Why do cats lick bare skin on humans?

http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/whycat.htm

The first thing a kitten experiences, even before it can see, is its mother licking and washing. Grooming is a demonstration of love and caring. So, if your cat occasionally washes your hair or licks your face, he is showing you his acceptance and caring of you as a fellow feline.

Nope, that's wrong. The reason your cat licks you is that he or she finds

your scent disturbing. Your cat is trying to wash it away so the two of you can live together in harmony. What you need to do is stop taking showers with scented soap, using makeup, and so on. As soon as your cat can be convinced that you are a fellow animal, he or she will relax.

Usually it is because your skin has a salty taste to it, and they like the taste. Hey they eat garbage, what can you expect!

i don’t know for sure, i was actually looking for an answer but i find it hard to believe it is b/c they don’t like your scent. my cat purrs like crazy when he licks my neck and ears. if it is to get rid of something, i would assume that he wouldn’t be purring.

I’ve been researching this all day, so I finally know the answer. There are in fact, several reasons. The first is that like human babies, kittens get a lot of information through their sense of taste. A kitten will lick to explore the world. Secondly, the cat is grooming you. This is a way for a cat to demonstrate affection. Cats groom each other, and the humans who own them (or whom they own, lol) as a form of social interaction. Finally, cats do, in a very friendly manner, like the salty taste of human skin.

I just figure they are lacking something in their diet. But i have 2 kittens and they both eat the same food and one licks and the other doesn’t!! So sorta blows that theory in a way since they are getting the same diet.

I think it’s a grooming thing. They do it to each other, as a show of affection or whatever, and they want to do the same for you.

i think its a display of affection because most cats dont lick humans