Did I accidentally pour a bowl of chicken soup on my gallery wall? Is the paint on the wall tasty? Why does the aroma of the wall attract four-legged animals? Do you want to know why your cat is licking the wall?
Let’s face it. Our feline friends spend half of their lives licking and grooming themselves. They do this because an emphasis on cleanliness is inherited from their ancestors. They groom themselves to stay clean and to remove matted cat hair. So the next time you find your cat licking, you should know that it is completely natural. Sometimes, grooming excitement leads to cats licking other stuff like clothes, shoes, furniture, plants, and even walls.
Reasons Why Cats Lick the Walls
Not every cat carries this odd behavior. However, the main reason cats lick walls is because of stress, boredom, imbalanced diet, taste, and moisture.
Cats feel stressed
Anxiety and stress can lead to compulsive behaviors in felines. If you notice your cat licking walls and you fail to prevent them, then stress is the reason behind it. It is very hard to divert the attention of cats, especially with compulsive behaviors. Even if you have her favorite toy or yummy treats in hand, they will continue the job. However, if you manage to distract her from the wall licking task, then the behavior might not be compulsive.
Cats can become sad or depressed due to many reasons. Separation from a partner, new home, or unsettling environments can urge the wall licking habit. They are animals and they just don’t know how to cope with stress and it sometimes results in licking house walls. Cats can also become stressed if you introduce a new pet in the home, or if there are a lot of animals outside.
Cats often get bored
You probably know that cats are playful animals who love to spend time with humans or other pets and have a great attraction towards toys. If they fail to find good company, they will get bored which may lead to strange feline activities include wall licking. They just want to spend their time or release their energy and your living room wall serves the purpose. So, boredom might be the reason why your cat licks the wall. This can also be the reason why your cat bites your ears.
To help prevent boredom in your cat, you should try to spend more time with them.
Pica or Nutritional Imbalance
Pica is a health condition normally seen in cats that cause them to lick or eat nonfood items, and the wall is one of them. If your kitty loves eating things that are not suitable for them, she might be experiencing Pica. Want to know what exactly causes this behavior?
The deficiency of nutrients such as iron, fats, or fiber can cause pica. Cats balance their nutritional deficiencies by eating unwanted items or licking things that aren’t meant to be licked. This behavior is commonly seen in wild or feline cats.
As a pet owner, adjust the diet according to your cat’s age or health. For example, a pregnant feline, or a young kitten, requires different meals than normal cats. If you don’t feed your cat a healthy, balanced diet, they might develop pica and in the end, start to lick walls.
Taste
Did you know unlike human beings, cats have different tastes? We are drawn towards food items but you never know what your furry friend loves to eat – and sometimes the taste of the wall can entice them. This is the same reason why cats love olives.
It can be the taste of the paint you have applied on the walls or the texture that attracts your cat. Air fresheners or tasty gases can also stick to the walls, and sometimes cleaning products can get in touch with walls giving them a unique taste that is liked by cats. Since cats love to experiment with their diet, licking walls is not an unusual thing in such homes.
If you notice the cat licking on a specific wall, you might want to prevent your cat’s access from it.
Moisture
If you reside in a humid area where the air has too much moisture – your walls can easily absorb the vapors and become damp. Surprisingly, cats are tempted towards moisture as it has a great taste. Some cats that are deprived of water. Therefore, when they lick the wall, they can fulfill their H2O needs from the damp walls. However, it is very rare.
How do I prevent my cat from licking the wall?
Well, you can spend time with them, offer treats, toys and ensure you provide them a balanced diet. Anything that helps burb their boredom or and fulfills their dietary requirements can help to reduce this behavior. We suggest a visit to the vet if the situation becomes repetitive or hard to prevent.
Best of luck!