{"id":623014,"date":"2024-07-05T04:54:47","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T08:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=623014"},"modified":"2024-09-10T14:08:15","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T18:08:15","slug":"why-does-my-cat-put-his-paw-on-my-mouth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/cat-behavior\/why-does-my-cat-put-his-paw-on-my-mouth\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does My Cat Put His Paw on My Mouth? 6 Possible Reasons (Vet-Reviewed)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n <\/span>\n \nThe Possible Reasons\u00a0<\/a>
\nWhy Should You Not Let Paws on Your Mouth?<\/a>
\nGerm Transmission<\/a>
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When your cat is interacting with you\u2014things are going to get weird from time to time. Whether they are taking their time getting really up close to sniff you or they are invading your space by bunting and rolling all over your body, they aren\u2019t much for personal space.<\/p>\n

So, if you have noticed that every time you get close to your cat, they stick their little murder mitten on your mouth, you might wonder what gives. Why do these critters constantly behave in the weirdest of ways and why does my cat put his paw on my mouth? We may have an answer for you.<\/p>\n

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The 6 Possible Reasons Why Your Cat Puts Their Paw on Your Mouth<\/h2>\n

1. Affection<\/h3>\n

One of the most obvious reasons your cat might be putting their paw on your face is to show you affection. Our cats don\u2019t know a lot about personal space, and some of them will invade you and get as close to your body as humanly possible.<\/p>\n

When they do, they might place their paws on your face, mouth, chest, or anywhere else they feel like getting closer to you. You use your mouth to speak to them as well, so it might even be a little paw of acknowledgment.<\/p>\n

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2. Attention<\/h3>\n

If you aren\u2019t giving your cat enough attention, they might put their paw where your mouth is! After all, maybe you need to be quiet and listen to their request. <\/span>Or perhaps it inadvertently worked in the past, and they\u2019ve learned that putting their paw on your mouth is a surefire way of getting your attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether they have an empty food bowl or they just want to cuddle up and take a nap, it might be a way for them to really put all the attention on themselves. After all, you weren\u2019t listening otherwise!<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Communication<\/h3>\n

Our cats try to communicate with us in a variety of ways. Although body language is the number one way a cat communicates, they also use a series of vocalizations and actions to deliver messages to us.<\/p>\n

If a cat is putting a paw on your mouth, they might simply be trying to tell you something. Be sure to pay attention to other bodily cues and see if you can figure out the underlying message. Haven\u2019t you always wanted to decode cat language?<\/p>\n

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4. Playfulness<\/h3>\n

Your cat might be feeling a little frisky. They might crawl up on you and put their paw on your mouth as a way to entice you to play. If so, you might notice other body language, like their tail whipping, eyes dilating, or their body tensing.<\/p>\n

It might be time to grab the feather teaser to give them a romp around the house so they can burn some energy.<\/p>\n

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5. Trust<\/h3>\n

If your cat puts their paw on your mouth, this is obviously a very intimate action. <\/span>Some people claim that your cat doing so demonstrates how much they trust you.<\/span><\/p>\n

After all, they wouldn\u2019t climb on top of a stranger and get up in their face unless you have a particularly social and needy feline. So, you may conclude that they simply adore you and trust you with their entire being. Aren\u2019t you lucky?<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. Comfort<\/h3>\n

Your cat might be nestling up your chest, pawing you in the mouth. This might be a general sign of comfort, especially if it\u2019s accompanied by other actions like purring.<\/p>\n

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Why Should You Not Let Paws on Your Mouth?<\/h2>\n

Even though a cat putting its paw on your mouth is a super adorable action, they probably really shouldn\u2019t be doing that.<\/span><\/p>\n

Realistically, <\/span>your mouth is an entryway to your digestive system and also links to your respiratory system,<\/span> so it can transmit all kinds of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other undesirable things into your body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our cats are pretty clean most of the time. But in reality, <\/span>they track all sorts of \u201cnasties\u201d (bacteria, parasites, and other pathogens)<\/span> through their litter boxes, often coming in contact with their own urine and feces. This can be very problematic and not the most sanitary thing to have on your face.<\/span><\/p>\n

After all, you wouldn\u2019t want your cat walking on your food plate, so you probably wouldn\u2019t want them putting their tiny toe beans on your face.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Germ Transmission<\/h2>\n

Realistically, even though most viruses and illnesses that a cat can get can only be transmitted from the same species, there are zoonotic diseases. So, if your cat is putting their paw on your mouth and they came in contact with their urine or feces, they can transmit a number of things to you, including:<\/p>\n

Salmonellosis<\/h3>\n

Salmonella<\/span><\/i> is a <\/span>bacterial<\/span><\/a> genus, and many strains of these bacteria can cause <\/span>extreme gastrointestinal distress and humans. It can range from mild to severe, and you often pick it up on surfaces or ingest it through the food you eat. If your cat\u2019s waste or anything that they have walked on has a <\/span>Salmonella<\/span><\/i> bacterium, they can easily transmit it to you by putting their paw on your mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

E.coli<\/i><\/h3>\n

E.coli<\/em>,<\/span> like <\/span>Salmonella<\/span><\/em>, is a bacterium that can upset the gastrointestinal tract. It can be transmitted from urine, feces, and other surfaces.<\/span><\/p>\n

Parasites<\/h3>\n

The last thing we want to think about is getting parasites from our pets<\/a>. However, if you don\u2019t keep up with routine deworming and other parasite prevention, we can come in contact with some pretty nasty things.<\/p>\n

If your cat is putting their paws on your mouth, tiny eggs can transmit into your system and actually cause an infection for you. To prevent this entirely, it is very important to keep up with routine parasite prevention.<\/p>\n

Even if you do, it\u2019s always best to err on the side of caution and prevent your pet from touching your face.<\/p>\n

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Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Sometimes,<\/span> cats can just be weird creatures<\/span><\/a> and there’s not really any rhyme or reason to the things that they do. However, you know your cat better than anybody so you likely can get a pretty good idea based on body language alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember, even though it’s very cute for your cat to gently place their paw on your mouth, it can cause <\/span>several <\/span>issues in the long run. It is extremely easy for your cat to transmit germs, bacteria, and other problematic issues to you through your mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

In any case, to each their own, we just think it’s important for you to know the risks!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Sources<\/div>
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