Are you an animal lover or an owner of one of Korea’s nearly 9 million pets? If so, you may have noticed in your time with these cute and cuddly creatures that they have peculiar habits, including licking themselves—and humans! On the other hand [1], if you’re one of the nearly 15% of North Americans who report being truly terrified of dogs, you may be seeking to better understand animal behavior. In today’s discussion, we will unpack five major reasons why cats and dogs choose to lick their owners.

Grooming

Nearly all animals have more sensitive noses than humans. Cats and dogs can both perform amazing feats [2] with their senses, such as tracking a human being over many days or even weeks. If your pet smells something they don’t like on your body, they may want to clean it off for you!

Anxiety

Believe it or not, most animals find licking to be one of the most calming and relaxing activities to partake [3] in. If your pet is stressed or seeking to get rid of negative thoughts, it might lick your hands and feet in order to de-stress!

Hunting Instincts

Both cats and dogs are born in litters [4], so their DNA is encoded with instructions for life with other animals. Studies have shown that ancient wolf DNA may encourage modern dogs to lick their families in order to transmit information about food and digestion. In cats, licking and covering is closely associated with protection, meaning your cat may see you as part of its own litter!

Snacktime

While sweat may be unappealing to humans accustomed to keeping clean, the salts and minerals we excrete [5] can taste rather delicious to our furry friends. Particularly on a hot day or after a difficult workout, you may find that your pet wants to get a taste of your body odor!

Affection

Last but certainly not least, pets frequently lick each other and humans to showcase their love and affection. Cats and dogs lack arms to hug one another, meaning their tongue is the main way they can communicate. Next time your animals are licking you, you can probably guess it means they love you!