At first, you thought it was adorable how your cat keeps licking her lips like she just tasted the most delicious ice cream in her life. However, as time moved on, it started to worry you. Is there something wrong with your furbaby, or is it just one of the many quirky traits that make her so unique?
After all, we all know how we tend to lick our lips after a delicious meal, making sure we get every last morsel that may be left behind. Are our feline friends imitating us, or is it something they also do naturally? Or could it be a sign of something more serious than just enjoying their meal?
Don’t worry, I know your mind is overflowing with questions, and we’re here to answer all of them. It’s good that you’re not ignoring any kind of changes in your fluff’s behavior, especially those excessive ones.
Of course, it doesn’t always mean your cat is dealing with something serious, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Today, we’ll cover all the possible reasons your cat keeps licking her lips, so you may gain a better understanding of this adorable (albeit slightly strange) behavior.
Reasons your cat keeps licking her lips
Right now, you have no idea what this behavior represents. Although you find it cute, there’s also that one invasive thought in your mind that won’t give you peace: “Could this mean something more?”
Well, today is the day you find answers to the questions that have been bugging you for quite some time now. Is your kitty enjoying her meal until the last crumb, or is she trying to tell you there’s something wrong? Let’s find out all the possible reasons behind this adorable action.
1. She’s just grooming
Now, we all know our feline friends are clean freaks, right? They’re always grooming, after everything they do, especially eating. If your cat keeps licking her lips after she’s just done eating, she’s probably just cleaning herself after eating a delicious meal. What a lady!
Just like you’d wash your hands and brush your teeth after you’ve finished your dinner, your kitty does the same by licking her lips and grooming herself. She’s trying to get rid of the scent of the meal because she likes how she smells naturally.
If your kitty is a real clean freak, she may even spend a longer time licking her lips and grooming her face and paws, to the point that it begins to worry you. But don’t worry, this is perfectly normal.
This behavior comes from their wild side, you see. Our furry companions have this natural instinct to remove scent traces after eating prey, as the leftovers of it could be detected by other animals. In nature, that could lead to them losing a meal or two, so they make sure they’re always scent-free.
Because our feline buddies are both preyers and prey, they also remove scent so that they’re not in danger of being detected by larger predators. All in all, it’s really important for them to stay sparkling clean, so let your fluff do her thing, and don’t worry about her too much.
2. She’s hungry… Again
You know how your cat embarrasses you in front of your guests because she always acts like she hasn’t eaten in three days, even though you just fed her half an hour ago? Well, our furry drama queens can be like that, and they often lick their mouths when they’re around food.
It’s like they’re anticipating getting a bite or two, and they’re not afraid to show it. You may notice this as you’re trying to open a can of cat food in the kitchen, while your little meow monster keeps chattering and licking her lips like you’ve starved her for days.
Although this is super dramatic, it’s not something you should worry about. It’s simply them showing they’re ready to eat (again), and that you should hurry up with whatever you’re doing. Diva must not wait!
3. She may be feeling nauseous
The feeling of nausea is a pretty common reason behind a cat licking her lips. Although it may seem like it at times, our feline friends don’t easily vomit. When they feel the urge to do so, however, licking their lips is a good way for them to calm down and try to avoid it.
You know that ugly feeling when you’re feeling nauseous and your mouth starts creating excessive saliva? Well, cats’ mouths do the same, which is why they lick their lips to try and get rid of this weird sensation.
If she’s feeling queasy, your fluff may show other signs, as well. For example, she may appear less active, linger around her litter box but not actually use it, and meow excessively. All of these are signs she may be feeling nauseous. If this happens, make sure you stay close to her. That way, she’ll feel a lot safer.
Give her some water and a peaceful and cool place where she can rest. Hopefully, this will help her and she’ll be back to her happy self again. Nausea isn’t always a cause for concern. However, if your fluff vomits and it happens a few times, it’s important that you take her to the vet to rule out any health concerns.
4. She may be dealing with some dental issues
If your kitto is entering her old age, there’s a high chance she may be dealing with some oral complications. There are many dental conditions that your cat may have, and all of them could cause her to lick her lips in an attempt to get rid of pain and discomfort.
For example, one of the most common dental diseases is gingivitis. It’s a bacterial condition that causes swelling and redness on the gum line, which could make your kitty lick her lips.
On top of that, periodontitis is another common condition that is the advancement of gingivitis, and it’s a more serious issue. It happens when bacteria go even deeper into the gum line, causing infection and abscesses.
Another one is tooth resorption, one of the most common oral conditions. In fact, up to 70% of house cats suffer from it, and there’s no known cause.
And, lastly, oral tumors, which can develop anywhere inside your feline’s mouth and cause serious discomfort. Because your cat may be licking her lips due to mouth pain, it’s important that you take her to the vet right away.
They can examine her mouth to determine whether or not she’s suffering from any dental or oral issues. That way, they’ll let you know the next steps you should take to help your furbaby, whether it’s giving medication or even just brushing her teeth regularly.
5. She tasted something funny (or toxic)
We all know that saying about cats and their curiosity. Whether she’s licking the floor after you just cleaned it or she just ate a weird-looking insect that entered your home, it could cause her to start drooling and licking her lips.
When it comes to licking and tasting things, our feline friends don’t put much thought into it. If your kitty likes to lick your furniture or floors, there’s a high chance she’ll taste some of the cleaning chemicals you use or even just dirt and food.
Whatever it is, it probably doesn’t taste as good as she hoped it would, which causes her to start licking her lips to get rid of the taste. She may even begin foaming or smacking, which is their natural reaction to something that tastes weird.
Sometimes, however, the things they ingest can be toxic, which is something you need to pay attention to. For instance, if you see your cat nibbling on one of your plants, there’s a chance it may be toxic to her.
6. It could be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Did you know that our feline friends can also suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? Yes, you read that right. Some kitties can develop habits that become like small rituals, and they do them excessively.
This is classified as feline OCD, and it can involve other symptoms besides lips-licking, such as obsessively grooming, chasing their tails, or sucking on pieces of fabric. Excessive licking and grooming, however, are the most common ones.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to keep your cat’s OCD under control. If you handle it on time, her behavior could become a lot less harmful. What you need to do first, however, is get her to the vet.
Don’t try and make a diagnosis yourself, let alone give your cat any medications. If you suspect there may be something wrong with her, describe her behavior to a professional, and they’ll do everything they can to help your beloved furbaby live a long and happy life filled with healthy habits.
