Why Does My Cat Lick My Pillow?

It’s pretty common to have a cat lick your pillow, but is there actually a reason for this behavior?

Is this bad for your cat?

What is it that actually attracts your cat to lick or bite your pillows? In this article, I will try to answer those questions and more.

Why Does My Cat Lick My Pillow?

Cats may lick objects as a way to groom themselves and to mark their territory with their scent, but it can also be a way for them to find comfort and relaxation. Your cat may be licking your pillow as a way to feel soothed and comforted.

Other Causes

Here are a few possible reasons why your cat may be licking your pillow:

Stress Relief

For some cats, licking a pillow and wool sucking is just a way to relieve stress.

They don’t particularly enjoy it. In other words, it’s not a pleasurable thing for them. What they’re doing is licking the pillow to get the taste of their own saliva.

One of my cats sometimes does this if there is another cat in their litter box when they need to use it.

Sudden Changes In The Surrounding

Cats are very sensitive to changes in the environment.

If something suddenly changes – like the light coming on in the room where your cat is sleeping – they will usually wake up and check things out. And if they see or smell something new and interesting, they will investigate it.

Sometimes, these changes can make your cat act differently and cause them to do some weird things (such as licking a pillow or blanket).

Separation From Their Mother

If you have a kitten from a young age, it is certain that they have had some attachment issues with their mother. In case they have been taken from their mother too soon, they may develop some separation anxiety problems.

This can include the need to be licking, sucking, or even biting your pillow or soft blanket, mimicking their desire for their mother’s nipple.

This is more often seen in young cats as the need for their mother tends to lessen as they get older.

What is Pica?

One other reason why your kitty could be licking your pillow is a condition called ‘Pica’.

Feline Pica is a condition where a cat will eat non-nutritive or unhealthy things. These are usually things like paper, string, soap, cloth, dirt, and other “indigestible” materials.

This is a very common problem with cats and can be especially problematic if the feline ingests toxic substances such as cleaning products or medicines.

If this happens, then the cat may experience the effects of poisoning such as vomiting, diarrhea, and even death.

Causes of Pica in Cats

The main cause of feline Pica in cats is currently unknown.

Some experts speculate that it is a result of a nutritional deficiency.

However, it might also be a behavioral problem. In some cases, it can be a sign of a medical problem. In kittens, Pica is often a sign of a nutritional deficiency.

Treatment of Pica in Cats

If your cat has Pica, there is no known cure. However, many cases of Pica can be managed successfully.

One way to manage Pica in cats is by making sure that they are getting all of their nutritional needs met from high-quality food.

Another is to carefully supervise the cat while they are exploring the world. This will help to prevent them from eating anything that is not good for them. And of course, you should always seek the advice of a veterinarian if you think your cat might have an underlying medical condition causing Pica.

How to get your cat to stop licking your pillow

If you ask me, there is no real “right” or “wrong” way to deal with this problem.

The first thing that I would try, is to give them their own pillow, and maybe put some catnip inside it.

I would also advise you to take a look into your cat’s diet and try and see if there might be a dietary problem. Maybe try them with some different cat food.

If all else fails and this licking behavior carries on, take a trip to your local vet.