Why do Cats Lick Each Other?

Cats lick each other for a variety of reasons, and the behavior is known as allogrooming. It's a complex social interaction with several underlying motivations:  

1. Social Bonding and Affection:

• Showing they are bonded: Allogrooming is a significant way for cats to show affection, build trust, and strengthen the bonds they have with other cats. They typically reserve this behavior for cats within their "social group" or family.  
• Creating a shared scent: Licking helps to mix the scents of the cats, creating a unified group odor. This shared scent helps them identify each other as members of the same social unit and can reduce aggression. Think of it as a feline version of "we all smell the same, so we're friends."  

2. Hygiene and Practical Help:

• Cleaning hard-to-reach areas: Cats often groom each other around the head, face, and ears – areas that are difficult for them to reach themselves. It's a mutual grooming session to keep each other clean.
• Removing parasites and debris: In outdoor colonies, allogrooming can help remove fleas, ticks, and other parasites, contributing to the overall health of the group. While less critical for indoor cats with preventative care, the instinct may still be present.  

3. Communication and Social Hierarchy:

• Establishing or reinforcing social status: Sometimes, the cat that does the grooming is higher in the social hierarchy. It can be a way for a dominant cat to assert their position within the group. Subordinate cats may also solicit grooming from a dominant cat as a sign of deference.  
• Redirected aggression and stress relief: In some instances, a cat might lick another cat as a way to calm themselves down when feeling stressed or anxious, or even to redirect potential aggression. The act of licking can be soothing.  

4. Learned Behavior:

• Maternal grooming: Mother cats lick their kittens from birth to clean them, stimulate breathing, and bond with them. This early experience likely plays a role in developing allogrooming behavior later in life. Kittens also learn to groom themselves and others by observing their mother.  

In summary, when cats lick each other, it's usually a positive sign indicating a bond, affection, and a sense of social cohesion. It can also serve practical purposes like cleaning and can play a role in communication and social structure within a feline group.  

However, it's important to note that excessive or one-sided licking could sometimes indicate stress, anxiety, or even a medical issue in the cat being licked. Observing the overall behavior and the relationship between the cats is key to understanding the meaning behind their licks.