Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.
I caught up with Pancake in the middle of a dramatic grooming session last night. It involved a lot of splayed legs, and a determined effort to reach something close to her perineum, which actually involved what I’m pretty sure was a reverse split. Earlier in the week, I watched a similarly specific grooming session play out- this time Tiller was working on getting Pancake ready to wear a Mohawk. Luckily, “The Pancake” who is a bit Al Pacino Godfather-esque about the bed and sharing it with other cats, tolerated the session well and no punching occurred.
If eating and sleeping are two of the most common activities I see both cats doing, grooming is probably a close third. Many times every day, after eating, and certainly before going to sleep, sometimes between 3:00 am in between their different sleep modes, they adjust. But why do cats love to groom?
Why Cats Groom: Speculation and Theories
Cats have always been considered relatively clean animals, due to their natural tendency to tidy up. Here are some theories as to why cats groom:
- The idea that groomers are higher in society than grooms. And furthermore, that arrangement is a way in social settings to allow cats to act on aggression issues, without the need for overt violence. This theory comes from a somewhat older paper, but interesting nonetheless…
- A more recent paper on a similar topic found that familiarity and genetic relationships improved grooming activities from one cat to another. Again suggesting a social or bonding function.
- Functions. To remove external parasites, such as fleas. In one study, grooming activity helped to significantly reduce the number of fleas, compared to control cats that wore e-collars and did not groom for the duration of the study. Other theories have suggested removing odors, such as after eating, to reduce the risk of being predated.
- It is worth noting that grooming can (accidentally?) spread anal gland secretions into the haircoat. Anal glands contain very high amounts of Fel d 1, one of the main cat allergens that contribute to human cat allergies.
- Do not forget that the arrangement can also indicate abnormalities. Flea allergy dermatitis, for example, can result in a large amount of repair. Also Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome. And urinary tract infections or urinary crystals can lead to localized, excessive fixation of the perineum.
So, the next time you catch your cat in a grooming session, take a moment to think if there might be more going on than meets the eye. It could be a simple licking, removing an itch, removing an external parasite, or conforming to a social structure. But needless to say, cats, as always, are not as simple as they may first appear!
