Cats lick themselves to keep themselves clean.  They will lick to rid themselves of fleas and parasites. They will also lick to cool themselves, absorb vitamin D and to relieve stress.

There are several medical reasons for excessive licking. If it’s a neuropathy problem, a nerve is receiving a signal telling the cat to lick. If the cat  licks odd things like window sills or walls, it could be a sign of that he is anemic which could also be a sign of feline leukemia.  Excessive licking could also be caused by an allergic reaction. If you do suspect a medical problem, see your vet immediately.

If your cat has fleas, regular combing with a flea comb will help the problem. An occasional bath with a flea shampoo will help kill the fleas and remove dander that causes human allergies.

If is estimated that 35% of all cats suffer from food allergies which can result in excessive licking.  If you suspect that the cats diet is causing the problem, try one of the commercially prepared non allergy cat foods.

Another problem could be stress. My cat Millie used to lick herself constantly and had lots of hairballs. I believe that she was intimidated by my older cat Molly.

If your cat is licking you, that’s a sign that he likes you. They could also start urgently licking. This is done because of embarrassment such as falling off a window sill or chair.

Remember, your pets count!

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