h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've had a question about an aspect of one of our cats' behavior for some time. I could just Google it, but I'm sure I'll get more interesting- and possibly more entertaining- answers here.

One of our cats, a seven-year-old female, likes licking random things. The other cat, an 11-year-old male, licks plastic bags, and I'm told that this is actually very common among cats. But the female cat, she licks everything... the walls, the wooden door jambs, table legs, chairs, footstools. She seems to have no preference as to whether she licks painted surfaces, wood, or upholstery. She doesn't just give a couple of casual licks, but will sit and lick whatever it is for several minutes (long enough that upholstery, for example, winds up damp).

Now it makes sense that she occasionally she licks us- she may be feeling affectionate, or our fingers may have traces of food on them. But why on earth does she lick totally random things? The vet says she's healthy (if a bit overweight) and has no detectable deficiencies. Is she doing because she's hungry? Because she's bored? Anyone have any ideas?

We also haven't ruled out the possibility that she's just a dork.

Your house wasn't built on an ancient cod burial ground was it?

My dog used to lick cushions when he was young, which was annoying, but you can train dogs better than cats to stop, I think. I don't know much about cats, but I can't remember ever seeing one licking things apart from their own fur.

Well, and with cats, if you ask them to stop doing something, they just give you that "you talking to me?" look and keep right on doing it.

@ Mr. D.

Speaking of these cats and our upholstery, I'm seriously considering re-upholstering everything in sisal, that stuff they make scratching posts out of. We bought them one a few years back and it's the only thing in the house they won't scratch.

But the licking is actually kind of annoying sometimes- you can hear the scratching of her tongue (and the slurping- yes, she slurps when she licks, even when she is grooming herself. She's not one of those demure, ladylike cats) from clear across the room. It's even woken us up at night a couple of times!

Could be the cleaning products you're using. One of our cats liked the taste of bleach.

I've certainly heard of this, and our (old) cat licks random things occasionally. But, sorry don't have a reason. Do cats need a reason to do anything?

I clean only with castile soap (because of allergies to various cleaning products), and that hadn't actually occurred to me. I think it's coconut based. That's a really good thought, actually.

However, my husband just said that in order for that to be the case, I'd have to actually clean around here sometimes.

But on the other hand, no, cats really don't ever seem to need a reason to do anything.

Sometimes I think ours are especially dumb, but then they do the most clever things. She got into our Thanksgiving dinner by getting on the counter top, lifting the lid on the casserole dish, and pulling out a portion. She also chewed the tops off all of the crescent rolls...

Every cat we have had, they each have their own fetish. One did like plastic bags, another loves to take bite-sized nibbles out of paper napkins or phone-book pages. Never eats them, just bite off and drop. He also likes to sometimes lick the rim of my coffee cup ...

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PC, you *say* cats don't need a reason, but they do have *their* reasons.

That is, to piss you off.

Cats always have a reason and a method ... It is the simple mindedness of we humans that just "don't get it". Ask any cat.

Ha! My last yikesing of 2011?

I really doubt it swl - we both know you've got a couple more in you.

On the stats announcement could we perhaps have an addendum for modding - most overall, most in a given period - that sort of thing?

The cat may be seeking some nutritional ingredient
lacking in its diet, some deficiency.

Similar strange behavior in humans (especially pregnant
women) is known as pica. Sometimes seen as symptomatic
of autism in children.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_%28disorder%29


~jwf~

"PC, you *say* cats don't need a reason, but they do have *their* reasons."

Many of them have a specific clause.

B

Could be a displacement activity. Something is putting it on edge, so it's licking to relieve stress. Some cats, like dogs, just seem to have lower tolerance for everyday life. She could be bored, and like a zoo animal would pace or do repetitive motions she's just learned to lick. To really find out you'd need to keep a licking diary, what was she doing just before she started licking? Is it when she's been alone? Do you reliably give her attention when she does it? Has she got plenty of things she likes to do? For instance you could have a room full of toys, but if she's a sky cat and you've given toys for an earth cat then they won't be much good to her.

As I believe totally every word Mina says about domestic dog and cat behaviour, I am startled to discover that you might own a sky cat as opposed to an earth cat.

If they come near me, they're more likely to be fire cats.

(qf. old joke about how do you make a cat go woof...)

B

And I don't even own a cat. I was thinking of writing an entry about the whole sky/earth cat thing, but as I've never lived with a cat I wasn't sure I should! As a lot of what I know is based on lots of half hour visits! Admittedly to about 50 cats, but you know. It's not the same as living with one.

From my website:

"Some are sky cats - perching high, hiding on top of wardrobes and loving to pounce as things fly past through the air. Others are earth cats, hiding behind sofas, tucking themselves away in small places and leaping out as their victim scurries past. Every cat has these desires in different proportions"

I am writing an article for my local paper, which I might turn into a 'quick start to cat ownership' for h2g2 once it's been published.

Cat going woof - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP3gzee1cps