5 Reasons Why Cats Lick Their Owners' Hair (6 Photos)

Have you ever woken up to the sandpaper scratch of a tiny tongue diligently grooming your head? (Assuming, of course, that you are the proud parent of a cat!) Many feline owners encounter this rather quirky behavior. But what exactly drives our pets to do it?





Love and Affection

For cats, grooming is an intimate, deeply meaningful ritual. It’s their way of showing affection and looking out for you—after all, mother cats spend hours bathing their kittens for a reason.



So if your feline friend frequently makes a play for your locks, you can take it as a sure sign of love.

Establishing Dominance

Another reason comes down to hierarchy: your cat may simply be using this peculiar gesture to assert their status in your household "pack."





At times, their grooming can feel quite insistent and forceful. If you'd like to discourage this behavior, make sure you interact with your pet on equal terms.

Boredom

Work, household chores, catching up with friends… Sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day to give our pets all the attention they crave.



If your cat isn't getting enough play, attention, or stimulation, she might simply be bored—and grooming your hair is the best pastime she could come up with.

Unpleasant Smells

Cats can take issue with the scent of our shampoo or lotion, or even natural shifts in body odor (which often happen with growing children or during pregnancy).



When that happens, they take it upon themselves to wash away the strange fragrance—after all, a vigilant cat must always protect their human!

Pure Instinct

As kittens, cats would snuggle against their mother’s warm, soft fur, where they felt completely safe and secure.



It seems some adult felines simply crave that comforting sensation again—and where better to find it than buried in their sleeping owner's hair? ????