9 Reasons Why Cats Groom Itself

Cats are clean animals and like cleanliness. That's why he uses part of his daily time for grooming himself, cats will clean their fur, claw at wood or other objects to sharpen their nails, bite their skin to get rid of fleas and so on.

For most people or cat lovers, maybe the grooming that cats often do is a normal action and this is normal for cats to do. But actually cats do all of this not only for the purpose of treating their bodies but there are other reasons why cats do this.

Then what are the reasons for cats grooming themselves. For Anggora friends who are curious about the reasons, you can read Anggora's article below to find out.

9 Reasons Why Cats Groom Itself

As Anggora just explained above, cats groom themselves not only because they aim to take care of their bodies, but there are other reasons why our pet cats do this. Here are some reasons why cats like grooming themselves.

1. Taking Care of Their Body

The first reason is that cats groom themselves just because they want to take care of their bodies. They lick their bodies to clean themselves or bathe, bite their bodies to kill fleas on their bodies, claw at carpets or wood to sharpen their nails, eat grass to clean their stomachs of hair or objects that are difficult for digestion and other things.

All of these things cats do with one goal, namely they only care for their bodies so that they have a clean appearance, can protect themselves and also to maintain the health of their bodies.

2. Out Of Habit

Grooming is a custom that has existed since the days of the cat's ancestors. This habit continues to be passed on to the next generation through DNA. This habit is embedded in cat DNA and when a cat is born, the cat will carry this habit with it.

That is why when a cat has grown quite large over the age of 2 months, the cat will be able to make movements of licking its body, scratching wood, biting its body and other actions without needing to be taught by its mother at all.

Maybe before reading this article, many of us thought that a newly grown cat learns to do all of the above actions by observing its mother. When in fact this is a habit or way of life embedded in their DNA.

So they will be able to do it without the need to be taught by anyone including their own parents.

3. Cools The Body

Cats also do grooming with the aim of cooling their bodies. When a cat feels that the surrounding air temperature is too hot, the cat will lick its body with the aim of cooling its body.

Cats will take advantage of the evaporation of saliva on their fur to cool their body temperature. In this way the cat is able to control a third of the cooling process in its hot body.

Those of us who see cats licking their bodies might think that cats are just cleaning their bodies of dirt and certain odors. When in fact they were engrossed in cooling their bodies.

4. Warms His Body

Apart from aiming to cool their bodies, cats sometimes groom them with the aim of warming their bodies. Cats will lick their bodies to even out the natural oils that are around their fur.

Now, by evenly distributing natural oils on the cat's body, the cat will be protected from moist air while making its body feel warmer.

5. Stimulates Blood Circulation

Cats actually do grooming activities such as licking their bodies to stimulate blood circulation in their bodies. Cats do this by using tiny hairs on their tongues.

6. To Please Itself

Not only to stimulate blood circulation, but self-grooming cats also do to calm themselves. For cats self grooming is a fun activity which can provide a sense of comfort and relaxation to cats.

This action is also often done by cats to please humans, other cats or their own children.

7. Keeps Cat Wounds Clean

In cat saliva there are enzymes which cats can use as natural antibiotics. So that when a cat takes care of its fur or skin, it indirectly protects its body from infection.

If there is a light wound on the cat's body, the wound that he licks will be kept clean from germs and bacteria. But it's better if the cat is injured, it is advisable to take the cat immediately to the vet.

8. Health Purposes

Cats don't just groom themselves just to keep their bodies well cared for but cats also do it for health purposes. Cats do this to keep their body, skin and stomach healthy.

9. Protects Herself From Predators

Even though the cats we care for have become house cats, the cats still have their wild habits. Cats will clean themselves with the aim of removing all traces of their own odor, other odors or food on their bodies.

This is what the cat does so that the predator or natural enemy of the cat cannot find its whereabouts so indirectly this will protect the cat from the dangers caused by predators and ensure that it remains safe.

Now you know what are the reasons why cats groom themselves. Hopefully this article is useful for you.