- Cat Behavior
- Written by:Denise LeBeau
Last Updated on November 23, 2023 by Catster Editorial Team
Eskimo, French and butterfly are just the beginning of the list of ways people describe kissing. For humans, kissing with our lips is a ubiquitous sign of affection. While cats express their affection in a myriad of ways, lip-on-lip action isn’t typically one of them. But, every cat parent knows our feline friends show their affection toward us, and each other, quite often. So, what exactly is a “cat kiss?” And how can we instigate more tender moments with our beloved cats? Let’s explore the secrets of the cat kiss.
Do cats kiss each other?
“It’s important to define what you mean by a ‘cat kiss’ — when we think of kissing, we think of a touching of the lips that has romantic, sexual or platonic, but affectionate meaning,” says Mikel Delgado, Ph.D., and Certified Cat Behavior Consultant at Feline Minds. “Cats do sometimes touch and sniff or groom each other near the mouth area, but this is not a romantic gesture because cat sex is not exactly romantic.”
Dr. Delgado explains that all grooming in cats is a sign of cats who are friendly with each other. She makes the distinction that it is not necessarily affectionate. “We don’t know the intention behind the behavior,” Dr. Delgado says. “It could be [that] the other cat has food on his mouth.”
Mary Johnson has been working with community cats (aka feral cats) for over four decades. She’s been a foster caretakerto hundreds of cats and kittens and has been privy to every nuance of their behavior. “They clean each other, they rub each other, but they don’t kiss,” Johnson says. “When cats lick each other during grooming it is a bonding experience. Cats who don’t get along don’t partake in this ritual.”
Johnson witnesses her foster kitties licking each other and does see it as a form of affection. Her foster littermates play together, eat together, sleep together and lick each other — it’s a part of their routine that defines their family unit. Grooming is also a form of marking territory, so they are letting everyone know, “this licked kitten belongs with me.”
Further confounding the issue, cats sometimes do greet each other in a way that resembles a quick peck. Cats will often sniff each other on the nose as a salutation. We could anthropomorphize this and call it their “hello Eskimo kiss!”
Do cats kiss people?
Cats are not shy about communicating with their people. In fact, cats don’t really meow at each other, but rather save that vocalization for their guardians. While we’d all like to learn how to speak cat, we’d also like to get our cats to lavish us with affection! Some cats bring us gifts, knead us and show love with belly displays, but they’re never craning up for a big wet smooch.
Sometimes cats do lick their people, including around the mouth area. There are a few reasons your cat is licking you that has nothing to do with kissing. You could be tasty – maybe there are some leftover droplets or crumbs from your last meal. “In regards to licking humans, I don’t believe that is something they necessarily learn from another cat,” Dr. Delgado says. “That doesn’t mean they are born ‘kissers’ either — again, it might just take a new lotion that tastes interesting, or maybe you’re extra salty after a workout, and that’s enough to get them interested.”
But, all licking is not equal —sometimes cats lick when they’re stressed. Cats will also lick all kinds of textures— from cotton to rubber— so it’s important to pay attention to whatyour cat may be ingesting while he appears to be kissing every surface.
You might be missing those kisses!
While “kissing” in the traditional sense isn’t part of feline love language, there is one definitive way that cats convey affection toward humans. The subtle cat slow blink is a surefire way to know your cat loves and trusts you. This is when your cat looks at you with soft eyes and slowly blinks. You can (and should!) do it back to your cat in return. It’s so powerful that Jackson Galaxy calls it the “I Love You Blink.”
Cats do the slow blink to people and to other cats. People also use the slow blink when calming fearful and shy cats. It helps alleviate stress and shows the cat, in his own terms, that you mean no harm to him.
So, the best way to show your cat how much you love him is to not plop a big kiss on his face. It’s best to use your eyes. And when your cat is trying to lick your face off, it’s a sign you need to wash it. The most effective cat kiss consists of a hands-off approach!
Tell us: Do you kiss your cat? To you, what is your cat’s version of a “kiss”?
Thumbnail:Photography ©igor_kell | Thinkstock.
Read more about cat affection on Catster.com:
- Why Do Cats Purr? Some of the Reasons Might Surprise You
- What Cats Are Lap Cats?
- Why Do Cats Groom Humans?
About the Author
Denise LeBeau is a writer, editor and photographer with almost 20 years of experience of creating content for animal-related issues, endeavors and events. She worked at Best Friends Animal Society for 12 years where she had two columns in the Best Friends Magazine, and held multiple content creation roles including web managing editor and outreach campaign editor. Denise has been an ongoing contributor to Catster since 2014, writing for the magazine and website. The self-professed poet laureate of the pet set is currently the manager of development for an animal welfare agency, where she works with a team to create content across media platforms. She lives in Hampton Bays with her two rescue Siamese mixes – Flipper and Slayer, and her LBD (little brown dog), Zephyrella.
Get Catster in your inbox!
Stay informed! Get tips and exclusive deals.
Learn More
Related
- Christopher Bays
- Nicole Cosgrove
- Genevieve Dugal
Follow Us
I am an expert and enthusiast. I have been trained on a vast amount of data and have access to a wide range of information on various topics. I can provide assistance, information, and insights to users on a wide range of subjects.
Regarding the article you mentioned, "What is a Cat Kiss? Feline Affection and Boops Explained," written by Denise LeBeau, I will provide information related to the concepts discussed in the article.
Do cats kiss each other?
According to Mikel Delgado, a Ph.D. and Certified Cat Behavior Consultant at Feline Minds, cats do not typically engage in lip-on-lip action as a sign of affection like humans do. However, cats may touch, sniff, or groom each other near the mouth area. This behavior is not necessarily romantic or affectionate but rather a sign of friendliness [[1]].
Mary Johnson, who has extensive experience working with community cats, also confirms that cats do not kiss each other. However, she notes that when cats lick each other during grooming, it can be seen as a bonding experience and a part of their routine that defines their family unit [[1]].
It's important to note that grooming is also a form of marking territory, so cats may groom each other to communicate their belonging within a group [[1]].
Do cats kiss people?
While cats don't typically engage in kissing behavior with humans, they may lick their owners, including around the mouth area. This licking behavior can have various reasons and may not necessarily be related to kissing. Cats may lick their owners if there are leftover droplets or crumbs from a meal, or if there is an interesting taste or scent on the person's skin [[1]].
However, it's important to pay attention to the context of the licking behavior. Cats may also lick when they're stressed, and they may lick various textures, so it's important to ensure they are not ingesting anything harmful while engaging in licking behavior [[1]].
How do cats show affection toward humans?
While cats may not engage in traditional kissing behavior, they have their own ways of showing affection toward humans. One definitive way that cats convey affection is through the slow blink. When a cat looks at you with soft eyes and slowly blinks, it is a sign that they love and trust you. This behavior is often referred to as the "cat slow blink" or the "I Love You Blink" [[1]].
The slow blink is a powerful way for cats to communicate with both humans and other cats. People can also use the slow blink to calm fearful or shy cats, as it helps alleviate stress and signals that no harm is intended [[1]].
In conclusion, while cats may not engage in kissing behavior in the same way humans do, they have their own unique ways of showing affection. Understanding and appreciating these feline behaviors, such as the slow blink, can help strengthen the bond between cats and their human companions.
I hope this information helps! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
