Hi all,
My cat Ziggy is overall a very mouthy cat - always has been since I've got him. One interesting expression of this is his obsessively licking when he's purring and being petted and lovey. He will lick any part of my skin he can get his little tongue on, usually my hand and arm (as that's what I'm petting him with) but also my face (because he likes to nuzzle) and even my foot, if I happen to be barefoot, or my calf if I happen to be standing.
He's purring like a maniac and lick lick lick. He will lick the length of my entire arm sometimes, non-stop. The next progression will be that he'll latch on with his teeth (fairly gently, but can progress to harder if he is not kept at bay) and hold onto my hand or arm with his mouth and flick his tongue inside his open mouth. He's clearly happy and content when doing it.
A little background: Ziggy was brought into the humane society, alone, at age estimated 1-2 days old. He was raised there in their nursery. Is this like suckling? Could this have to do with the fact that he was separated from his mom, and this is sort of what he would do to her in young kitten hood, but now the behavior is transferred to me?
I don't mind, I'm just very curious!
photo: Ziggy and his maniac tongue waking up from a nap.
My cat Ziggy is overall a very mouthy cat - always has been since I've got him. One interesting expression of this is his obsessively licking when he's purring and being petted and lovey. He will lick any part of my skin he can get his little tongue on, usually my hand and arm (as that's what I'm petting him with) but also my face (because he likes to nuzzle) and even my foot, if I happen to be barefoot, or my calf if I happen to be standing.
He's purring like a maniac and lick lick lick. He will lick the length of my entire arm sometimes, non-stop. The next progression will be that he'll latch on with his teeth (fairly gently, but can progress to harder if he is not kept at bay) and hold onto my hand or arm with his mouth and flick his tongue inside his open mouth. He's clearly happy and content when doing it.
A little background: Ziggy was brought into the humane society, alone, at age estimated 1-2 days old. He was raised there in their nursery. Is this like suckling? Could this have to do with the fact that he was separated from his mom, and this is sort of what he would do to her in young kitten hood, but now the behavior is transferred to me?
I don't mind, I'm just very curious!
photo: Ziggy and his maniac tongue waking up from a nap.