Amanda a cat's mouth is clean. A cats tongue produces sometype of cleansing solution almost. It is like a sterilizer. A cats tongue sterilizes itself through its specialized saliva approximately every 7 seconds.

[TopCat3]

Originally posted by kittycats_delight
Their tongue is very clean...it's teeth on the other hand is another story. Just like people no matter how clean your mouth is the teeth if not cleaned themselves keep bacteria, and food and such. But yes Amanda a cat's mouth is clean. A cats tongue produces sometype of cleansing solution almost. It is like a sterilizer. A cats tongue sterilizes itself through its specialized saliva approximately every 7 seconds.

Well, that's good to know! You learn something every day! My Cleo likes to lick, lick, lick away at my hand when we climb into bed and are just trying to drift off to sleep...It's only when I remember to put on my handcream though. Rasp, rasp, rasp, it goes, and fortunately I don't use anything with any chemicals in, it's all natural nut oils etc. Kind of defeats my attempts at smooth hands... But anyway it doesn't matter because my precious is now 161/2 and is allowed to do ANYTHING she wants as long as she is happy and well.
Signed,
Sorehands of Sydney.

[Cataholic]

TopCat3, I can outdo you! Dakky licks, licks, licks ONLY my lips! It scares me right out of a sleep, sometimes. I figure it must make them smooth, right? And, I swear, of all 7 cats, he must have the absolutely MOST sandpapery tongue of them all. He could turn a tree into a piece of hardwood flooring in ten minutes.