Dear Taylor,

I have a five year old female kitty, and I love her to bits, and worship the ground she walks on. But I have a question:

Why why why does she lick all the time? I'm not kidding, she licks all the time! If you put a body part in her general vicinity, she will lick it. The other day, I woke up at 4 am to my little Butterscotch licking my fingers (they were poking out from under the covers). She has always done this, and becuase I don't speak Cat, I can't ask her why. Do I taste good? Is she giving me a bath? What?

Please illuminate? There's some Pounce in it for you!

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Answers

How old was Butterscotch when you got her? She may have been weaned too early, which is why she licks you all the time. You're the momma, mommas give nums, must lick momma.

I'm not sure what you could do to get Butterscotch to stop except slathering yourself with Tobasco sauce or something. It's not a harmful behavior, so if it doesn't bother you don't worry about it.

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2000

Hey, I used to have a kitty that would snuggle up in my sheets and suck my EARLOBES. I like to think these feline oral fixations are just signs of affection. I have to think these things.

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2000

She's grooming you affectionately. It's a cat thing. Plus, you're probably slightly salty-tasting if you're normal, which is pretty yum for a cat.

Our cat licks everything he loves, including himself. (If he were less fat, he'd be the shiniest, best-groomed cat on the planet.)

M

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2000

Scotch is about 5 years old, I think. I adopted her from the Humane Society in Winnipeg three years ago. But you see, she doesn't just lick me-- She licks EVERYONE!!! Complete strangers aren't allowed to pet her, but they do get kisses from her. I don't get it. Maybe she's trying to eat us.

I don't know if she was weaned early, because she was two or so when I got her. The other cats I've had have never done this, just Scotch. I don't mind her doing it at all, because she's not hurting aything, but I do sometimes like to lie in bed and not have my toes washed.

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2000

If they're licking you like that all the time, then it's because they like your taste. Once in a while, it's usually some sort of affectionate behavior.

But then, if I think for another minute ... Maybe the cat is licking you because he/she DOESN'T like your taste!

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2000

When I said what I said about it being affectionate behavior once in a while was, cats in my experience aren't usually very affectionate so it's more likely that your kitty kitty just likes the taste of your skin.

Maybe we taste like chicken to them.

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2000