Licking for attention

[harrypoooter]

I love my boy cat so so much and he is very cuddly and floppy which is great (escpecially with a small child in the house) but he is driving me INSANE with his licking.

It's when he wants attention. He does about 5'licks where ever he can get to you, hands, face, feet if they're hanging out the bed. Ankles if I'm in the kitchen. But it's constant. If I tickle him on the head or acknowledge him he stops. But then 10 seconds later he does it again. It's constant and makes it impossible to hold him on my knee as he's constantly licking me unless I am constantly scratching/petting him. What can I do? Seriously needy cat here.

Some evidence

No advice but I'm would love my cats to do this. My parents cat does it to my dad!

Mine bites me for attention. I'd take licking any day!

Mine bites too.

Say No, firmly, and put him down if he does it. He's received the message that that's what he's supposed to do to be allowed to be close to you so disabuse him of that notion.

Only pet him if he's being quiet and non-lucky.

non-licky

I've tried that. He's very persistent. I've done 'no' a lot today and he's still going at me! Will continue tomorrow. It's very cute, but can drive me insane!

Ah - it sounds as if you don't mean it when you say it.

I have a licky cat. No suggestions (apart from wearing long sleeves and hiding hands) but at least we aren't alone! We've had him since he was about 2 and 4 years later he's still at it.

Mine bites too, and dives on me.

In my house we call it giving kiss. He licks everyone

Seniorboy was a complete hellion when he lived with my mother. Biting, going on surfaces, you name it.

He didn't try that on with me.

Little M used to have a thing for licking DH's armpits. DH wasn't a stinker though, so I don't think it was an intention to wash him. He also licked my back, when I slept in just pants. Now I wear a t-shirt in bed, so he doesn't get to give anyone the wet sandpaper treatment.

I think it's to mix all your smells together, so you all smell of the "tribe".

That's what I kind of thought, scent scharing but it happens too often to be that I think. It's definitely for attention.

My boy licks too, but I love it. Take it as a compliment that he thinks you're a cat :P has he got a companion? My boy loves licking his sister, I think he is just rather finicky about cleanliness because he licks her every day, even in her ears! I don't mind because they are both sparkling clean!

Maybe he needs an outlet for his licking, and another cat or kitten could fulfill that and take the attention off of you. Especially if you got a young female.

We have a girl cat too... he doesn't try to lick her though. She wouldn't entertain it I suspect. He has lots of toys and interests- he's a very busy cat. Always up to something and Rarely sits still. Even when he sleeps he fidgets awfully. When he tries to go to sleep he takes an age to pad around and find the right spot, then when he lies down he shuffles loads. Very strange!

This is them. They do generally like each other which is lucky.

Awwwwww they are lovely!