A study by researchers from Ghent University and the University of Lincoln, published in July 2026 in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, has debunked one of the most common misconceptions about cats. It turns out that mutual grooming—cats licking each other—serves more than just to strengthen social bonds. Sometimes, it is actually a signal of stress, hidden conflict, or an attempt to assert dominance.
Researchers conducted video observations across 53 households (involving 106 cats in total) and identified two contrasting behavioral contexts. The first is friendly grooming, characterized by cats calmly licking each other's necks and backs, synchronizing their postures, and mutually seeking out physical contact. This behavior does indeed reinforce their social bond. However, a second variant exists: grooming triggered by social tension.
In the latter case, as researcher Morgane Van Belle explains, the picture is quite different. One cat approaches and begins licking the other, but not out of affection; the movements become more forceful, the "victim's" ears flatten, and its head swerves to avoid the contact. Such episodes often culminate in hissing or even a bite.
According to one of the study's authors, Noema Gajdoš-Kmecová, cats prefer this veiled form of communication to avoid outright fights and serious injuries. In this context, grooming becomes a subtle tool—a way of saying "back off" or establishing a hierarchy without resorting to direct conflict.
For owners of multiple cats, this means paying closer attention to their pets' body language. Not every lick is a friendly gesture. When the cat being groomed flattens its ears, turns its head away, or blinks rapidly, it may indicate a dispute over a cozy spot, owner attention, or simply the establishment of rank. The distinction between affiliative (friendly) and agonistic (conflictual) grooming can be seen in postural synchronization: when both cats sit or lie in identical positions and seek each other out, it signals genuine affection; when one looms over the other in an asymmetrical stance, it is a sign of tension.
The study by Ghent University and the University of Lincoln proves that feline social dynamics are far more complex than commonly believed. Allogrooming encompasses a whole spectrum of communicative strategies, each carrying its own specific meaning within cat society.
