So for the last 2 or 3 days, my kitten Roky has been trying his absolute best to lick my eyes.
When I pick him up, he purrs, puts his paws on my shoulder, sticks his tongue out and nuzzles/sucks at my eye (which I keep shut, obviously ^^).
It might sound a bit daft, and maybe I’m worrying over nothing and it’s just a sign of affection, but I’m scared he might accidentally bite or scratch my eye...
I’d like to know if I should let him carry on or not, and if any of you have had anything similar happen? ;)
Thanks
Translated from French
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Mine does that too! Luckily she prefers suckling on my hair, so she's easy to distract! I think it's adorable, but like the others, it's the hygiene side of things that worries me...
Mine does that too, licking my eyes and face. I don't let her do it too much though, just for hygiene reasons ^^ but as a compromise, I let her suckle my finger whenever she wants.
Yeah, it lasted about 6 to 8 days for me and then it stopped. As for the hygiene bit, just distract her; she'll eventually get the message that she needs to stop ^^
Mine does that too, she’s always licking my eyes and face. I don’t let her do it too much though, just for hygiene reasons ^^ but I let her suckle on my finger whenever she wants instead.
I wasn't saying your cat is stressed, but rather that he needs some TLC and comfort through some 'zen' moments to help him unwind. It’s just like when a friend or a brother gives you a big, cheerful hug – you aren’t necessarily stressed, but it certainly recharges your batteries!
Try redirecting his attention to another part of your face, your ears, your neck... basically anywhere where the skin is thin and veiny, where your natural scent can comfort him. But don’t let him go for your eyes—not because he’ll bite, but just for hygiene reasons (tear ducts and so on). It’s just a regression to when he was a kitten, looking for the warmth of nursing, the smells, and so on. It’s a huge stress-reliever for cats, even once they’re grown up, and a real sign of well-being. At least now you know how he unwinds when he’s feeling stressed 😋
Thanks so much for your reply, I didn’t realise he was doing that because he was stressed. I’ll definitely follow your advice, thanks! :)
My cat, who I adopted two years ago after he was found abandoned, absolutely loves suckling on my ears! I let him do it when he was a kitten because I felt he needed the comfort. Even though he’s an adult now, he’s still at it! It doesn't bother me personally, but you’ve really got to be a proper animal lover and I know it’s not for everyone... Try giving him a woolly blanket to suckle on instead. Otherwise, let him explore your face, but if he shows any aggression, stop him straight away!
Thanks a lot for your reply! I’m a huge animal lover, so it doesn’t really bother me all that much, I’m just being cautious. I do let him explore my face, but as soon as he sees it, he starts licking my eyes!
Try redirecting his attention to another part of your face, like your ears or neck... basically anywhere where the skin is thin and your scent is strongest, as that’ll comfort him... but don’t let him go for your eyes. Not because he’d bite, but just for hygiene reasons (tear ducts and all that). It’s just him reverting back to being a tiny kitten – it reminds them of the warmth of nursing and those early scents. It’s a massive stress-reliever for cats, even when they’re fully grown, and a real sign that they’re feeling content. At least you know how he likes to wind down if he’s ever feeling a bit stressed! 😋
My cat, who I rescued two years ago after he was abandoned, absolutely loves sucking on my ears! I let him do it when he was a kitten because I think he really needed the comfort. Even though he’s an adult now, he’s still at it! It doesn't bother me, but you’ve really got to be a proper animal lover and I know not everyone would put up with it. Try giving him a woolly blanket to suck on; otherwise, let him explore your face, but if he starts getting aggressive, stop him straight away!
