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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/licking kittens
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i just read in another post that licking is a sign of lack of salt in a cats diet; my kittens eat purina pro kitten (the one in the milk jug type container-green label) and i put 2-3 cans down a day through out the day (both of which is vet reccommended). they gobble everything up. AND they get kitten treats for being 'good'.. or being cute (LOL). what else can this licking be from? please get back to me. thanks so much for your time. *stacey
Stacey,
If it not a dietary deficiency then most likely it is just a quirk of their personality. It could be that they are 'petting' you, since they can't actually do it with their 'hands', or it could just be a habit that one developed and the other copied. Either way it is a sign of intense affection.
You can stop it now by blowing on their faces when they lick and at the same time tell them "no licking!" firmly. If it doesn't bother you, let them do it. I have one I didn't stop from licking when he was a kitten and he is 3 1/2 years old and still does it...and I feel like a wet washrag when he's through!
Tabbi
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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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