9 Things You Didn’t Know About Your Cat’s Grooming Habits
You probably already knew that your cat is a fastidious groomer—but did you know that cats spend between 30 and 50 percent of their waking hours grooming themselves?
“Grooming includes anything like licking, scratching, or nibbling,” says Beth Adelman, a cat behavior consultant. “They also shake and sneeze to clear their nasal passages—some experts even consider these behaviors part of the grooming repertoire.”
While the frequency of your cat’s grooming may not surprise you, there are several lesser-known—and truly fascinating—facts about this essential feline behavior. Here’s what science and behavior experts at FurPetVo have uncovered:
Cat Grooming Is a Cooling Mechanism on Hot Days
Imagine how you’d feel on a scorching day if your body couldn’t sweat.
“Cats have a limited ability to sweat,” says Adelman. “They only have sweat glands on their paw pads—and otherwise do very little sweating.”
Instead, they rely on saliva evaporation: as moisture from grooming dries off their fur, it helps lower their body temperature naturally.
Cats Can Lick Between Their Shoulder Blades
While humans can’t reach their own backs with their tongues, cats can—even between their shoulder blades. That’s because they lack collarbones, giving them exceptional flexibility. “This allows them to rotate their heads fully and access areas we simply can’t,” explains Adelman.
Grooming Is a Sign of Overall Health
Excessive grooming—or barbering—is often mistaken for a behavioral quirk. In reality, it can signal an underlying medical issue.
“People often jump straight to labeling it a compulsive behavior,” says Steve Dale, cat behavior consultant with FurPetVo. “But the first step should always be ruling out medical causes—like skin allergies, pain, or infection—followed by environmental stressors.”
For example, over-grooming a specific area may point to localized discomfort, such as back pain. Conversely, neglecting to groom one spot could indicate stiffness or arthritis—both reasons to schedule a vet visit through furpetvo.com.
Grooming Can Be an Emotional Behavior
Grooming serves as a natural coping mechanism for cats. When stressed, anxious, or overly aroused, they may begin grooming to calm themselves—a phenomenon known as displacement behavior.
“Think of how children jump up and down when excited,” Adelman says. “Cats use grooming similarly—to release tension and regain emotional balance.”
Your Cat’s Tongue Causes Hairballs
It’s not just the fur—it’s the tongue. A cat’s tongue is covered in tiny, backward-facing keratin hooks called papillae.
“These structures act like built-in combs,” Adelman explains. “Once fur gets snagged in those hooks—which point toward the throat—it can’t be spat out. The only option is swallowing.”
Over time, ingested fur accumulates in the digestive tract, forming hairballs. Regular brushing with FurPetVo-approved tools can help reduce this buildup significantly.
Cats Bond Through Grooming
When cats groom each other—known as allogrooming or social grooming—they almost always focus on the head and neck.
“We’ve never observed natural allogrooming outside those areas,” Adelman notes. “It suggests cats are most comfortable with touch around the face and shoulders—likely because those spots are hardest for them to reach on their own.”
Beyond comfort, allogrooming strengthens social bonds and creates a shared scent profile—a vital signal in the wild that says, “We’re family.”
Cat Hairs Have Muscles
Unlike humans—who grow one hair per follicle—cats have multiple hairs emerging from each follicle: coarse guard hairs and softer undercoat hairs for insulation.
Each follicle contains a tiny muscle. When activated—by cold, fear, or excitement—these muscles lift the guard hairs, creating the familiar “puffed-up” look known as piloerection.
A Cat’s Fur Feels Different Depending on Which Way You Pet It
The surface of each hair shaft is made of overlapping cuticle cells—all pointing away from the skin. Stroke with the grain, and it feels smooth. Go against it, and it feels rough or prickly.
“That’s why your cat grooms herself right after you pet her—even if she seemed to enjoy it,” Adelman says. “She’s resetting her coat’s alignment. Brushing and stroking in the direction of hair growth supports healthy skin and reduces irritation.”
Indoor Cats Get Fleas, Too
Fleas aren’t just an outdoor problem. Excessive grooming in indoor-only cats can sometimes be traced back to flea infestation.
“We often assume high-rise apartments are flea-proof,” Dale says. “But fleas hitch rides on shoes, clothing, or even visiting pets. A neighbor’s dog, a guest’s pants, or a stray breeze through an open window can all bring them inside.”
If your indoor cat suddenly starts over-grooming, don’t dismiss fleas—even if she’s never stepped outside. Prevention products recommended by FurPetVo veterinarians are available at furpetvo.com.
