cat washing

Is there a fixed pattern to a cat's wash?Does a cat start in one place and work
it's way around it's body the same way each wash? Do all cats wash their body
areas in the same order? How many times a week is each body area washed? Is
washing learned behaviour or is it instinctive in cats?

Just curious!

Zoe

In article ,
enlightened us with...
Is there a fixed pattern to a cat's wash?

Depends on the cat.

Does a cat start in one place and work
it's way around it's body the same way each wash?

Depends on the cat.

Do all cats wash their body
areas in the same order?

Nope.

How many times a week is each body area washed?

Depends on the cat.

Is
washing learned behaviour or is it instinctive in cats?

AFAIK, instinctive. Kittens taken from their moms or abandoned as
infants still groom themselves, FWIU.
Technique may be learned...

--
--
~kaeli~
Is it possible to be totally partial?
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

In article ,
enlightened us with...
Is there a fixed pattern to a cat's wash?

Depends on the cat.

Does a cat start in one place and work
it's way around it's body the same way each wash?

Depends on the cat.

Do all cats wash their body
areas in the same order?

Nope.

How many times a week is each body area washed?

Depends on the cat.

Is
washing learned behaviour or is it instinctive in cats?

AFAIK, instinctive. Kittens taken from their moms or abandoned as
infants still groom themselves, FWIU.
Technique may be learned...

--
--
~kaeli~
Is it possible to be totally partial?
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

Actually, there is a pattern to cats washing themselves and if you watch
your cat- you really can see their "routine". I read somewhere in a cat
book (I can't recall the name right now) there are 10 steps that cats will
most likely follow every time they wash themselves. The steps are as
follows:

Step 1: licking the lips
Step 2: licking the sides of one of the paws until it is damp
Step 3: using that paw to wash the side of the head including the ear,
cheek, chin and eye
Step 4: repeat step two with the opposite paw
Step 5: repeat step three with the paw from step one
Step 6: licking of the front legs and shoulders.
Step 7: licks the flanks
Step 8: licks the genitals
Step 9: licks the hind legs
Step 10: licks the tail

Now, if you watch your cat, they will most likely follow this pattern. Note
that they may get distracted by some spot that needs chewing on or they may
need to clean their paws, but then they will continue there routine until
they reach the tail.

"Zoeliz" wrote in message
...
Is there a fixed pattern to a cat's wash?Does a cat start in one place and
work
it's way around it's body the same way each wash? Do all cats wash their
body
areas in the same order? How many times a week is each body area washed?
Is
washing learned behaviour or is it instinctive in cats?

Just curious!

Zoe


---
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Actually, there is a pattern to cats washing themselves and if you watch
your cat- you really can see their "routine". I read somewhere in a cat
book (I can't recall the name right now) there are 10 steps that cats will
most likely follow every time they wash themselves. The steps are as
follows:

Step 1: licking the lips
Step 2: licking the sides of one of the paws until it is damp
Step 3: using that paw to wash the side of the head including the ear,
cheek, chin and eye
Step 4: repeat step two with the opposite paw
Step 5: repeat step three with the paw from step one
Step 6: licking of the front legs and shoulders.
Step 7: licks the flanks
Step 8: licks the genitals
Step 9: licks the hind legs
Step 10: licks the tail

Now, if you watch your cat, they will most likely follow this pattern. Note
that they may get distracted by some spot that needs chewing on or they may
need to clean their paws, but then they will continue there routine until
they reach the tail.

"Zoeliz" wrote in message
...
Is there a fixed pattern to a cat's wash?Does a cat start in one place and
work
it's way around it's body the same way each wash? Do all cats wash their
body
areas in the same order? How many times a week is each body area washed?
Is
washing learned behaviour or is it instinctive in cats?

Just curious!

Zoe


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.560 / Virus Database: 352 - Release Date: 1/8/2004