In homes with multiple cats, it is common to observe one cat licking another. This behavior is known as allogrooming or social grooming and is often interpreted as a sign of friendship or affection between the animals. However, the most recent research suggests this mutual grooming may serve various social and practical functions, depending on the context in which it occurs. For a long time, based mainly on observations of cats living in colonies, it was believed that social grooming helped establish and maintain social relationships and reinforced group cohesion. One of the hypotheses raised is that this behavior may contribute to other functions beyond purely affective ones.
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Why Cats Groom Each Other
ZAP Notícias15 September 2026 at 10:15
Why this matters
This article is relevant for cat owners, especially those with multiple felines at home, as it helps them better understand the social dynamics and meaning behind their pets' mutual grooming behavior.
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