Hello to you and Greg!  Grooming is a HUGE part of cat life--- we’re talking like 20-50% of their waking hours are spent grooming.  When you look at it that way, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s part of their socializing too.

Grooming is just what cats do in their downtime.  They groom each other to reinforce bonds (but generally only existing bonds; from my own observations of cat colonies, outsider cats generally aren’t groomed by current colony members until they’re accepted.  Also, the cats who share resources nicely are more likely to groom each other).   Cats also usually groom places that are difficult to reach on other cats---- like the top of the heads, sides of the cheeks, and under the chin.  You’ll notice that these spots on a cat are also FULL of feline facial pheromones (ffp).  This helps distribute the smell around the colony, making sure all the members recognize each other as part of the same group. 

1. This House is a Circus- The Arctic Monkeys

2. Peacocks- The Mountain Goats

3. She’s Long Gone- The Black Keys

4. The Weight of Lies- The Avett Brothers

5. Rare Ould Times- Flogging Molly

6. I Will Follow You Into the Dark- Death Cab For Cutie

7. Jumper- Third Eye Blind (?)

8. Swept Away (sentimental version)- The Avett Brothers

9. Open Ended Life- The Avett Brothers

10. Hast Thou Considered the Tetrapod- The Mountain Goats

Swiss Miss :3

Submitted by: sketchass