If you own a cat, you are probably well aware that cats are animals of habit. And for better or worse, these habits can be so strange that they leave you scratching your head. Here at Kitty Expert, we try our best to explain some of these weird habits that are common among cats. In today’s article, we are going to discuss why cats to lick their paws and then rub their head.

Why do cats lick their paws then rub their head?

The reason cats lick their paws then rub their head is pretty simple: it is a common technique used to clean themselves. As you are probably already aware, cat’s constantly groom themselves as a way to stay clean, transfer their scent, and even soothe anxiety or pain. Cats lick their paws first in order to get them wet. Then they rub their head in order to wipe their head clean of dirt, sweat, or any other mess on their head.

The cat essentially uses its paw as a cleaning rag to wipe the head clean. Since the paw is wet from being licked, it usually helps the dirt on the head stick to the paw. This might sound crazy, but cat saliva does contain some anti bacteria agents which make it very effective for cleaning. After your cat rubs their head, they will likely lick their paw some more in order to remove remaining dirt. 

Cats strongly prefer to bathe themselves instead of letting humans do it. You probably know this if you have ever tried to bathe a cat by yourself. While there may be some extreme cases where you need to bathe your cat, most of the time cats can groom and clean themselves on their own. One of the main reasons that cat’s prefer to groom themselves is because they can spread their scent to all parts of their body. When they are washed by humans, the water usually washes this scent away. Additionally, being overwashed can actually cause a cat to develop dry skin and rashes.

While we usually recommend letting your cat clean themselves, there are some exceptions. The biggest being if you ever find any fleas or worms on your cat. If this happens, we recommend buying some flea/parasite shampoo and giving your cat a very thorough bath. 

You should also check out this article on cat keeps licking lips.