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Why does my cat lick the floor?

If your cat has been licking the floor a lot, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.

So, why does my cat lick the floor? It is likely that your cat licks the floor because it likes the taste of the floor and the feeling on its tongue. Other possible causes are illness, diet issues, thirst or compulsive behavior.

Your cat might have been licking the floor due to a number of different reasons 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 floor?

Below are likely reasons why your cat licks the floor and what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason.

Your cat likes the taste of the floor

It could be the case that your cat simply likes the way the floor 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 floor. This would be especially likely if your cat has been licking a spot where food or drink was recently dropped.

Illness

Another possible cause is that your cat has an illness and it is licking the floor 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.

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 floor since a change in its diet and if it has been hungry a lot.

Thirst

It might also be the case that your cat has been licking the floor because it is thirsty. This would be more likely if your cat tends to lick the floor 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.

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 floor constantly. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet for a checkup.

Pica

Pica is a medical condition where cats start eating things they shouldn’t which is caused by medical causes. If your cat also eats parts of the floor, it is important to take it to a vet.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.

If your cat has always licked the floor

If your cat did not always lick the floor, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat 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, food being dropped on the floor or something causing it to become anxious.

The timing of when your cat licks the floor

It would also help to consider the timing of when your cat tends to lick the floor. If your cat tends to do it more at a certain time, it could be the case that the timing has something to do with it. For example, if your cat does it when it is licking itself, it could be the case that your cat does it because it naturally wants to lick things when it is grooming itself.

What to do about my cat licking the floor?

Here are options you have when dealing with the behavior.

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 its diet is right

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 floor 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.