Why do cats clean themselves after they eat?
This cat blog will answer the major question, “Why do cats clean themselves after they eat?” we will also discuss the major reasons for cats grooming themselves, the reasons for overgrooming in cats, and how you can treat overgrooming in cats.
Why do cats clean themselves after they eat?
Following are the reasons why cats clean themselves after they eat:
- To remove the scent from the body.
- To remove any food material from the body.
- To keep themselves clean
These are the major reasons and there are several others that will be discussed in the article.
What are the major reasons for cats grooming themselves?
Following are the major reasons for cats grooming themselves:
Cats keep themselves clean
Cats are fastidious creatures. They love to keep themselves clean which is an inherent behavior. If the cat happens to realize that it is not clean, it will start licking itself to clean the area of the coat that has food on it or any other thing. This is a common behavior among domesticated and wild cats after they eat.
Cat’s survival instinct
Grooming themselves after eating is the survival instinct of your cat. In the wild, cats are easy prey for some wild animals so in order to protect themselves, cats remove the scent of the food from their body.
Wild animals are attracted to the scent of food which can put the cat in a dangerous position. In the wild, small animals also use this technique to protect themselves.
Cats eat the food material on fur
The food that is left is attached to the fur of the cat so the cat will groom itself to remove the extra food material that is left on the body. This will fulfill the needs of the cat.
Cats keep the fur clean
The coat of the cat is a sign of the beauty in your cat. The most common problems with fur are the mites which can cause severe irritation in the body. These mites are attracted to the food material on the body so the cats keep grooming themselves until all the food material is removed from the body.
What are the reasons for overgrooming in cats?
Following are the reasons for overgrooming in cats:
Skin itching in your cat
The first thing is skin itching in cats. The skin itching might be because of many reasons such as consuming food that is allergic to your cat. The allergies can cause severe irritation in your cat which is not healthy for your cat.
The skin itching will increase the grooming time which can remove the hair from the body of your cat.
Ectoparasites in cats
The next thing is the ectoparasite infestation in cats. Ectoparasites are parasites that live on the body of your cat. These parasites can harm the coat and the skin of the cats which can lead to hair loss and skin infection in your cat.
Hypersensitivity reactions
The next thing is the hypersensitivity reaction in the body which is due to some internal issues. These reactions are due to some agents that gain entry into the body and provoke the immune system of the body. There are four types of hypersensitivity reactions and type IV is the delayed one which is common in allergic reactions.
Stress in cats
The next reason is the stress in cats which can provoke many abnormal behaviors in cats. The stress might be due to changing of feeding or litter area, changing the food, arrival of new pets in the house, and changing the house. This will put stress on your cat and your cat will start excessive grooming.
How can you treat the overgrooming in your cat?
Following are the ways by which you can treat the overgrooming of your cat:
Remove the stress from the cat
The first thing you should do is remove the stress from the cat. The stress is due to many reasons that are discussed in the article.
You should give extra space to your cat if your cat is having problems with other pets. Proper feeding with enrichment can help your cat grow.
Visit your vet
The next thing is to visit your cat’s vet if you see any symptoms of allergic reactions in your cat. Your vet will look into the matter and will treat your cat according to the condition of your cat.
Moreover, the vet will also advise some precautions which you should follow.
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we entertained our important question, “Why do cats clean themselves after they eat?” we also covered the major reasons for cats grooming themselves, the reasons for overgrooming in cats, and how you can treat overgrooming in cats.
References
https://www.thesprucepets.com/lick-feet-after-eating-554071
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pawtracks.com/cats/why-cats-clean-after-eating/%3famp
https://pets.thenest.com/cats-clean-themselves-after-eat-4103.html
https://www.cathealth.com/behavior/inappropriate-behavior/1265-abnormal-cat-behavior
