What It Means When A Cat Licks Its Paws After Eating

If you've ever noticed your cat licking its paws after eating, you may be confused on why this is. It probably seems like an odd and random behavior, considering the fact that your kitty most likely didn't get their paws dirty during mealtime. Have no fear! Chances are, your cat is just preparing to clean themselves up.

If you have a cat, you know they enjoy nothing more than being clean. In fact, cats enjoy bathing so much so that they can spend around 30 to 50 percent of their day simply grooming, according to Pamela Perry, D.V.M. at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. "It's a huge chunk of their day," she shared. While cats usually use their rough, sandpaper-like tongues to get their bodies thoroughly clean, their paws are another helpful device in their personal hygiene kit. So, when a cat licks its paw after eating, it means they are probably getting ready to use it to freshen up after a meal.

The reason why cats lick their paws after enjoying a nice meal is actually very practical. Cats are clearly very diligent when it comes to grooming, but there are some spots on their body that are impossible for them to reach with just their tongues. This is when their front paws come into play.

After a cat is done eating, there's a good chance there will be some food particles left over on their face or mouth, which is unacceptable to our highly hygienic felines. Since a cat's tongue can't clean around their mouth, face, and head areas, they will use their paws to clean these areas instead. This is why you may notice them licking their paw after eating, as your cat will saturate it with saliva and then use it to be able to wipe down areas of their face that may have gotten messy and can't normally be reached with their tongue. After they're done cleaning up other spots, your cat will typically conclude this grooming routine by cleaning off the paw that did the wiping.

Along with licking their paws after eating, there are other reasons why you may notice your kitty licking their paws. While oftentimes this grooming behavior is completely normal, there are some instances when your cat overgrooming one spot may be a concern. If you notice your cat licking their paws extremely often, it could be due to reasons such as allergies, an injury, or stress. Grooming is soothing to cats, and they could be licking their paws a lot if something is making them uncomfortable, so get them checked out by a vet if you notice they seem to be taking their grooming practices too far.

Another reason you may find your cat constantly licking their paws is simply because they are bored. When cats are bored, they will often resort to doing just about anything to keep themselves entertained, which might mean frequently licking their paws. If this is the case, it's an easy fix: play with your cat more and make sure they are getting the daily exercise and stimulation they need.