Cats can groom themselves for hours. Some cats spend up to 50% of their waking hours grooming. Why are cats so obsessed with cleanliness?

Cats have a natural urge to be clean. However, excessive grooming is not only for this purpose, but also has practical reasons. Food scraps and odours are removed from the fur as quickly as possible so that the cat's potential enemies cannot smell them. It is a simple and effective protection against predators.
On hot days, a Kate sweats through the skin on its paws. However, this is not enough to cool the body down. That's why they lick their fur, because the moisture from the saliva has just as much of a cooling effect as sweat. Licking controls about a third of the cooling of the body temperature.

By licking the coat, natural fats are evenly distributed on the hair. The body oils protect against moisture and lock in the body temperature.

An outdoor cat often has small wounds from prickly plants or fights with other cats. The cat's saliva acts as a natural antiseptic. Licking a wound kills bacteria that can cause infection.

The cat's tongue is rough. Licking their fur stimulates blood circulation, similar to a body scrub. By licking its own body, the cat is doing something for its health at the same time. It also has an incredibly relaxing effect.

When cats lick each other, it is a sign of friendship and trust. It is comparable to human cuddling and snuggling.

Not forgetting the beauty care of the coat. Dead hair and flakes of skin are combed out and parasites are removed. As a result, the cat's healthy coat should be shiny and soft with few dandruff and bald patches.