Cats have a fantastic reputation when it comes to cleanliness. Their special tongues with a texture that resembles sandpaper helps them to remove dirt as it has backward-facing papillae made of keratin.
Now that you understand why cats practice licking behavior, let’s get into the key reasons why your cat is licking your nose.
This is a way for cats to transfer smells onto each other thus saying that you find each other “safe” and acceptable e.g., you are now bonded and friends.
Cats learn from their mother licking them that this is what you do with those you care about. Therefore, when your cat is licking your nose it is telling you that it cares about you.
Mother cats lick their kittens to groom and clean them. In some cases, cats may lick their owners for the same reason. A cat’s rough tongue helps straighten out and clean its fur.
This can be very tasty to your cat – and remember, your cat has a much stronger sense of smell than you do, so the aroma may be particularly enticing.
Humans can hug, kiss or pat someone to show affection. For a cat, their primary means of establishing affection is through their tongue.
Licking transfers a cat’s scent onto objects, humans, and other animals. When they transfer the smell, they are effectively making their territories.