My Dog Keeps Licking My Cats Ears, Should I be Worried? (Weve Got Answers!)

Okay, so, you know how sometimes your pets do weird stuff and you’re like, “What the heck is going on?” Well, that’s what happened to me recently with my dog, Buddy, and my cat, Mittens. I noticed Buddy was really into licking Mittens’ ears. Like, not just a quick lick, but a full-on cleaning session. It was kinda odd, so I started paying more attention.

I started by just watching them for a few days. Every time they were chilling together, Buddy would just go for it. Mittens didn’t seem to mind too much, but sometimes she’d get up and walk away. That made me think, maybe she’s not always cool with it, you know?

My Observation Process:

• Observed their interactions for several days.
• Noticed that Buddy did this mostly when they were relaxing together.
• Saw that Mittens sometimes tolerated it, sometimes moved away.

Next, I did a little digging online. I typed in “why does my dog lick my cat’s ears” in the search bar and found a bunch of forums and articles. It turns out, it’s a pretty common thing. Some people said it’s a sign of affection, like how dogs groom each other. Others mentioned it could be about the taste or just a weird dog habit.

So, I decided to test the affection theory. I started giving Buddy extra attention, more belly rubs, and playtime. I figured if he was doing it for love, maybe he just needed more from me. I also made sure Mittens had a safe space where she could go if she didn’t want to be licked.

Experimenting:

• Increased affection towards Buddy.
• Ensured Mittens had a safe, Buddy-free zone.

After a week or so, I noticed a slight change. Buddy was still licking Mittens’ ears, but not as much. He seemed more content after our extra bonding time. Mittens, on the other hand, seemed a bit more tolerant. Maybe she realized it was just Buddy’s weird way of showing he cared.

I also tried to distract Buddy when he started licking. I’d call him over, give him a toy, or just engage him in something else. That worked pretty well too. It’s like he just needed something else to focus on.

In the end, I realized it’s probably a mix of things. Buddy probably does it because he loves Mittens, and maybe he just likes the way her ears taste, who knows? Dogs are weird. But by giving him more attention and making sure Mittens was comfortable, it became less of an issue. They still cuddle, and Buddy still sneaks in a lick or two, but it’s not an every day, all the time thing anymore. I guess I learned to live with their quirky relationship. Pets, am I right?