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Why does my cat lick the bathtub?

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

So, why does my cat lick the bathtub? Likely reasons why your cat licks the bathtub are that your cat is thirsty, it has an illness, or that your cat simply likes the way it feels on its tongue.

There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat licks the bathtub and it might be due to a combination of causes. 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 bathtub?

Below are likely reasons why your cat has been licking the bathtub and what would make them more likely.

Thirst

One reason why your cat has been licking the bathtub could be that your cat is thirsty. This would be more likely if your cat has been doing it more when it does not have access to water. In this case, it would help to make sure that your cat does have access to water whenever it might need it.

Illness

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

Your cat simply likes the taste

It could also be the case that your cat simply likes the way the bathtub 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.

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

Things to consider

Here 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 bathtub

If your cat did not always lick the bathtub, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it might be due to things such as illness, losing access to water or something causing it to start being anxious.

If there is a certain time that your cat tends to lick the bathtub

If there is a certain time that your cat tends to lick the bathtub, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if it tends to do it when it is licking itself, it would be more likely that your cat likes the feeling of the bathtub on its tongue and because your cat naturally wants to lick things when it is grooming itself.

What to do about your cat licking the bathtub

Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.

Give it access to water

If your cat does not currently have access to water, at around the same time that it normally licks the bathtub, it would help to make sure that your cat gets access to water.

Ensure it is getting the right diet

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

Get help

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

Why does my cat lick the sink?

Likely reasons why your cat licks the sink are that it is thirsty, it likes the feeling of the sink on its tongue or that it has an illness.

Why does my cat lick the shower?

The most likely reason why your cat licks the shower is that it likes the feeling of the moisture on its tongue. It could also be because your cat is thirsty or due to an illness.

Why does my cat lick plastic?

Your cat might lick plastic because it likes the way plastic feels on its tongue. It might also be the case that your cat has been doing it due to an illness if it has started doing it suddenly.