Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/My aby grooming my wifes face

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 12/30/2008


Question
We own a 3 year old female abysinian.  Her behavior is very typical of an aby except for one peculiur thing. Everyday she will groom my wifes face. She will spend 5 to 10 minutes licking her cheek as she kneads and purrs. She will do this until she tires and curls up to rest. If she can't groom my wife she gets antsy and aggitated and will continue to attempt this. My wife is the only one she will do this to. Have you seen this behavior and do you have any reason for it?

Answer
Alan,

Guess what? I have one that does that too! He's not an aby though. It is the sign of great affection. Your cat is just full of love for your wife and that is how she shows it, since the cat can't 'pet' her. It is comforting to the cat to spend this time 'loving' her before the cat goes into a (contented)sleep. It is like the love and attention a mama cat gives her babies when she grooms them.

I feel like I have had a dermabraision treatment when my cat is done! His name is 'Lotsa Luv' because he DOES have lots of love to give. Since mine is a male (neutered) his kneading and licking sometimes becomes a sexual stimulation for him. I don't know if a female would have the same type of response though.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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