Top 27 Cat Licks Shower Floor The 39 Latest Answer

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Why do cats lick the shower floor?

They love fresh water, which may be why your cat is drawn to it. An alternative may be to let some sink water run on low while you are in the shower-maybe they will be drawn to that instead.

Why does my cat like to lick the shower?

The most likely reason is that your cat simply likes to drink the water from the shower curtain. Cats generally prefer fresh moving water whenever it’s available and your shower curtain is a great source. In other cases, cats might just like the taste of the plastic as it may contain gelatin.

Why do cats lick bathroom floor?

Why Does My Cat Lick the Floor? Cats licking floors is usually a harmless habit and just their innate curiosity. If something tasty or appealing to your cat spills on the floor, she will still be able to taste or smell it long after you’ve cleaned up.

Why is my cat licking my bathtub?

Your cat may be licking the tub to drink the last few droplets water still on the sides and bottom of your tub. Some experts suggest that your cat’s fascination with your bathtub stems from their innate desire to find fresh and running sources of water. Cats love to drink fresh water from bathtubs.

Why is my cat suddenly licking the floor?

The exact answer will vary between each cat, but it’s likely that cats enjoy the taste, texture, or temperature of the floor. This is especially true if there’s water on the floor as cats love unique sources of water. While rare, in some cases it could be related to a condition called pica.

How do I keep my cat out of the shower?

Aluminum foil is another item cats do not like too much. You can roll up a few aluminum balls and place them on the lid to the commode, the tub ledge, toilet paper roll, or anything else you want your cat to leave alone. You can also try covering the entire roll of toilet paper with the aluminum foil.

Why does my cat sit in the shower after I shower?

Curiosity

Bathrooms are usually quite different from the rest of the house, they have cool tiles where your cat can cool down during the summers, they can have interesting smells from all the beauty products. Seeing you shower could also awaken your cat’s curiosity for the water running.

How do you know if your cat has pica?

You can tell if your cat has pica by catching them in the act. If you aren’t around your cat for several hours each day, keep an eye out for vomiting, diarrhea, and other signs of pica, as well as toys and other non-food items that look chewed or eaten.

How do you treat pica in cats?

What You Can Do
  1. Remove targeted items . The easiest solution may be simply to hide the clothes, plants, or other items your cat loves to chew on.
  2. Give your cat something else to chew. …
  3. Play with your cat. …
  4. Make appealing items unappealing. …
  5. Get rid of dangerous plants. …
  6. Talk to an animal behaviorist.

Why does my cat lick smooth surfaces?

Cats who lick obsessively at nonfood items such as furniture, clothing, walls, plants, or household objects are exhibiting a form of pica. Pica develops when an animal craves the taste of nonfood items, and it’s usually indicative of a nutritional imbalance.

Why does my cat lick me when I get out of the shower?

When you get out of the shower, you have washed off a lot of scents, like the fact that your cat rubbed against you earlier, or licked your hand. In your cat’s mind, they have to start all over again by licking you and marking you with little nips.

Why does my cat lick the side of the water bowl?

She doesn’t want to have to squish them in order to reach the water in the bowl. If you’ve noticed that your cat tends to dunk her paw in the water and then lick it, the reason may be that she doesn’t want to have squished whiskers.

Why does my cat sit in the shower after I shower?

Curiosity

Bathrooms are usually quite different from the rest of the house, they have cool tiles where your cat can cool down during the summers, they can have interesting smells from all the beauty products. Seeing you shower could also awaken your cat’s curiosity for the water running.

How do you know if your cat has pica?

You can tell if your cat has pica by catching them in the act. If you aren’t around your cat for several hours each day, keep an eye out for vomiting, diarrhea, and other signs of pica, as well as toys and other non-food items that look chewed or eaten.


My cat licks shower floor
My cat licks shower floor


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Why Does My Cat Lick The Shower Curtain? – (Answered)

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Why Does My Cat Lick The Shower Curtain? – (Answered) Updating Have you ever wondered why your cat licks the shower curtain? From beef tallow to pheromones the answer could be more complex than you think!Written by Logan Michael in Behavior last updated March 2021 BetterWithCats.net may earn a small commission when you use one of the links on this…
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Reason 1 Cats Are Very Picky About Water

Reason 2 Plastic Shower Curtains Contain Animal Fat (And Cats Like The Taste)

Reason 3 Cats Like The Texture and Temperature

Reason 4 It’s Chemical

Reason 5 They Like The Attention

Reason 6 Some Plastics Contain Corn Starch

Honorable Mention It Could Be Anxiety

Should You Worry About Your Cat Licking The Shower

How Can I Stop My Cat From Licking The Shower

Closing Thoughts

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Why Does My Cat Lick The Shower Curtain? - (Answered)
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Why Do Cats Like to Lick Bathtubs? – Explore Cats

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It feels more like a natural source of water

There may be something in your bath water your cat likes

The surface feels nice and cool

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Why does my cat lick the floor of the shower…? | AnandTech Forums: Technology, Hardware, Software, and Deals

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Why does my cat lick the floor of the shower…? | AnandTech Forums: Technology, Hardware, Software, and Deals Because cats like fresh water. They will do the same thing if you run water in the sink. Frick`in Siamese cat named Squeak (about what her meyow sounds like most of the time) does this every time I get out of the shower…?

    Water doesnt…

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Why does my cat lick the floor of the shower...? | AnandTech Forums: Technology, Hardware, Software, and Deals
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Why Does My Cat Lick the Bathtub? (6 Ways to Stop Them) – Whiskerful Life

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1 Smooth surface

2 Water source

How do I stop my cat from licking the bathtub

Why Does My Cat Lick the Bathtub? (6 Ways to Stop Them) - Whiskerful Life
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licking the shower | TheCatSite

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Why Does My Cat Lick The Floor? – (6 Reasons Explained)

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The Material of the Floor Matters

Reason 1 The Floor Tastes Good

Reason 2 Cats Like The Texture and Temperature

Reason 3 It’s A Different Water Source (And Cats Like That)

Reason 4 It Could Be Pica Related

Reason 5 They Like Your Attention

Reason 6 Your Cat Is Bored and Licking Is Fun

It’s Probably Not Pruritus

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How To Stop Your Feline Friend From Licking The Floor

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Why Does My Cat Lick The Shower Curtain?

You’re getting ready to start the day and just hopped out of the shower when suddenly you notice a little feline figure behind you…

But instead of living up to the elegant and regal feline image (a persona that cats have spent a lot of time cultivating) your cat is passionately and intensely licking the shower curtain. What a little weirdo!

So what’s going on here? Why does your cat lick the shower curtain? The most likely reason is that your cat simply likes to drink the water from the shower curtain. Cats generally prefer fresh moving water whenever it’s available and your shower curtain is a great source. In other cases, cats might just like the taste of the plastic as it may contain gelatin.

But the reasons can be as varied as the feline personalities behind them so let’s dive a little deeper and find out why so many cats can’t get enough shower curtain.

Reason 1: Cats Are Very Picky About Water

When it comes to finding the perfect water source, cats can be very picky. But it’s for good reason! In the wild, stagnant or standing water could be a source of parasites and disease while running water is much more likely to be safe. Even though we might not immediately think of our cats as wild, they certainly are and their instincts for moving water are still alive and well! So even though your cat’s water bowl is sparklingly clean, they can’t pass up the chance to taste some moving water!

While your cat might not have the chance to track down a hidden freshwater stream, your shower curtain does present a great chance to find clean, fresh, and moving water. So while it might seem like your cat is just being a weirdo they’re actually being quite practical. You can learn even more about why cats like moving water in this article.

But just because your cat has decided to drink from the shower curtain doesn’t mean they’re necessarily thirsty or that you’re not providing enough water. Sometimes, it has less to do with how much water is available but instead where the water bowl is located. But that’s not just my opinion- a detailed study by the folks at Royal Canin confirmed this when they found cats drinking from random locations throughout their outdoor territory even when they had a fresh, full bowl at home. Researchers concluded that “cats apparently like to use different drinking options, and should therefore be offered several possibilities.”

Reason 2: Plastic Shower Curtains Contain Animal Fat (And Cats Like The Taste)

What if your carnivorous cat could taste the animal ingredients contained within your plastic shower curtain?

Sound a little far fetched? Not according to veterinarian and feline specialist Dr. Arnold Plotnick. When discussing why cats lick plastic bags, he explains that “The most logical reason I’ve heard, however, is that cats like licking or eating plastic bags because rendered animal fat (also called “tallow”) is utilized during the manufacture of some plastic bags, and that some cats can detect the smell and enjoy the taste.”

Like bags, many shower curtains are made from plastic and also contain gelatin or tallow that’s sourced from animal fats. Even though it just smells like plastic to us, our cats are regularly experiencing a completely different world of smells. That’s because their sense of smell is as much as 14 times stronger than our own!

Interestingly, this could also explain a variety of other feline licking behaviors as Dr. Plotnick explains: “Gelatin, in fact, is used in the manufacture of many items including the emulsion used in photographs, which may explain why my own carnivorous cat, Emma, enthusiastically licked clean all of my unattended family photos one afternoon.”

That means shower curtains aren’t only a good source of freshwater but depending on your shower curtain it could even be fat-flavored water! Yummy?

Reason 3: Cats Like The Texture and Temperature

I’d argue that cats don’t need a good reason to lick the shower curtain and many folks suggest that cats lick plastic curtains simply because the texture feels nice. Compared to other items around the house, shower curtains have a somewhat unique feel and cats may find it comforting to lick them. It’s also entirely possible that licking shower curtains started as a unique source of water for your cat but they continued to do it because they enjoyed the way it feels on their little tongues.

The same could be said about the temperature. The shower curtain could be warm after you’ve just showered or it could be nice and cool if the water has been sitting for some time. Either way, it’s probably a different temperature than the rest of the house and certainly adds some variety to what your cat typically licks!

Reason 4: It’s Chemical

Plastic is just about everywhere in our world…but that’s not always a good thing. Some chemicals inside plastics can actually mimic the smell of pheromones and cause some strange reactions in cats. The folks at Canidae explain that these pheromones could explain why cats lick the shower curtain but they go on to say “Licking the plastic could cause a flehmen response, and could also be why a cat will urinate on a plastic bag.” These pheromone-like signals can be very interesting for your cat even if they’re spayed or neutered already.

The tricky part about plastics is that even though it’s such an integral part of our world, it’s hard for the average person to figure out what’s actually in them. NPR conducted a study where they analyzed the chemicals found in common plastic items after they were soaked in salt water or exposed to other conditions. They found that “more than 70 percent of the products released chemicals that acted like estrogen.” While estrogen isn’t the same as pheromones it still illustrates that there are things in plastic that we can’t readily identify with our own senses- but it’s certainly possible that our cats can.

Reason 5: They Like The Attention

While licking the shower curtain may have started as an interest in finding a novel water source or maybe your cat liked the smooth texture, some cats may continue the habit because of your reaction. I believe that positive reinforcement is an often-overlooked reason why some cats continue weird behaviors.

While it may not be a reason for starting the behavior, some cat owners will give their cat attention when they lick the shower curtain. Whether that’s talking to them in a high-pitched voice or some petting, cats can quickly get used to the positive attention they get from taking a drink from the plastic wall. If you need proof of this positive reinforcement just check out all the videos of cats licking shower curtains on Youtube!

Reason 6: Some Plastics Contain Corn Starch

If it isn’t the tallow or gelatin contents that get cats interested in the taste of shower curtains it could be the corn starch that’s found in many types of plastics including some shower curtains. While corn starch isn’t something that your carnivore cat would naturally eat, you can find corn in dozens of lower quality cat foods and it’s pretty clear that cats are happy with the taste. While I think this one is less likely than some of the other explanations it’s still worth a mention.

Honorable Mention: It Could Be Anxiety

While it shouldn’t the first on the list, it could be anxiety-related. Usually, when anxious cats lick too much they end up overgrooming themselves and removing large chunks of fur but in some cases, cats may direct their licking to something else like a shower curtain. The folks at Cornell Veterinary School explain, “Like people who bite their fingernails, the repetitive act of licking may involve a stress-relieving pleasure component that reinforces the behavior. Thus, feline licking can become a habit that persists after the cause is identified and resolved.”

While it might be a bit of a stretch, you could think of licking the shower curtain the same way that some nail biters turn to chewing pens. Again, it’s much more likely that a stressed cat will turn to their own fur first for obsessive licking but it’s worth considering particularly if your cat seems a bit obsessed with getting to the shower.

Should You Worry About Your Cat Licking The Shower?

Generally, it’s not a big deal if your cat takes on a fascination with licking your shower curtain. Problems can arise though if it turns from licking to eating which is indicative of an unusual condition called pica. Feline pica is when cats eat non-food items and it can have major health consequences for cats that eat the wrong items.

As long as your cat is only licking the shower curtain and not trying to actually bite and eat it, there’s generally nothing to worry about. However, if you’re using a lot of products in the shower, it’s probably worth giving the curtain a quick rinse before you end your shower. Just to make sure you’re cat isn’t ingesting something they shouldn’t.

How Can I Stop My Cat From Licking The Shower?

Even if you aren’t worried about feline pica you may not want your cat to be licking the shower. Luckily, it’s easy enough to discourage the behavior but it’s always important to try and understand why your cat licking the shower. While it can be hard to figure out what’s going on in the furry feline mind, understanding the motive behind a behavior can go a long way in finding an appropriate alternative.

The most obvious thing you can do is shut the door and prevent your cat from entering the bathroom at all. While that will work, you might end up with other problems like a cat meowing or scratching at the door! That’s why it’s important to give your cat an appropriate outlet for behavior rather than just trying to stop it but let’s take a look at a few of your other options.

Add More Water Locations

There’s actually a lot that goes into picking the perfect location for your cat’s water bowl but sometimes it’s easier to just place as many water bowls as you can hoping that your cat will find one they like! Cats that lick specifically wet shower curtains might just want some added variety to their water options. Closing the door will prevent your cat from licking the wet curtains but it won’t stop them from wanting some more interesting water sources!

You don’t need to go fancy with the bowls you select and some of my favorite no tip, flip or spill water bowls are just big heavy bowls (you can see my favorites here). You can also consider a water fountain that will more closely resemble the moving water of your shower curtain. The gold standard for feline water fountains (at least in my opinion) is the Catit Flower Fountain and you can see it here on Amazon.

Change Your Curtain

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of trying to keep your cat out of the bathroom by constantly guarding the door, simply changing the shower curtain will often stop the licking. Whether it’s the temperature, texture, smell, or taste most of it has of the motivations have to do with the plastic so by going for a cloth shower curtain you can usually break the habit.

You’ve got a few options here but the most budget-friendly is going to be something like this polyester fabric curtain on Amazon. They also make a polyester liner to go with it and they both have hundreds of five-star reviews.

Don’t Put Anything On The Curtains To Deter Your Cat!

You might find a few examples of folks suggesting that you put something on your curtains to deter your cat. I know one source that recommended placing essential oils on the shower curtains but essential oils are extremely toxic to cats so please don’t do that! You could consider using essential oils in your bathroom that cats don’t like but never place the oils in a location that cats will lick or otherwise come in direct contact. Even when it comes to cat-safe deterrents it’s going to be difficult to actually set up in the bathroom so it’s probably best to just close off the area and focus on redirecting your cat to other water sources.

Closing Thoughts

Like many interesting feline behaviors, the reasons behind why it occurs can sometimes be more complex than we might think at first. But cats usually have their reasons and in many cases it’s a combination of things that keep a cat coming back to the shower curtain.

But what do you think motivates your particular feline friend to like the shower curtains?

Why Is My Cat Licking the Floor?

Cat owners are accustomed to cats licking their food or themselves. They can also be seen licking their human friends as a sign of affection and also tend to lick other cats or companion pets as a form of social bonding or a way of marking their territory. While these are all normal cat behaviour, our feline friends are eccentric animals with very peculiar characters. One of the idiosyncratic characters shared amongst cats is their tendency to lick inedible things like concrete floors, soil, plastic, and so on. You’ve probably landed on this page because you want to know whether or not this is a safe habit for your cat.

But first, why does my cat lick the floor? The reasons for this unusual habit are either behavioural or medical issues. For instance, your cat might be looking for food stuck on the floor, seeking attention, or even experiencing a dietary deficiency, an illness, or a compulsive eating disorder, among other things.

While it’s not always harmful to your cat to lick the floor, this kind of behaviour comes with a few possible issues. Your cat is likely to lick harmful things like cleaning supplies or even toxic foods like citrus or chocolate. In case of such incidences, vet fees will be the least of your worries as the effects could be fatal for your feline friend. In this article, I’m going to discuss a number of reasons why your cat could be licking the floor and what you can do to stop her from doing so. Without further ado, let’s get right into it:

Why Does My Cat Lick the Floor?

Your cat just loves unique flavours

Cats licking floors is usually a harmless habit and just their innate curiosity. If something tasty or appealing to your cat spills on the floor, she will still be able to taste or smell it long after you’ve cleaned up. Cats have highly sensitive olfactory equipment that allows them to pick up odours that are even undetectable to us. That is why if you accidentally spilt the juice from their wet food, they are capable of getting that stimulating aroma and will, therefore, lick the floor.

Additionally, some floor cleaners and polishes use the same chemicals that are found in the radiator fluid. These chemicals usually smell sweet to animals, which is why your cat will try to lick them off the floor.

Since cats can smell all kinds of things that we cannot, the type of flooring you have can also be the reason your kitty has started licking the floor. For instance, in plastic flooring, cats can smell the volatile compounds that are usually found in plastics. Cats find these compounds appealing since they smell and taste like food to them. These compounds, including those found in paints and varnish, are also intoxicating for cats and she will enjoy licking the floor as it makes her feel good.

For those with concrete or cement floor, they exude salts, mineral, and other compounds that cats find pleasant to lick. These, and wooden floors, are also likely to have vegetable matter like grass or weed growing on the surface. Your cat might appear to be licking the floor but it’s actually nibbling the plant matter in the cracks. It’s also possible that she’s eating small insects like clover mites that live on these floor surfaces. Last, but not least, concrete and cement floors are slightly rough and can be interesting for your British Shorthair to lick.

It’s hungry or thirsty

Your cat is also able to detect food residue that has gotten stuck in the gaps between floorboards or tiles. If your cat is feeling hungry, she will definitely try to eat food particles that are stuck to the floor. If she’s mostly licking cool surfaces, it could be due to dehydration. She will lick a tiled or concrete floor just to get the condensation that’s collecting on the surface.

Pruritis

This is a medical term for itching and it occurs in cats if they have skin sores, fleas, or allergies. The sensation can provoke your cat to lick themselves or even inappropriate things like the floor.

Behavioural issues

Licking the floor could be a sign that your cat is stressed, anxious, or bored. It could also be that she does it to get your attention. If your cat has been licking the floor for a few weeks now, this habit might develop into an obsessive-compulsive disorder where she can no longer resist the urge to lick the floor.

Pica

Oftentimes, cats licking inedible things could be a symptom of Pica. Veterinarians believe that this condition is caused by a diet deficiency, particularly if your cat’s diet is low in iron, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and/or fat. Other possible causes include genetic disposition, behavioural disorder, not to mention diseases like anaemia, hyperthyroidism, feline leukaemia, immunodeficiency virus, and so on.

How to Stop My Cat from This Unusual Behaviour

While licking the floor is generally harmless to your cat, I must say that it carries a few possible risks. Consuming non-food items can lead to poisoning, obstruction in intestines, electrocution if she licks electrical wires and even death. In that case, it’s very important to discourage this behaviour in your cat(s).

Start by providing enough food and water so your cat doesn’t have to look for alternative ways to fill her stomach. Ensure her diet contains all the necessary nutrients so she doesn’t suffer from pica syndrome.

You also need to keep your floor clean to remove any food particles that your cat might want to lick off the floor. Be sure to use cleaning products that taste bitter and smell unpleasant to cats, but pet-safe, to deter them from this behaviour.

If this unusual habit is out of boredom, provide an enriching cat-friendly environment with interactive toys and puzzle games to keep your cat preoccupied throughout the day.

Since cats licking the floor can be a sign of an underlying health problem, a visit to the vet is worth taking. That way, you will be able to rule out any medical issues and even get expert attention tailored to your British Shorthair cat‘s needs. If the floor licking habit is becoming worse, you can also consult a cat behaviourist to help modify and treat this habit.

What to Consider When Determining the Cause of This Unusual Behaviour

We’ve already seen all the possible reasons why cats lick the floor. Your British Shorthair could be doing so for one or more reasons. The first step to stopping this behaviour in your cat is to know the specific reason for its actions. Here are a few things to consider that will help you figure out the main reason your cats have taken a liking to lick the floor:

When did your cat first start licking the floor?

Has your cat always been licking the floor? If she started doing so suddenly, it might help to know anything that changed or happened around that time that she started this unusual habit. For instance, if you recently moved house, she might be doing it out of stress or anxiety.

When does it do it?

The timing of this habit is another great clue. If your cat licks the floor at certain times it could be when she’s normally hungry or bored, meaning you should provide food and play at those specific times.

How often does your cat lick the floor?

If your feline is doing this unusual habit more constantly, it could be a sign of compulsive behaviour. If that’s the case, you will definitely need help from a vet or a dog behaviourist.

Why Do Cats Like to Lick Bathtubs?

Cats can be silly creatures. Recently, my female gray tabby has developed the habit of licking the side of our bathtub. I am used to my cats enjoying a drink of water from the bathtub, but this was a new and curious behavior.

No one seems to know for sure why cats enjoy licking the sides of a bathtub but there are some hypotheses out there. Unless your cat has a medical issue and you keep your bathtub free of toxic residue, licking the bathtub is mostly a harmless behavior.

It feels more like a natural source of water

After you’re done bathing or showering, the sides of the bathtub are still wet. Your cat may be licking the tub to drink the last few droplets water still on the sides and bottom of your tub.

Some experts suggest that your cat’s fascination with your bathtub stems from their innate desire to find fresh and running sources of water.

Cats love to drink fresh water from bathtubs.

Cats tend to like fresh sources of water placed away from their food bowls and litter boxes, so the bathroom tends to be a natural place for your feline to find water. To satisfy my cats’ water needs, I fill a bowl with water every day that I leave in the shower stall.

One of my cats is so enamored with drinking water from the bathroom that she will willingly stand in ankle-deep water to drink. This is the same black cat that will fight me tooth and nail when it comes time to bathe her.

There may be something in your bath water your cat likes

I noticed my cat started her habit of licking the bathtub after I started adding coconut oil to my daughter’s bath to combat her eczema. My tabby may simply like the smell and taste of coconut oil and is licking the bathtub to lick up any leftover residue. Since coconut oil has both external and internal benefits for cats, I am not too bothered by her habit.

Your cat may lick the sides of your bathtub because he or she likes the taste.

Just make sure you don’t leave any toxic residue on the sides of your bathtub if your cat has a habit of licking. I always make sure to rinse out the bathtub after it has been used in order to wash away any soap residue. When cleaning the bathtub, make sure to use non-toxic cleaners and rinse the tub thoroughly. (Related: Cats Can’t Taste Sweetness)

The surface feels nice and cool

Cats are sensory animals. Licking the smooth and cool surface of your bathtub may simply be enjoyable to them. Even on a hot day, porcelain tubs remain cool to the touch and your cat may enjoy the feeling of licking the sides.

So, if your cat loves to lick your bathtub and is in good health, simply treat this habit as a fun quirk. If you have concerns, make sure you keep your bathroom closed.

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