Attention animal lovers: you have probably noticed that dogs and cats like to lick you. But why do they actually do this?
Dogs and licking
You know how it is: you’re just playing and cuddling with the dog, and suddenly you feel a wet tongue on your cheek. Not everyone minds that, but some people don’t like the idea. Why they do this? For this we have to look at the ranking of dog breeds. A dog licks another dog that is in a higher ranking at the corners of the mouth. This is a submissive way of saying, “Hi, I’d like to have a good time together.” The higher ranking dog receives such a lick with love, exactly why your dog likes to lick you. Your dog treats you as a fellow dog, so they see you as someone with a higher ranking. They like to show that they want to be friends and show affection by licking you. Not so sweet, then, if you react with horror to such a sweet gesture.
Cats and licking
We now know that dogs lick your face with love, but cats can also take a lick from their owner. Why? There are several reasons for this. It’s partly natural: cats like to wash each other with their tongues, which is part of felines’ social behavior. Cats often lick their kittens to keep them clean, but adult cats also like to keep each other close. They then feel comfortable and safe, and see it as a sign of affection. This is also the case with humans: by giving them a lick, cats make you more of a part of their living environment, so they want you there. You start to smell more like them and that simply feels more familiar. Scents are important to cats, so it is not surprising that they want to transform your scent into their own familiar scent. They will also like to lick you if you carry an irresistible smell of food you have just prepared, or if you wear a day cream or sunscreen where the smell is not to be despised by cats. In that case, make sure that they do not lick the stuff off your body, as it can be poisonous.
