As humans, if we didn’t have regular baths or shower then we’d get stinky quite quickly. Added to this, we often need help (or tools) for cutting our hair, taking care of our nails, and brushing our teeth.
With cats, they can take care of their entire basic grooming needs without needing outside help. How do they manage to keep their fur smooth and shiny, and why do they care so much about what they look like? Let’s find out how cats keep themselves so clean!
The Science of Grooming
Unless there is an issue such as fleas or something stuck in their fur, cats never need to have a bath. That’s because they spend an estimated 30-50% of their waking hours grooming themselves.
This is partly because of their tongues, which serve a dual purpose. A cat’s tongue is rough as it has backwards-facing barbs, called papillae, which is just one of many fascinating facts about cats. These barbs not only help to scrape off food but are also incredibly helpful when grooming.
The papillae can effectively act as a hairbrush. It will help with untangling fur, removing any debris, and capturing any loose hair. Added to this, it will also distribute natural oils evenly across their coat, giving it that sleek appearance.
How Their Fur Stays So Pristine
Cat’s have glands that secrete natural oils onto their skin. These oils will help both waterproof their fur as well as maintain its softness. Cats will instinctively know how to maintain a perfect balance of this oil.
With their tongue, they can spread this oil around their body to where it’s needed. This prevents any area’s from becoming too greasy or conversely, prevents skin from becoming dry and irritated.
Humans licking themselves would be a little gross, so why isn’t this an issue with cats? That’s because their saliva is much different to ours. It has antibacterial properties, isn’t as watery as our saliva, and also doesn’t contain digestive enzymes like ours does. Added to their cleanliness, cats don’t have any sweat glands in their hairy areas, so they don’t need to worry about body odor.
Grooming is More Than Just Cleanliness
For cats, grooming is much more than just cleaning. It also helps with temperature regulation as licking their fur allows water to evaporate and create a cooling effect. This is similar to sweating in humans and can be particularly useful for long-haired cats.
Grooming can also be good for stimulating blood circulation, which improves scalp health. Cats can also do it simply for stress relief and comfort. If cats are feeling anxious, they will often groom themselves, almost to take their mind off their troubles.
Finally, licking themselves can be great for wound cleaning. Their saliva not only has anti-bacterial properties, but it can also work as an anti-septic. This can aid in the healing process and help to clean the wound.
Cats Can Share the Grooming Love
Cats don’t just groom themselves as they are happy to groom other cats too. When animals do this, it’s known as allogrooming and quite few animals do this such as many primates, birds, and cattle.
This helps to strengthen bonds between cats and is a sign of both trust and affection. Cats can also try and groom their humans too, which is what they are doing if they lick you. This is a positive sign as they are showing they are bonded with you.
Can Cats Groom Too Much?
As we’ve seen, cats spend a lot of time grooming. However, it is possible for them to overgroom for various different reasons. If you notice incessant grooming, it may be a sign that your cat is in pain. More obvious signs that coincide with this are biting or chewing their fur, hair loss, redness, or sores on their skin.
There are many possible reasons for this, with the likes of allergies, parasites, and skin infections all able to cause itching and discomfort. If you think your cat is overgrooming, check the skin where they are grooming the most for any signs of a medical issue.
Medical issues aren’t the only reason for overgrooming. Stress and anxiety can cause them to groom too much as a comfort response and coping mechanism. If you suspect this, think about any changes in their environment or stressors they’ve had. If it’s moving into a new home, for example, the behavior should stop as they become more comfortable.
What If My Cat Stops Grooming?
If your cat has stopped grooming, this is always a bad sign. A common cause of this is grooming causing them pain. This could be arthritis, dental problems, or any type of injury that makes movement difficult.
You should be able to notice other signs if this is an issue, so it’s best to give them a quick check over. Obesity can be another reason a cat doesn’t groom as much, as it’s unable to reach as many areas. This can always be solved by a good diet.
Stress anxiety may cause them to overgroom, but it can stop them from grooming as well. This is commonly seen in stray cats as they are uncomfortable in their environment and abandon self-care. Cats may abandon grooming if they are in a constant state of fear and anxiety.
Any changes of behavior should always be investigated. As always, if you feel they are under or overgrooming and can’t see an obvious cause, it’s always worth going to the vet. Cats are proud of their cleanliness and any divergence away from this is cause for concern.
Helping Your Cat Stay Clean
In general, cats don’t need help with grooming. However, we can still give them a helping hand to make things a little easier. For example, brushing their hair will help to remove any loose fur and prevent matting. This reduces the chance of them developing hairballs.
As mentioned, bathing isn’t usually required but can be helpful if they either encounter something sticky or smelly. Parasite treatments are also another reason to have a bath and finally, bathing can be a good idea if they are unable to groom themselves due to a health issue. Often wiping down their fur is all that’s required rather than a full bath.
Of course, you should change the litter box regularly and some special breeds may need a little extra care. Other grooming tasks, such as the cutting of their nails, aren’t required if they have somewhere to scratch but some owners prefer to do this to protect furniture and themselves from scratches.
