Why do cats like to lick each other?

There's more to cat licking than just cleaning your feline siblings perfectly. Let's decode cat licking !

When they're not sunbathing by the window or napping all day, your cats do just that: lie next to each other and lick each other. Sometimes cat kisses can seem incredibly sweet, and other times, they can be haunting, with the potential for a fight to follow. This is definitely one of those strange cat behaviors that can leave you scratching your head. So why do cats lick each other?

When two or more cats live together, there will usually be at least one that will constantly lick the others and engage in a seemingly adorable behavior known as 'grooming.' This grooming behavior is not limited to cats; it occurs in many other 'social' animals, including primates.

There are actually many reasons why cats lick each other. They include:

Social Links

When cats lick each other's heads, it's a sign of affection, not to mention bonding and trust. According to a report published in the Journal of American Veterinary Research, this display of affection is more common in cats that are raised together or are part of the same social group. So when you see cats licking each other, it's usually an exchange of sweet cat kisses.

Redirecting Aggression

Interestingly, there is another reason why cats lick each other. A study published in the Journal of Ethology tells us that cats may use grooming each other as a way to redirect potential aggression when tensions are high. It seems that smart cats agree that a few gentle licks are a better way to calm things down than getting into a fight.

Brushing

This licking action is also a pretty handy grooming behavior for cats: It 's an area of ​​the body that cats can't reach to groom themselves, so there's definitely some function to this odd behavior—helping each other out in hard-to-reach spots.

Survival instinct

Another reason cats lick each other has to do with survival instinct: Cats are creating a unique group scent. Since cats use scent—even before they see each other—to distinguish friend from foe, this group scent is incredibly important for recognition. In short, your cat is hardwired to lick, and it stems from how their cat ancestors survived.

If you hear a soft purr coming from your cats while they're grooming each other, don't be surprised. Experts say it's how cats communicate, show affection, and help strengthen their social bonds. And of course, kisses feel good!

Lesley Montoya

Update 26 May 2025