When you imagine a relaxed cat, you probably see one draped over the edge of a sofa in a square of sunshine from the window, grooming herself contentedly. If you think your cat spends most of his day grooming, you’re not wrong. The average cat spends between 15-50% of his or her day licking and cleaning their fur.
Cats groom their fur for many reasons. Of course, the first reason is most apparent: to remove food, dirt, and debris from their coat with their brush-like tongue and cleansing saliva. The others may be reasons you haven’t thought of before. Cats groom as a way to make themselves more comfortable when it’s hot since their saliva serves a thermoregulatory function. They also use grooming to self-sooth when they’re stressed or signal that they’re relaxed and content in their environment.
What is Normal vs. Abnormal Grooming?
Grooming serves several functions in a cat’s wellbeing, and under normal circumstances, is healthy behavior. Most cats will pay particular attention to specific areas of their body over others, usually including the face, paws, neck, chest, and shoulders. These areas tend to take the brunt of debris from food and water, so cats are most likely to clean their whiskers, face, and neck often. They’re less likely to frequently groom their back legs, belly, back, tail, and perianal areas, although they will clean these as well on occasion. It’s harder for a cat to stay alert while grooming these areas.
You may notice what you believe to be excessive grooming behavior in your cat and wonder whether it’s normal or not. You should always be aware of changes in your cat’s behavior and ask your vet about any questions you have.
Signs of excessive or abnormal grooming are:
- Excessive licking in a particular area
- Hair loss or thinning hair
- Skin irritation
- Biting self or pulling out fur
- Excessive licking in the genital area
Causes of Excessive Grooming
Your cat may be suffering from a condition and grooming excessively as a way to treat it. For instance, a cat who is continuously licking in their genital area could be suffering from a urinary blockage or a bladder infection. They’re experiencing pain, and the grooming is your first sign that it’s time to call a vet.
On the other hand, a cat could develop a grooming disorder that is behavioral. If you’ve taken your cat to the vet and they've ruled out a medical issue, your cat could be experiencing behavioral problems. Under these circumstances, it’s important to pursue further treatment with a vet or animal behaviorist to keep your cat from hurting herself further. This behavior usually involves pulling out fur and biting.
If you have any questions about your cat’s behavior, contact us for assistance.
