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Why Do Cats Groom Themselves?
Cats are fastidious creatures, who seem to take a lot of "pride" in their appearance and will normally spend a lot of time maintaining their coat in good condition.
Of course the primary aim is to keep the coat in good order. Cats have a routine that enables them to get at almost every part of their body with the tongue, which is equipped with comb-like spines to help in the process. The few spots around the head and ears they can't reach with the tongue are cleaned with the inner "dew claw," which is licked and then rubbed on the coat.
Besides removing dead hairs and sloughed skins cells, the tongue stimulates skin glands to produce a light film of oil which in effect, waterproofs the skin.
Grooming has two other important functions. First, because a cat does not sweat from most of its body surface, the evaporation of saliva from the coat acts to keep kitty cool in hot weather.
Also, when two or more cats share a home, mutual grooming plays an important role in bonding, especially between a female and her young. (This can also help to get to those hard to reach spots!)
--And - what does it mean when your cat stops grooming?
If your cat stops her regular grooming routine, you will notice it immediately, as her coat will lose its luster and become dull and matted.
Why does she stop grooming?
Usually it means that she is feeling generally ill, but it could also mean that she is suffering from a specific problem that makes the grooming motions painful. For example, she could have sore gums, an ulcer on the tongue, or even arthritis in the vertebrae of the neck - all things that would definitely make grooming quite uncomfortable, to say the least. (This may be a signal that a trip to vet is in order to check for a possible worsening or more serious condition, so keep a close eye on her.)
Once a sick cat starts to groom herself again, you know that this is a sure sign things are improving and the little "patient" has started to regain her normal interest in life.
"Even overweight, cats instinctively know the cardinal rule: when fat, arrange yourself in slim poses."
- John Weitz
There are more than 500 million domestic cats, with either 35 different breeds (according to The Cat Fanciers Association, the world's largest cat registry), or 38 breeds (as recognized by The International Cat Association, the second largest registry).
