Why is my cat licking the floor?
Bizarre or Normal?

Floor licking is a common quirk among our feline friends that can stem from various reasons.

Here’s a list of the possible causes behind this peculiar habit:

1. Dietary Deficiencies

Cats may lick floors and other non-food items when experiencing nutritional deficiencies. The medical term for this behavior is feline pica.

Dr. Michael W. Fox, a renowned veterinarian with expertise in animal behavior, shed light on the matter. “Cats sometimes lick non-food surfaces when experiencing nutritional deficiencies,” he explained. “It’s an instinctive urge to compensate for a dietary deficiency.”

I remember the time when my cat Mittens had this floor-licking issue. I supplemented her with multivitamin drops, and her floor licking decreased significantly, which led me to believe that it was indeed sparked by a nutritional deficiency that the multivitamin supplement helped resolve.

While not all floor licking indicates a deficiency, observing this behavior and other symptoms like decreased appetite or weight loss could signal a diet-related issue.

2. Environmental Factors

Indoor cats are the intrepid explorers of their home environment, guided by senses far sharper than our own.

Take my cat, Butt, for instance. One afternoon, I caught him intently licking the kitchen floor.

At first, it seemed odd, but then I remembered the spill from breakfast. His keen sense of smell had sniffed out the tiniest drop of maple syrup that had escaped my mop.

Indeed, cats often explore with their tongues. They’re drawn to the faintest traces of food residue or even the lingering scent of floor cleaners.

A cat can also be captivated by the cool, smooth surface of a tile floor or the intriguing textures of wooden grooves.

Each groove and texture is an unfolding mystery for cats, rich with smells and sensations we humans can hardly detect.

So, while it might look silly to us when cats lick floors, they’re doing much more than just tasting the ground.

They’re actually investigating their environment, discovering new sensations, and satisfying their innate curiosity.

3. Behavioral Issues

While cats are often seen as creatures of habit, they are surprisingly adaptable, often gracefully navigating changes in their environment.

However, when changes are too sudden or too significant—like moving to a new home, the arrival of a new sofa in their favorite napping spot, or a new family member in their once tranquil home—they might find these adjustments stressful.

This stress can unexpectedly manifest into an obsessive-compulsive disorder like excessive licking of the floor.

Why do they do it? It’s their way of coping, similar to how we might bite our nails or tap our feet.

It’s important to note that while some breeds, like Persians, may be more laid-back and less affected by a lack of stimulation, most cats thrive on mental stimulation and physical engagement.

Without it, boredom can set in, making even the floor seem like a fascinating puzzle. This can escalate to compulsive disorders, sometimes requiring intervention from a veterinary behaviorist.

4. Health Problems

Floor licking in cats can sometimes be a sign of underlying medical problems. Understanding these potential health issues is crucial as it helps ensure timely and appropriate veterinary care.

Here are some of the common underlying causes of why a cat might start licking the floor:

• Gastrointestinal Disorders: Issues such as inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal infections, or parasites can cause discomfort or nausea, leading cats to lick surfaces excessively to soothe their stomachs.
• Dental Problems: Oral discomfort from gum disease, tooth decay, oral ulcerations, or other dental issues can lead cats to lick floors or other surfaces to manage the pain.
• Liver or Kidney Disease: These serious conditions can cause a build-up of toxins in the blood, leading to nausea or unusual behaviors such as floor licking.

Sharing my experience caring for senior cats with chronic kidney disease, I have observed a notable behavior where all three of my anemic cats tended to lick concrete floors.

This behavior appeared to correlate with their condition, suggesting a possible link between anemia and this specific licking behavior.

• Neurological Disorders: Conditions affecting the brain and nervous system, such as cognitive dysfunction syndrome in older cats or neurological disorders, can manifest in unusual behaviors, including repetitive licking.
• Allergies or Dermatological Issues: Skin allergies, infections, or other dermatological problems can cause discomfort, prompting cats to lick themselves and sometimes other surfaces excessively.