One day, you were getting ready to go out. You took a shower and got dressed. But then you remembered you need to go back to the bathroom to fix your hair. Your cat was there. You instantly go to pet her, but then you see something odd. What is she doing?! “Wait, why does my cat lick the shower curtain?”
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one wondering the same thing. All of us cat owners have been through this. It’s just one of the million weird things our cats enjoy doing. Since most of the cats do the exact same thing, it helped us figure out the reasons behind it and I’m here to give them to you.
1) Water!
Cats are wild animals. It’s in their blood to look for things that will keep them alive. Water is definitely one of them. They can hear and notice moving water pretty quickly and they always go towards it.
It happens even when they have their own bowl full of fresh water because the moving liquid reminds them of hunting and wilderness.
Your shower curtains are full of little drops of it that will definitely attract your kitty. It seems to us like we’re living with a little weirdo, but when you think about it, it all makes sense actually.
Moving towards water is their natural instinct. And even when she has her own full bowl, and she’s not thirsty, she’ll still run towards those drops on the curtains. Why? Because she likes having different options.
2) It’s because of the chemicals
When it comes to plastic, we’re surrounded by it. However, I’m not so sure that’s a good thing. Some of the chemicals can imitate the smell of pheromones which can cause different reactions in cats.
Pheromones can be the reason why a cat chooses to lick shower curtains. It can also cause cats to urinate on other plastic things in the household.
If your cat decides to lick the plastic, it’s likely that it’s connected to flehmen response. That’s a manner in which an animal, in this case, your cat, curls back its upper lips, breathes in, and afterward holds that posture for many seconds.
This shows that there are some things in plastic that we can’t identify because of our “weak” senses however, our cats definitely can.
3) She enjoys the texture and temperature
Did you notice that your cat likes to lick other things too, not just the shower curtain? Those are usually smooth textures like ceramic tiles in the bathroom or your kitchen, tables, washing machines, and so on. Why do you think she does that?
It’s because those smooth textures feel good against her tongue. And the temperatures are definitely different so it’s interesting for your cat. It often happens if there’s a wet shower curtain because the moisture attracts her.
Did you know that a cat’s tongue consists of papillae? These make her feel the rough sensation of a surface. They also help to rasp meat from bones and to collect loose hair.
And licking the smooth surfaces, like the shower curtain, makes your cat feel good. That could definitely be one of the reasons she always comes back to licking your curtains after you’ve taken a shower.
4) She likes the taste
We all like trying out new food that consists of some ingredients we love to eat. Then it should come as no surprise that cats, who are generally very adventurous animals, like to do the same thing.
Beef tallow, lanolin… These are some things that might be found in plastic and that your cat finds interesting.
Feline senses are much better than ours, so she can smell and taste some things that we can’t. And that greasy part of plastic is what attracts her to your shower curtains. It’s tasty and she wants to come to that “restaurant” again.
5) Maybe your shower curtains contain corn starch
Not every cat is attracted to tallow or gelatin that is found in plastics. But there’s something else hidden in your shower curtains that your kitty can like. That’s the corn starch that we can find in many types of plastics.
It’s not something our cats would pick to eat. However, many lower-quality cat foods contain traces of it. And most of the cats are pretty happy with the way it tastes. So if she had the opportunity to taste it once, and now she smelled it on your shower curtain, that means she really enjoyed it.
Maybe you can try to find some of those foods that consist of corn starch and give them to your cat. If she stops licking the shower curtains afterward, you can be sure that this was the right answer.
6) Your cat wants more attention
Sometimes you just get so busy that you don’t have enough time to spend with your pets. I get it. Balancing work, family life, friends, your own time, and taking care of your cat might be really tough. But I know you’re still doing your best to have time for everything.
However, your fluffball doesn’t really understand the concept of human life and obligations, so she’ll try everything she can to grab your attention. Not because she’s angry at you, but because she really misses you and wants you to notice her more.
That’s why she might do some weird things that will make you ask yourself “Hey, why does my cat lick the shower curtain?” They are very smart animals, and they’ll try everything in their power to get what they want.
7) She’s anxious
Here’s a fact that will probably make you sad, but you need to know it. Just like us, cats and other animals can suffer from anxiety. It’s just that we don’t show it the same way. And it’s much more difficult to notice an anxious cat, than a person dealing with it.
Usually, when a cat behaves in a certain way, people think that she’s just a moody cat who doesn’t like to play by the rules. Which could be true; cats can be like that. However, it’s not always true because some of their behaviors can be explained by anxiety.
People who stress a lot often bite their fingernails or chew pens. Cats don’t do that, but they often start excessively licking things around them. That’s why her licking your shower curtains, might be a sign that she’s dealing with some negative feelings.
8) Your kitty likes to explore
Cats are adventurous animals. Their cousins still live in the wilderness and they are spending days exploring different areas, hunting prey, playing, learning new skills, looking for new water sources, and trying to stay safe from predators.
Even though your cat and her closest family members have been living in houses and flats for years, she still has the same blood as her wild cousins. And she loves to explore things. Since she’s not out there in the wilderness, the only place she can explore is your home.
And don’t fool yourself by thinking that she’s seen everything. Cats always notice the smallest changes and things can easily grab their attention. So the new drop of water in the bathroom, or a small piece of food on the kitchen floor might make her go crazy excited.
9) She wants to keep the shower curtains clean
What animals are among the cleanest in the world? That’s right, cats! As we said, they spend most of their days playing, eating, and learning new skills. However, there is one more thing they often do and they’re very famous for it. Cleaning themselves!
Those are the animals that can’t stand being dirty, eating and drinking from a filthy bowl, or doing their business in a litterbox that you’ve forgotten to clean. They are one of the classiest animals in the world, and they take care of themselves very well.
However, if they think you need help with cleaning, they’ll be happy to give you a paw. Your cat will probably lick the shower curtain because it’s interesting to her. But she’ll also be proud of herself for helping you clean, as cats have a good memory and she probably remembers you cleaning the bathroom.
10) Pica
Have you ever heard about pica? It’s a syndrome both, animals and humans can suffer from. It is described as a condition that forces you to eat or lick things that are inedible.
There are some TV shows that talk about people who eat things such as sponges, paper, or even wall paint. If you’ve seen this at least once in your life, then you actually already heard about pica. As I said, animals can also suffer from it.
That’s why it’s not rare to see them licking the floor, stoves, bathtubs, shower curtains, and basically anything that seems attractive to them. If you feel like your cat will lick the shower curtain no matter what you do, then you should call your vet and ask them for their opinion, as it can easily be pica.