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It would look so cute seeing cats groom one another, but it is much more than that sweet moment. Allogrooming, or grooming among cats, is an interesting aspect of their social lives. It is far from hygiene and reveals much about their relationships and instincts. Knowing why cats groom each other will help you appreciate their special ways of bonding and communication. This article will discuss why this is done, the importance of doing so in a multi-cat household, and what it might say about cats’ relationships within.
The Science of Cat Grooming
This mutual grooming or allogrooming phenomenon can be observed in many animal species, including cats. Generally, one cat licks another to remove dirt and detritus from their fur. Even though it may seem like an act of merely cleaning, this also plays an important role in the lives of cats.
Allogrooming is an evolutionary adaptation that allows cats to survive. In the wild, it promotes trust among group members, allowing them to live in harmony with one another. It’s also a means of communication that shows comfort, trust, and social acceptance among the group. When cats groom each other, they are not just cleaning out dirt or loose fur they are building community.
From a biological point of view, grooming triggers the release of endorphins, chemicals that stimulate a feeling of comfort and happiness in cats. This calmness thus fosters better coexistence among members, because the harmony is increased.
Hygiene
Because by nature cats are very clean animals, mutual grooming helps them in areas they may not reach easily. A few examples are spots at the base of their neck or around the top of the back of their head. Besides keeping them clean, this also reduces parasite and infection risk associated with their skin.
Emotional Affection
Love and trust are demonstrated through grooming. Whenever a cat grooms another cat, that is her saying, “I trust you, and I care about you.” That will develop their emotional relationship between them.
Territorial Marking
Since cats have scent glands in their saliva, it is how they would be swapping scent during grooming. This helps to mark the relationship of the cats involved and also puts them as being part of the same clan.
Relief from Stress
Grooming is a self-calming activity by cats. While cats lick and clean each other’s coat, a sense of security and calm is developed.
Social Status
In some cases, grooming is indicative of social status. Dominant cats groom others as a means of asserting, and the inferior cat will take grooming as a sign of superiority.
Things to look for in behavioral patterns
Sometimes, grooming each other can be an indicator of friendship and trust, but there are certain behaviors that you can observe in order to better understand the dynamic.
Gentle and undisturbed two-cat grooming one another surely must be a sign of love. While playing, nibbling or mild biting is acceptable on the part of their bonding over grooming. However, when they get aggressive – swat at each other, hiss, then it could mean the cats are agitated or irritated.
In some cats, one will groom excessively and may be caused by stress, boredom, or a medical problem. One must see the context of their grooming behavior to understand what is happening.
The Role of Grooming in Multi-Cat Households
Such sets of multiple houses find harmony via grooming, where it prevents breaking down their structures and having some fight because in bonded cats so much time would be devoted on their grooming of one another.
Interestingly, it has been determined that whether cats are litter mates, same-age siblings, or introduced later in life has some bearing on their grooming behavior. Cats that grow up together and are highly attached will groom one another more often than cats that have been separated or are unrelated. Encouraging such a habit would, therefore, promote an environment where you would foster these friendly pets well.
When Grooming Is an Issue
While grooming is generally a positive behavior, at times it may be a sign that something is amiss. Overgrooming can result from stress, allergies, or some other medical condition. Thus, if the cat is overgrooming another or itself, then one should take that cat to the vet.
If the sessions become fights all the time, it is likely that the cats have some problems to settle among themselves. That can be caught early and controlled to prevent it from becoming even more of a behavioral problem at home.
Cat Owner Tips
Support healthy grooming habits by keeping your cats in a stress-free, stimulation environment, complete with many toys, scratching posts, and shelter for them to feel safe. Gradually introduce new cats to your household to avoid creating tension in the other cats. Regular grooming might help reduce shedding and other possible grooming conflicts. You can get an even closer bonding of cats by taking and supporting their grooming patterns into account.
Mutual grooming is actually a bit of a multi-faceted behavior that is not only purposefully done as an act to just keep themselves clean, but becomes such a large part of the feline bond, expressing a sense of trust, love, and that social fabric which seems to encapsulate cats’ lives. What can be noticed by observing the way your cats clean themselves or clean another cat tells much about their attitude. So, the next time you see them grooming each other, you should know that that is an expression of love that is truly precious.
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