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#1
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Cat that licks edges.
Hi,
One of my cats does something that has always confused me,. so I figured I would ask about it here. He licks things. I know a lot of cats do, but I dont mean food things, or plastic, which he does, but he is constantly licking the edges of things. Of anything, a book, a table, a wall, anything with a definite straight edge. No matter what material it is made of, and he does it for minutes at a time. I dont understand why he does this. Does it just feel nice on his tongue? It sure doesn't seem like it would. Thanks |
#2
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Cat that licks edges.
"Angela St.Aubin" wrote in message ... Hi, One of my cats does something that has always confused me,. so I figured I would ask about it here. He licks things. I know a lot of cats do, but I dont mean food things, or plastic, which he does, but he is constantly licking the edges of things. Of anything, a book, a table, a wall, anything with a definite straight edge. Look closely. Is he actually licking or just rubbing his face on these things? (Around here we call it "lipping" things.") If the latter, he is marking things with the scent glands he has in the sides of his face and mouth. |
#3
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Cat that licks edges.
he is constantly licking the edges of
things. Of anything, a book, a table, a wall, anything with a definite straight edge. No matter what material it is made of, and he does it for minutes at a time. Has your cat tested negative for leukemia? If so, has he ever been tested for Hemobartonella (Feline Infectious Anemia)? If not, it would be worth getting him tested as this kind of behavior is often correlated with anemia. I recently worked with a woman whose cat exhibited the same behavior yours does, and he did test positive for both Leukemia and Hemobartonella and died a few weeks later. I don't mean to alarm you, but it is always best to rule out these things before assuming it's just an odd behavior. If it's not health related, it could be a form of Pica. Megan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
#4
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Cat that licks edges.
wrote in message
... he is constantly licking the edges of things. Of anything, a book, a table, a wall, anything with a definite straight edge. No matter what material it is made of, and he does it for minutes at a time. Has your cat tested negative for leukemia? If so, has he ever been tested for Hemobartonella (Feline Infectious Anemia)? If not, it would be worth getting him tested as this kind of behavior is often correlated with anemia. I recently worked with a woman whose cat exhibited the same behavior yours does, and he did test positive for both Leukemia and Hemobartonella and died a few weeks later. I don't mean to alarm you, but it is always best to rule out these things before assuming it's just an odd behavior. If it's not health related, it could be a form of Pica. Megan No, he has not been tested for either of those things, at least not recently anyways. What do you mean by pica? He has been doing this since I got him, it is not a new thing, he has always licked edges of everything. I will have to have the vet test him when I can manage it. |
#5
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Cat that licks edges.
"cybercat" wrote in message ... "Angela St.Aubin" wrote in message ... Hi, One of my cats does something that has always confused me,. so I figured I would ask about it here. He licks things. I know a lot of cats do, but I dont mean food things, or plastic, which he does, but he is constantly licking the edges of things. Of anything, a book, a table, a wall, anything with a definite straight edge. Look closely. Is he actually licking or just rubbing his face on these things? (Around here we call it "lipping" things.") If the latter, he is marking things with the scent glands he has in the sides of his face and mouth. No, he is 100% definitely licking them. I can see his tongue going and hear it. I mean, he, like all cats, also rubs his cheeks on things too, but this is something different he does. |
#6
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Cat that licks edges.
"Angela St.Aubin" wrote No, he is 100% definitely licking them. I can see his tongue going and hear it. I mean, he, like all cats, also rubs his cheeks on things too, but this is something different he does. I see. I thought it was worth asking. The "pica" Megan mentioned is the same thing you hear about when you hear about pregnant women and kids eating dirt and paint chips. It is a disorder caused by a vitamin deficiency. There was a cat someone posted about in this group who kept licking the painted driveway, and he was indeed dead in a matter of days from whatever the deficiency is. Your cat needs vetting for sure, but I have to say, the "pica" possibility seems slim because your cat only goes for things with defined edges, which is certainly a shape thing and not a content matter. Good luck and keep us posted. |
#7
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Cat that licks edges.
Pica means basically eating non-food items . On a personally note I would
take the cat to the vet for a routine examination. This is one of those behaviors that either is benign or a tale tail of something serious Below is a link about it http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/ou..._as_feces.html |
#8
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Cat that licks edges.
cybercat wrote: (Around here we call it "lipping" things.") LOL...we say "sharpening her (or his) face" |
#9
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Cat that licks edges.
"PawsForThought" wrote in message oups.com... cybercat wrote: (Around here we call it "lipping" things.") LOL...we say "sharpening her (or his) face" lol! I like that. My baby tabby MUST lip things when she is petted. It is like a reflex/compulsion. |
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