bizzarr licking/kneeding behavior...

My cat Moka, who is just over a year old, enjoys licking and sometimes almost suckling my biceps. While doing this she also kneeds my skin.

As a kitten, she would lick my face continuously. I would wake up in the middle of the night to find her doing this. Now, as a full grown cat, she will lick my fingers, and pretty much any spot on my arms though she really prefers the biceps. This is a daily ritual and happens any time we lay down on the bed.

These licking sessions can go on for as long as a half hour and sometimes she gets into it so much that her eyes begin to close, and her toung will skip a beat or two but she'll continue to purr and kneed, and lick until she finally goes to sleep.

I don't mind her doing this at all but am curious why she is doing it. Any suggestions and input will be appreciated.

thanx,
dawn...

It sounds to me like she hasn't outgrown her kittenhood.

I'm having the same issue here too, accept Twagee licks my armpit!

Yes, moka will lick my armpit too if I let her. But it tickles so when she works her way up that far, I'll squeeze my arm close to my body so she can't get her nose in there.

Would just love to know why she's doing it....

dawn...

Of my three only Ellie does this, since I got her at 11 weeks she has suckled and licked on my neck and arms whenever I lie down or when she can get to me. Her face goes quite vacant and her eyes almost cross when she does it - she is in another world entirely. I have never had another cat who did this, and her littermates don't do it ( I know who has them) so I have no explanation for her behaviour. I don't mind up to a point, but she does make my bedclothes and sleeves all wet, and I hate sleeping with the smell of tuna!

Jenny, you hit the nail on the head with the statement "Her face goes quite vacant and her eyes almost cross when she does it - she is in another world entirely." This describes Moka's state of mind exactly when she's doing it. I too don't mind cuz to me it is yet another moment of time only her and I enjoy and no one else. But as I said, I am curious as to why a cat will do this. It is also very cool to know there are many others who do it as well. Not that I thought she was the only one but I do like to hear of similar stories in order to better understand it.

dawn...

Gibbs doesn't suckle, but he will knead on me (and of late his claws haven't been trimmed)when I'm laying down, for hours were I to let him, and nuzzle my neck.