Grooming

There are many reasons for grooming.

It is often thought that cats groom themselves because they like to be clean, but there are also other reasons. One is to get rid of their scent. As a predatory animal, body odor is an undesirable trait. The second reason is to regulate their body temperature. When it is hot, they wet their fur and lower their body temperature, while they let air in to cool off when it is hot. A third reason is for vitamin D replenishment. Vitamin D is synthesized into a cat’s fur when sunbathing, and the cat licks that. A fourth reason is relaxation. Massaging the skin calms the cat’s nerves. These reasons are why cats groom so often.