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 Pet Central
Q&A
Q: Our cat licks
people, sort of like a dog. It persistently licks people who come into
the house, licks their fingers, their hands and their arms. It licks me,
too, whenever the opportunity arises. What’s going on? -- J.H., Evanston,
Ill.
A: Compulsive licking
in dogs is a subject veterinary behaviorist Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director
of the behavior clinic at Tufts University of Veterinary Medicine, North
Grafton, Mass., has researched. However, similar research hasn’t been
conducted about licking cats, and the behavior doesn’t occur as often.
Your gregarious cat
may have learned licking is a way to get attention. There may even be
a genetic propensity here; your pet’s mother or father may also have been
a "licker."
There’s a fine line
between entrenched habit and a true compulsion, Dodman explains. To test
this out, try using what psychological-types like Dodman call a bridge;
sound a whistle or a clicker whenever the cat is about to start licking.
Blow or click, then take the cat repeatedly to the same place, and offer
a treat and praise. Eventually, whenever the cat thinks about licking,
to get attention and a treat he’ll run to that place. If your cat is seeking
attention, this should solve the problem (although it may take several
months, and requires consistency from all family members).
However, if you’re
dealing with a true compulsion, this will do little good. For the true
compulsion, you have two choices. Either explain to guests that your cat
was a dog in one of its nine lives, or if you really feel that annoyed
or embarrassed, see your vet about an anti-obsessional drug.
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