What to do if a cat licks itself too much

Cats spend a good part of their time grooming themselves. After eating, sleeping, or doing anything else they clean themselves for a while. Hygiene is very important for them, so they will always have their fur in perfect condition.

However, sometimes grooming can become a problem, so I'll tell you what to do if a cat licks itself too much.

Grooming, much more than cleaning

All of us who live with these animals know that they clean themselves for a long time. A healthy cat dedicates between a 10 and 30% of their activity just to groom themselves. The entire body will be cleaned: head, neck, back, abdomen, tail… To do this, he will use his scratchy tongue to remove dirt, and then his teeth to catch parasites.

In addition to having a hygienic function, the cat also does it to calm down. When licking, it triggers the production of endogenous endorphins, which have a calming effect on the animal. And not only that, but dopamine is released, which is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. This could explain why they lick each other in tense or conflict situations.

When does it become a problem and how to act?

If your cat feels pain or irritation, whether due to an allergy or a disease such as cystitis, it is likely that he licks himself excessively trying to relieve the symptoms. You should also take into account that it could have TOC (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) as a consequence of the release of dopamine.

In any case, if you see that he has started to lick himself more than he used to, it is important that take him to the vet to make a diagnosis and give you the most appropriate treatment. Do not try to avoid without the help of the licking specialist, as it could scratch you.

Grooming is necessary, but as with everything, you have to avoid excesses,