Cats spend up to half their waking hours grooming each other — and the cat who receives the most licks is usually the one who starts the fewest fights.
Why do cats lick each other?
Researchers studying allogrooming in domestic cats found that mutual licking is not primarily about hygiene. It reinforces social bonds, redistributes scent through the group, and reduces tension between cats that share territory. In multi-cat households, the cat who grooms others most often tends to be the one who initiates the most play and the least conflict, suggesting the behaviour functions as a form of social currency rather than simple housekeeping.
Source: Why do cats lick each other? — Live Science
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