Some cats will grooms themselves immediately after you pet them to eliminate your scent and even out their own scent. Displacement behavior. Some cats will use grooming or licking as a displacement behavior. When some cats are stressed, they will cope by grooming (which gives them comfort).
Your Cat Might Be Exhibiting Mutual Grooming Behavior
Cats that are friends often groom each other simultaneously. Your cat's behavior of licking herself or the air when you pet her might be triggered by that mutual grooming desire.
Compulsive grooming may be the result of a medical condition. It could indicate a neurological disorder, flea infestation, parasites, or a psychological disorder. Stress often causes cats to develop compulsive disorders like excessive grooming early in life.
It's normal for cats to groom on a regular basis. After all, cat self-grooming is an important behavior that helps cats remove loose hair, dirt, and parasites from their coat.
If the cat is very anxious, it may even pull its head back. It will begin to lower its head, with its whiskers pulled back to look small and harmless, or it may move them forward as a sign of alert. As its anxiety increases, your cat will start to shrink, or arch its back getting ready to run.
Tucked away. If your cat has their tail between their legs, it's a sign of anxiety and submission. When something makes your cat nervous, like a new environment or a new family member, they'll tuck away their tail.
Grooming you
If your cat licks or grooms you then it's a pretty good sign that they view you as a trusted member of their group. When they're in the litter as kittens, they groom each other as a way of bonding so grooming you is an extension of this behavior.
Cats groom each other and around each other to bond with other cats. Cats that groom their owners or grooming on their owners is that cat bonding with their human. This is your cat's time to spend valuable time with you.
One simple way to know if your cat trusts you is if her tail stands straight up, especially when she sees you or walks toward you. Some cat experts consider it to be a “thumbs up” in cat lingo. If the tail quivers slightly, it's even more indication that the cat has positive feelings toward you.
Lying next to you, but not on you, doesn't mean your cat is not bonded to you. In fact, sleeping next to you means your cat trusts you enough to be in a vulnerable position while sleeping. Some cats are not comfortable sleeping on their cat parent because they prefer the security of a small buffer zone.
Besides pouncing, purring, and pestering their owners for treats, cats spend much of their waking time licking themselves. Now, scientists have shed light on how sharp, tiny cones on cats' tongues give their coats and skin a deep clean, instead of merely spreading their spit around.
In a home setting, your cats may be telling each other that they trust and respect one another. However, they might also be communicating this to you. In other words, if your cats seem to be grooming each other in front of you most of the time, they may want you to recognize their relationship, too.
So they want to mark you again with their scent by rubbing, headbutting, licking, or even gently biting you. This allows your cat to reclaim their territory, and it's thought to increase endorphins, which gives them a sense of calm, happiness, and safety.
Hyperesthesia is an extreme sensitivity in an area of a cat's skin, almost always on the back, and often in the area right in front of the tail. This condition is often noticed when owners go to pet this area and their cat suddenly reacts.
It is a common behavioral interaction that cats usually engage in. This ritualistic "small bite" can be perceived as an act of affection between cat and owner, mainly if the petted animal happens to curl up with its human partner. Your cat is showing you how much they care by giving affectionate licks and bites.
If your cat sleeps on your bed, he may choose a position that lets him see out your bedroom door more easily. If he's curled up in a ball under your bed or in a quiet corner, then he may be hiding. Cats who sleep under the covers might love being close to you, or they might be hiding to feel safer.
Some cats will grooms themselves immediately after you pet them to eliminate your scent and even out their own scent. Displacement behavior. Some cats will use grooming or licking as a displacement behavior. When some cats are stressed, they will cope by grooming (which gives them comfort).
No, your cat doesn't actually think you're the mama cat that birthed it. But cats show us a level of affection and respect that is very similar to the way they treat their mama cat. And this sweet fact flies in the face of anyone who thinks cats' “aloof” personality means they don't care about us.
Grooming is a common way for cats to show love and affection to other cats and humans. It can tickle a bit because a cat's tongue is rough, but through these kisses, cats show affection and share their scent.
Smell Transfer
Cats recognize each other (and us) by scent. Raising the butt is your cat's way of getting their anal glands closer to your nose so you can get a whiff of their pheromones.
Head, Shoulders, Cheeks and Nose
So, in which places do cats like to be petted? The head, chin and neck are often their favorites. While some cats enjoy having their tails touched, others will recoil and even experience pain from a tail stroke.
Yes, you read that right: A recent study revealed that getting your pet's attention is as simple as speaking with a high-pitched tone and extended vowels, just like how you'd communicate with a human baby.