My co-worker needs help with her cat

My co-worker was telling me about a strange behavior in her cat. I told her I didn't know how to help her, but I would ask you guys to see what you think.

Her cat loves to lick her. She literally has sores in the area that the cat licks her! She said that the cat is older (couldn't remember how old though) and has been doing this for the past 6 months or so. The cat doesn't do this everyday and there hasn't been any major changes in her household to cause this. She also said that the cat usually does this at night while she is trying to go to sleep and she has done this in the middle of the night while she is sleeping. Also, she is the only one who the cat licks.

Any ideas why this cat would do this?
Thank you for any ideas or suggestions!

that is weird. Neo and moe LOVE to lick my dh when he eats certain foods. I don't know weither he sweet the food out andthey like the taste or what maybe the kitty just thinks she taste good if they are cleaning themselves and we pet them they start cleaning our hand cats are just funny!

Shell, that sounds a little like my Coal. He gets very kissy at bedtime and if allowed, would rasp his toungue over our hands non-stop. That is the only time he gets like that. I think it is a regression to kittenhood, he feels safe and secure and is snuggling down with his Mom to sleep.

Your friend shouldn't scold her cat, but should withdraw the part being licked and then pet the cat so he knows he's not in trouble, but that the licking is done for now, thanks.

I would take the cat to the vet and have it checked out. In an older cat abberant behavior is always a concern. It could be a nutritional defect or something else entirely.

locate cancer by smell. Maybe there is a chemical change going on in the woman herself. Diabetes comes to mine. This would change the smell of her sweat. Both should go to the doctors. Just my 2 cents worth!

Very true, that's something I hadn't thought about!