New research challenges the common perception that mutual grooming among cats is solely a friendly social behavior. While allogrooming—when one animal licks another—is widely recognized across species such as primates, birds, and horses as a bonding practice, recent findings suggest that in cats, it can also serve as a subtle form of social tension or even harassment.
The study, led by Morgane Van Belle and Noema Gajdos Kmevoca, both cat behavioral scientists at Ghent University in Belgium, began with observations of unusual grooming interactions between the lead researcher’s own cats. Van Belle noted that one cat would approach another resting in a sunny spot and lick it in a manner that appeared irritating rather than affectionate, often causing the recipient to leave and relinquish the prime location.
To assess whether such behaviors were widespread, the researchers enlisted the help of 53 European households with multiple cats. Cat owners were instructed on what to observe and submitted video recordings of their pets’ interactions. The team then analyzed one video from each household, applying statistical methods to distinguish different types of licking behavior.
Their analysis identified two distinct contexts for allogrooming among cats. The first aligned with traditional understanding: friendly grooming focused on areas difficult for cats to reach themselves, such as the head, neck, or ears. These interactions involved matched body language, like cuddling or sitting closely together, indicating affiliative intent.
The second context revealed a more aggressive dynamic. In some cases, one cat would stand while licking another that was sitting, accompanied by contrasting body postures. These interactions often preceded conflict, with the licked cats exhibiting stress signals including staring, vocalizing, ear rotation, lip licking, or swiping at the other cat. This behavior appears to function as a form of low-level irritation or bullying, allowing a cat to provoke another without escalating to physical fighting.
Kmevoca noted that the findings demonstrate allogrooming in cats is linked not only to social bonding but also to social tension. The researchers propose that unwelcome licking may be a strategy cats use to assert dominance or displace others from desired spaces in a less risky manner than direct confrontation.
Veterinary behaviorist Ashley Elzerman commented on the significance of the study, emphasizing the need for greater understanding of feline social dynamics, especially in multi-cat homes where ongoing tension may be difficult for owners to detect.
The study’s insights could aid veterinarians and pet owners in recognizing signs of feline stress or aggression, potentially improving the welfare of cats living together. It may also assist adoption centers and individuals looking to introduce new cats to a household by identifying behavioral indicators relevant to compatibility. Further research will be needed to explore these complex social interactions more deeply.