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Why does my cat lick the door?

If your cat has been licking the door, this post will show you why and what you can do about it.

So, why does my cat lick the door? Likely reasons why your cat licks the door are that it simply likes the feeling on its tongue, it is thirsty, or ill.

There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat licks the door and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.

Why does my cat lick the door?

Below are likely reasons why it has been doing it and what would make each of them more likely.

It likes the feeling

It is likely be the case that your cat simply likes the way the door feels on its tongue. This would be more likely if your cat has not been doing it excessively and if it also tends to do it at the same time that it is licking itself.

It is also likely that your cat likes the taste of the door. This would be especially likely if your cat has been licking a spot where food or drink was recently dropped.

Thirst

It might also be the case that your cat has been licking the door because it is thirsty. This would be more likely if your cat tends to lick the door when it does not have access to water. In this case, it would help to ensure that your cat has access to water throughout the day.

Diet issues

A possible reason is that there is an issue with your cat’s diet that has been causing your cat to lick things for the nutrients. This would be more likely if your cat has started licking the door since a change in its diet and if it has been hungry a lot.

Compulsive behavior

It might also be the case that your cat has been doing it due to a compulsive disorder. This would be more likely if your cat has been licking the door constantly. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet for a checkup.

Illness

Another possible cause is that your cat has an illness and it is licking the door as a way of soothing its tongue and stomach. This would be more likely if your cat has started doing it suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of having an illness such as vomiting a lot. In this case, the best option would be to take your cat to a vet.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.

If your cat has always licked the door

If your cat has not always licked the door, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If your cat started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as a change in its diet, illness or something causing it to become anxious.

The timing of when your cat licks the door

If there is a certain time your cat licks the door, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if your cat tends to do it more when it has not got access to water, it would be more likely that it is doing it due to thirst.

What to do about my cat licking the door?

Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.

Give it access to water

If it does not currently, it would help to ensure that your cat has access to water throughout the day.

Ensure it is getting the right diet

It would help to make sure that your cat has been getting the right diet since an issue with its diet might have been causing the behavior.

Get help

If your cat has been licking the door excessively, it would help to take it to a vet for a checkup. By doing so, you should be able to rule out medical causes and to get expert advice tailored towards your particular cat.