The old adage \u201cfighting like cats and dogs\u201d is no longer an accurate way of looking at the relationship between our feline friends and our feisty fidos.<\/p>\n
For dogs and cats that live within the same household, it\u2019s actually more common to see them getting along than fighting! One of the most common things we may see with our furry companions is when our dogs lick or groom our cats.<\/p>\n
Most of the time, dogs lick cats as part of a mutual grooming experience or as part of a bonding experience. However, aside from affection, medical issues, or a dirty cat could also explain the licking. As long as the cat is okay with it, there\u2019s usually nothing to worry about.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
In this article, we will go over the possible reasons as to why your dog may be licking your cat, as well as what the licking probably isn\u2019t. We\u2019ll also discuss whether it\u2019s even safe for your dog to lick your cat, tips for how to get your dog to stop licking your cat, and information about how to ensure your dog and cat have a good relationship with each other.<\/p>\n\n
Both dogs and cats engage in what is called mutual grooming among their own species, and both species are some of the few animal species that also engage in mutual grooming outside of their own species.<\/p>\n
Dogs may lick cats (and vice versa) to help clean them up and remove any debris from the cat\u2019s body. Grooming like this is also an act of bonding, and many dogs and cats will frequently engage in licking and grooming each other whenever they are stressed and need comfort, or if they are just getting to know each other and want to work on building a peaceful relationship with each other.<\/p>\n
Since grooming is also part of the bonding process<\/a> in both dogs and cats, your dog may lick the cat to show that it means the cat no harm and that it is interested in establishing a relationship with the cat.<\/p>\n Adult female dogs (especially those who have previously had experience with puppies) may also lick cats and kittens more frequently as a sign of affection and interest in getting their scent onto the cat\u2019s body.<\/p>\n If your cat recently got into something that smells or tastes good to your dog, then you may see your dog attempt to lick whatever it is off of the cat.<\/p>\n A dog may also lick your cat if your cat has just returned from being outside, from the vet, or from the groomer. All of those locations have a lot of different smells wafting around and it\u2019s inevitable that some of those scents cling to your cat\u2019s fur.<\/p>\n When she gets home, your dog may take an interest in the smell and lick at the cat to explore the taste of whatever they are smelling.<\/p>\n Occasionally, dogs can suffer from behavioral conditions similar to an anxiety disorder in humans, skin conditions, or other internal organ disorders that cause an increased urge<\/a> to lick excessively to help alleviate the irritation.<\/p>\n The symptoms of some of these disorders and illnesses can show up as excessive licking in dogs, however not all of them explain why your dog is excessively licking your cat.<\/p>\n If your dog begins to lick your cat and is unable (or unwilling) to stop, or you notice that the licking of any object or body part becomes excessive and frequent, then your dog may be suffering from some kind of anxiety disorder<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you are concerned about excessive licking in your dog, you should reach out to your veterinarian to rule out anything more serious as well as speak to a local dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist if the cause of the licking is anxiety related and ways to help reduce your dog\u2019s anxiety and curb the excessive licking behaviors.<\/p>\n While rare it\u2019s possible your dog is licking and grooming your cat because your cat has an underlying health condition.<\/p>\n These health conditions could include a fungal or other dermatitis issue on the cat\u2019s skin, or in some very rare cases, your dog may actually smell an internal illness the cat may be suffering from and lick at the areas in which the smell is the strongest (such as what you can sometimes see dogs do with cancerous tumors in people<\/a>).<\/p>\n Dogs may also lick senior cats more frequently, more likely because very old cats can sometimes struggle to keep themselves clean.<\/p>\n If you suspect that your cat has something going on health-wise, you should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.<\/p>\n Sometimes the reason depends on where <\/i>your dog is licking the cat and it’s always my first follow-up question when a client asks about their dog’s licking habit.<\/p>\n Ears are one of the most common areas for a dog to lick a cat and while dogs may lick the ears of other dogs for a variety reasons<\/a>, the most likely reason a dog may be licking a cat\u2019s ears is due to the fact that a cat\u2019s ears can contain a lot of salty ear wax, yeast, parasites such as ear mites, and other fungal or bacterial issues that smell and taste interesting to the dog.<\/p>\n Yeast infections tends to be one of the more common reasons for a dog to continuously licks at a cat\u2019s ears<\/a>, and the licking may be quite obsessive because the yeast does taste good to the dog. Besides the licking, signs of a yeast infection in a cat\u2019s ears may also include itching and scratching, hair loss, a pungent cheese- or corn chip-like smell, and dark earwax.<\/p>\n If your dog seems to have an abnormal interest in licking your cat\u2019s ears, a trip to the vet is necessary so that your vet can run tests to determine whether or not your cat has a yeast or other ear infection.<\/p>\n If you have a senior cat, young kitten, or a cat with a medical issue, your dog may frequently lick and groom their bottom area due to the cat not being able to clean themselves properly after using the bathroom.<\/p>\n While cats are known for being very fastidious groomers, some cats are definitely less hygienic than others and your dog may take it upon themselves to help clean them up!<\/p>\n Dr. Nita Patel<\/a> urges owners to “monitor their dogs for any signs of gastrointestinal<\/span><\/span> issues development as some parasites have a fecal-oral transmission which can be spread by licking this region.”<\/p>\n Your dog may lick your cat\u2019s back more frequently because it might be the easiest body part for them to reach, as well as the fact that cats like to arch and rub their backs against other things so there is probably a lot of scent lingering on their back.<\/p>\n When cats roll in things, their backs and sides also become covered in whatever they rolled in, so your dog may take more interest in those parts of the body than others.<\/p>\n Cats sometimes show their affection with \u201chead butts\u201d and many will head butt a dog to show they are friendly and seeking attention. In response, the dog may begin licking the cats head to assure the cat that they, too, mean no harm and are friendly.<\/p>\n Cats also have scent glands covering their heads and faces<\/a>, so a dog may lick more frequently around those areas of the head and face due to the presence of the pheromones.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve gone over the most likely explanation for dogs that are interested in licking cats but let\u2019s clarify some of the common misconceptions too.<\/p>\n Cats are not part of the domestic dog\u2019s regular diet, and it is unlikely your dog has any interest in eating your cat provided he is not starving or suffering from a kind of extreme medical disorder causing a change in his demeanor.<\/p>\n While dogs do have the capability to injure a cat, you probably don\u2019t have to worry that Fido is about to eat Kitty if you see him sneak a lick of her fur!<\/p>\nReason #3: There Is Something On Your Cat\u2019s Fur That Smells Or Tastes Good To Your Dog<\/b><\/h2>\n
Reason #4: Your Dog Is Trying To Relieve Stress<\/b><\/h2>\n
Reason #5: Your Cat Has An Underlying Health Condition<\/b><\/h2>\n
What About Licking Specific Parts Of My Cat?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Ears<\/h3>\n
Bottom<\/b><\/h4>\n
Back<\/b><\/h4>\n
Head<\/b><\/h4>\n
What Your Dog Licking Your Cat Probably Isn\u2019t<\/b><\/h2>\n
1) It Probably Isn\u2019t Because Your Dog Is Trying To Eat The Cat<\/b><\/h3>\n