Strange Cat Behaviour

[offspring86]

I've had a quick Google but nothing is really coming up, so I thought I'd ask the PH masses to see if their cats behave in the same way. One of our cats has started licking things, the back of the sofa, the kitchen units, the wooden floor by the entrance to the utility room. At first we thought that maybe some food had been spilled on these spots so we applied some disinfectant, but she still goes back and sits there licking the area for 2 or 3 minutes once every few evenings. It's always the same bit of the sofa, the same kitchen unit and the same spot on the floor.

Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know any reasons for her doing this?

[SeanyD]

offspring86 said:

I've had a quick Google but nothing is really coming up, so I thought I'd ask the PH masses to see if their cats behave in the same way. One of our cats has started licking things, the back of the sofa, the kitchen units, the wooden floor by the entrance to the utility room. At first we thought that maybe some food had been spilled on these spots so we applied some disinfectant, but she still goes back and sits there licking the area for 2 or 3 minutes once every few evenings. It's always the same bit of the sofa, the same kitchen unit and the same spot on the floor.

Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know any reasons for her doing this?

Bleach/disinfectant? Cats go crazy for the smell of the stuff.

[offspring86]

We've only applied disinfectant the once to clean off anything that might have been there. The back of the sofa is never wiped down with any chemicals.

[telecat]

Minnie loves the inner sleeve of my Dressing Gown. It is furry and black as she is so we think it relates to her kitten hood.

[bexVN]

How old is she?

[offspring86]

She's 3 years old. We have a sister from the same litter who doesn't do it.

[bexVN]

Ok, she's young so that's good. Occasionally elderly cats do odd licking behaviours sometimes because of underlying issues such as kidney problems or senility.

Is she a Burmese (long shot question I know!!)

[bexVN]

Some cats can lick stone, concrete and eat cat litter due to anaemia.

[otolith]

Or it amuses her to weird you out.

[8bit]

Interesting... we've got two cats, both of whom like licking carrier bags but our eldest (approx 8 year old, Maine Coon cross we think) licks odd things too, like one area on the inside of the front door, one particular pair of my trousers. Watching this thread with interest.

Apologies for the hijack - Bex, would kidney issues potentially also lead a cat to sometimes not use his litter tray and go for a "number 2" outside it?

[bexVN]

Not usually, more likely to upset urination that defaecation.

Lots of cats lick/chew odd things for reasons unknown. Oriental breeds are prone to wool chewing (Burmese cats are quite probe to odd licking/ chewing habits hence why I asked re the breed.

Just occasionally these behaviours can be a health indicator but usually on older cats.

I think for some it can be a type of comfort behaviour releasinf natural calming hormones. My old cat would obsessively lick my arms and you could see him chill out as he did so (I was mad enough to let him!)

[Hilts]

In his last year my cat would lick the patio concrete and the litter tray/box bags. I'd never see him do that before.

He wasn't well.

[offspring86]

bexVN said:

Ok, she's young so that's good. Occasionally elderly cats do odd licking behaviours sometimes because of underlying issues such as kidney problems or senility.

Is she a Burmese (long shot question I know!!)

No she's just a standard moggy! Every other aspect of her life is normal for a cat (i.e. mental). She went for her annual check up a few weeks ago and nothing was out of place (we stupidly forgot to ask them about the licking). Her toilet habits are normal too, she has access to a litter tray at night and the garden/graveyard next door and she regularly uses them - particularly the graveyard if there's been a recent burial, it's a little embarrassing at times!

[ali_kat]

Beauty does it too, she especially loves licking anything paper and nail files (when she can find them, she goes absolutley mad for them!).

[bexVN]

Ali you've just reminded me that my Fitz used to love nail files aswell

OP cats have quirky characters just like people, as long as she is not eating items and is otherwise in good health and not apparently stressed about anything I think you may just have to put this down to a quirk.

Just try and break any habits if they are becoming too obsessive with food or play (play would be better) or just call her away from whatever she is licking at the time.

[ali_kat]

Awwww

Bast used to hold her claws out to be filed when I had a nail file out