A recent study has revealed that cats licking each other, known as allogrooming, can serve multiple purposes beyond friendly interaction. Morgane Van Belle, a veterinarian at Ghent University, started investigating this behavior after observing her cats’ interactions. She noted that one cat would lick another’s neck, which was often followed by biting and the original cat leaving the area.
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To explore these dynamics, Van Belle and her colleagues analyzed videos of allogrooming from 53 households with two cats. Their findings, published in the journal *Applied Animal Behaviour Science* in May, indicated that not all instances of allogrooming signify social bonding.
The research identified two primary contexts for allogrooming: social bonding and social tension. When cats engage in affectionate behavior, they often follow it with allogrooming, particularly when they are in close proximity—41 percent of these interactions were linked to mutual grooming. In such cases, one cat would groom the other’s head or ears, areas that are sensitive and contain scent glands, enhancing the experience. Allogrooming can also be a precursor to play, especially when the licking occurs near the neck, a location that may also involve playful biting.
Conversely, the study found that allogrooming can communicate social tension without escalating into conflict. For example, if one cat desired a sunny spot occupied by another, this could prompt allogrooming that caused the other cat to display signs of discomfort, such as flattening its ears. Additional behaviors suggesting stress during allogrooming included head shaking, lip licking, yawning, and scratching behind the ears, particularly when the cats were not synchronized in their positions.
Van Belle noted the nuanced way cats manage conflict, highlighting their sophistication in communication. Rather than resorting to aggression, they exhibit subtle behaviors to navigate interactions. Ashley Elzerman, a veterinary behaviorist at Zoetis who did not participate in the study, expressed enthusiasm for research that enhances understanding of feline social dynamics, especially in multi-cat households where subtle tensions are not easily recognized.
This study sheds light on the intricate behaviors of cats and suggests that when a cat begins to lick you while you’re enjoying some sun, it might be a cue to shift your position.