Why do cats lick themselves? Cats do their own grooming and lick their fur to clean it. They also lick themselves to cool off in the hot weather. In the cold weather, they lick to fluff up their fur in order to keep warm. Cats lick their fur to help it stay waterproof. If cats have a wound, they will lick it to make it feel better and to clean it.
The little hooks on their tongues catch loose hair, flaky skin, dirt and fleas. The cats then swallow what they have licked. Their stomach acid is very strong and dissolves what they have licked.
In some cases, there are cats that swallow too much hair and it can't dissolve. They end up coughing it up as a hairball. This happens a lot with longhaired cats. The best way to prevent this is to comb your cat often. There is hairball medicine available at pet shops. It is usually an ointment that comes in a tube. You squirt a bit on the cat's paw or nose. They will lick the medicine and it will go to their stomach to help digest their hair.
If a cat licks you, you should be flattered. This is one of the highest forms of affection offered by a cat.
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