The Meaning Behind Cats Grooming Each Other

 Social Bonds and Hierarchy

This is true as even in the wild, cats groom each other to nurture social bonds and enhance the sense of community in the group. This behavior is known as allogrooming. It assists in enhancing the relations between the cats, thus helping them to be more of a family.

In households that keep more than one cat, grooming sessions however tend to reinforce and regulate the pecking order. A dominant cat usually grooms other members of the group and that's why it is said that it is more of a norm.

Mutual Grooming as Stress Relief

Cats nevertheless may also indulge in mutual grooming as a great stress reliever, and help alleviate anxiety as a result. Endorphins released during the act of grooming can make a cat relaxed and calm.

Especially in stressful or new environments, it is often the case that for many cats, mutual grooming serves as a form of reassurance. Cats can find it as a soothing and fulfilling ritual that reduces their tension in an unfamiliar environment.

Health Benefits of Grooming

In developing countries, mutual grooming appears to be even more therapeutic by expanding the social relationship of the two Native American women to whom it belongs. It assists in cleaning the skin and fur of loose fur, dirt, and parasites that cause harm to the skin and fur.

On top of that, grooming one another can also allow cats to reach certain spots that they would not be able to reach on their own such as the back of the head and the neck. This ensures that a better cleaning is done thus preventing possible skin infections and other diseases of the skin.

Grooming Behavior in different cat breeds

Various cat breeds may exhibit different grooming patterns. For example, social and affectionate Siamese or Maine Coon breeds are likely to cuddle more than independent breeds and are likely to engage in mutual grooming.

As much as tendencies on breeds manifest in different grooming behaviors, a lot depends on the personality and history of events of the individual. As for some breeds, in some cats, the urge to groom their fellows may be more pronounced irrespective of the breed.

When the grooming is getting too much

Although passive grooming is one of the normal behaviors that are associated with cats, there are cases where it is taken too far. Over-grooming can be sometimes due to stress or anxiety, and in some cases, skin allergies or parasites.

If you witness excessive sharp grooming on one cat to the other or causing balding spots and irritations, it’s prudent to seek the services of a veterinarian. This can bring confidence to the pets that the root cause of the problem has been fully taken care of.

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