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I Love Simba's Avatar
Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Orange Tabby
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: North Carolina, USA
Posts: 36
28-03-2008, 09:14 PM   #1

Questions?


I got some questions for you all and here they are.
Why do cats look at you and lick their lips after you give them treats? Is it their way of thanking you or is it their way of saying give me more? Just curious because Simba does this and I would like to understand him better. Thanks in advance any replies.



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babycakes's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: feral moggy
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Scarisbrick, uk
Posts: 3,613
28-03-2008, 10:51 PM   #2

Re: Questions?


I find if Denis has had something really tasty he goes into a full on wash, the whole face etc gets done throughly so I know he enjoyed the meal. But I haven't had him lick his lips after something tasty I have had him wink though



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yola's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 1 Persian and one b/w moo-cat mog
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK
Posts: 12,771
28-03-2008, 11:14 PM   #3

Re: Questions?


Have you tried the slow wink back at them? It really throws them! I tried it and the cats refused to make eye contact with me for days afterwards! Not sure what it means.

But yes, after feeding treats there is a lot of face washing . . . I think it's something to do with contentment, but I couldn't be sure.



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babycakes's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: feral moggy
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Scarisbrick, uk
Posts: 3,613
28-03-2008, 11:40 PM   #4

Re: Questions?


Yes Yola Denis actually loves it. If I wink he winks back and then if he winks first and I wink back he winks again. I have caught him wink once or twice at OH but not as often.

I love watching cats wash though it really fascinates me



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Catswhiskas's Avatar
New Member
 
Cats owned: Moggies
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Lincoln, UK
Posts: 16
12-08-2008, 08:32 PM   #5

Re: Questions?


Cats are meant to wash after meals as they are mimicking the actions of their larger, wild cousins. In the wild, cats would kill to eat. The licking after a meal or treat is all to do with cleaning up after a kill and meal.

Don't quote me as gospel, but that is what I saw on a TV show!



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angieh's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Magnificent moggies
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 21,718
12-08-2008, 10:44 PM   #6

Re: Questions?


Makes a lot of sense IMO Catwhiskas! Especially in a climate where all sorts of bugs would home in on bits of whatnot around the face!

Merlin also responds to the slow wink - if he does it first and I do it, he does it again. But if I do it first he doesn't always respond. I understood it to be a non-confrontational sign.



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Almost a Veteran Member
 
Cats owned: None
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,321
13-08-2008, 10:26 AM   #7

Re: Questions?


I would agree with the washing thing. My two, when they've had an extra special treat, lick their paws, face, ears and front for a good 10 minutes after. I think it's mimcking the clean up after a kill, from which there'd be lots of blood!

Also, Yola, I've been told the slow-blink think is a cat way of saying "I love you!" All my cats in the past have done it whilst purring, or when they're extra especially affectionate. I do it back and they'll do it back to me I think it's good to do it back!

Maybe yours got spooked by you doing it back as they thought "no, the human has broken the secret cat code! she knows what it means?!"



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dandysmom's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 31,378
13-08-2008, 04:44 PM   #8

Re: Questions?


I must do something wrong! I read about the slow blink years ago when I first got my Siamese, and none, none! of mine have ever blinked back......



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Almost a Veteran Member
 
Cats owned: None
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,321
13-08-2008, 04:51 PM   #9

Re: Questions?


Awh DM! To be honest, sometimes my don't. It's 50 / 50. My beloved girl at home, Sophie, who is very attached to me and I've had for 8 years or so does blink back but only when she's in an uber purring, head bunting, claw digging mood. Darcy has only just started blinking back. But even if he slow blinks at me once and I slow blink back he'll sometimes just keep staring at me and purring but I take that as a sign that he knows I love him too

Don't dispair DH, even if they don't blink back they know you love them!



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Phoenix's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 2 cats black/white and one tabby
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Somewhere or maybe nowhere
Posts: 4,296
13-08-2008, 06:19 PM   #10

Re: Questions?


Cats lick their lips when they have just had something very nice to eat.



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