Why Do Cats Clean Each Others Ears

There is an old wives tale that if a cat washes her ears it means it is going to rain soon. Sometimes however licking can indicate an underlying medical issue be it with the dog being licked or the one doing the lickingbacterial or fungal infections like a yeast infection can cause a dog to scratch at her own ears. Cats ear canals have a self cleaning mechanism cain says and they dont need your help keeping their ears clean.
why do cats clean each other's ears

To your surprise something happens suddenly and the fur starts flying.

Why do cats clean each others ears. This form of biting is comparable to a pinch which hurts easily but has nothing to do with malicious fighting behaviour. A cats inner ears are very sensitive to pressure changes and humidity fills their fur with static. That cats clean each other to show their affection for each other is probably due to their instincts. The other two ways are through the transmission of scent signals and something called allorubbing.

According to a 2016 study by the journal of veterinary behavior allogrooming is a way in which cats express something called cohesion within their colonies. Humans do it on occasion but in a very different way. These are proteins and the scent of earwax draws cats and some dogs to want to eat. In most cases dogs licking each others ears is a healthy and natural behavior that should not ring any alarms.

In fact trying to clean a cats ears can cause ear problems to develop. Your two friendly cats are now fighting. Cats specifically are attuned to the scent of animal proteins. Cats have about 500 taste buds and to compensate for the lack of taste buds their scent receptors far outweigh ours.

These social grooming licks are usually focused on areas of the face and particularly on the ears a key area to display love and fondness. Theyre sensitive creatures and susceptible to developing things like irritant reactions when we put things into their ears cain says. If another dog detects the infection she may offer a. Cats wash their ears so often that this is not entirely truebut it is not entirely false either.

You do not have to worry. Mothers lick their kittens clean in the first. Favorite answer the reason that cats on friendly terms with each other lick the ears and head is just mutual grooming. Cats are fairly good at keep themselves tidy something youve likely observed if youve spent any time with a feline friend and their ears are especially good at taking care of themselves as they have a natural built in cleaning mechanism in which the wax migrates toward the external part of the ear cottrell said.

They cant do it them self except by licking their paw and rubbing it across. Cats groom each other when they have bonded together. Maternal instinct in mutual cat washing. When one cat licks another they transfer their aroma onto their fellow cat strengthening and maintaining their bond further.

This means that they are very comfortable in each others company so youll often see one cat licking the others face and ears. So it seems that subconsciously cats are drawn to licking earwax in each others ears and from a few posts their owners dirty q tips because the olfactory scent and brain receptors seek items of nutritional value.