Because “cats are so clean,” many people prefer having cats as pets over dogs. A average cat may spend up to 50% of its awake hours grooming, which is accurate (or another cat). Cats are naturally very clean creatures, so brushing them can occasionally become addictive.
Pristine from the start
The mother cat’s first job after giving birth is to remove the amniotic sac before licking the newborn kitten to promote breathing. When the kitten begins nursing, she will stimulate the anus of the kitten with her tongue to significantly aid in the stimulation of a bowel movement.
Kittens start grooming themselves in imitation of their mothers when they are a few weeks old. If there are a litter, they will probably also lick and groom one another.
Beyond simple cleanliness, grooming has many other advantages. They are some of the most significant.
To heal wounds
In order to disinfect their wounds and maybe prevent infection, cats bathe them. Rough licking is another method for removing dead skin cells.
To keep predators from smelling you
In comparison to people, cats have a fourteen times greater sense of smell. Cats are among the predators that use scent to find prey. A mother cat will try to hide her young kittens in the wild by removing clues that they have been fed. She will thoroughly cleanse herself and them after nursing. For the same reason, cats will bury uneaten dead prey in the wild. A cat may perform the same instinctual activity after eating by scratching the ground close to its food dish.
To keep the skin and coat lubricated and healthy
When cats groom, their barb-like tongues activate the sebaceous glands at the base of their hairs, which subsequently spread the generated oil throughout the hairs.
Their self-grooming also helps to remove fleas and other parasites from their coat. Furthermore, because cats don’t have sweat glands, their saliva helps to cool them down on hot days.
For amusement
Grooming is a fantastic feeling, and cats certainly seem to enjoy it. Along with grooming their human friends, they also groom one another out of what seems to be a desire to share a good experience.
To keep the skin and coat lubricated and healthy
When cats groom, their barb-like tongues activate the sebaceous glands at the base of their hairs, which subsequently spread the generated oil throughout the hairs. Their self-grooming also helps to remove fleas and other parasites from their coat. Furthermore, because cats don’t have sweat glands, their saliva helps to cool them down on hot days.
For amusement
Grooming is a fantastic feeling, and cats certainly seem to enjoy it. Along with grooming their human friends, they also groom one another out of what seems to be a desire to share a good experience.
READ NEXT: Why Do Cats Knock Things Over?
