Feeding cat ear wax

I can't remember how I figured this out, but my cat LOVES my ear wax. He'll come up and I'll stick my finger in my ear. The cat then licks my finger til the wax is gone. I can even smear the earwax on my arm, hand, etc and the cat loves to lick it up. (too bad his tongue is so rough - ha!) I find myself trying this with friends' cats, but they don't go for it. Not sure who's more normal, my cat for licking it or me for continually doing it. Is any of this normal??

Voting Results
76% Normal
Based on 1159 votes (882 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 38 )
  • Virva

    I've never heard of the Armpit thing, then again I've never invited my cats to take a mighty wiff of my pits... Anywho, yes, the ear wax thing is VERY normal. Cats have a special gland and use a sense of smell to detect whether or not they'll eat something. They also have a special gland that picks up nutritional value of an object upon being sniffed. Ear wax is composed of sebaceous fluids (triglyceride fatty acids, waxes, and cholesterol esters) and dead skin cells (protein). Considering cats especially pick up proteins, hence preferring meat, they'd go for the ear wax because of the nutritional value it holds.

    Unlike us, they recognize our ear wax as a source of nutrition.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • xavierc

    Of course it's normal. I found this great explanation as to why they love it so much: http://www2.b3ta.com/files/cat-earwax-conundrum.htm

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • tbiz96

    can you guys just give your cats treats or something? i mean my cat loves to lick armpits but we don't let him do it. we shoo him away and fees him cat food and treats. come on people...

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • gone_away919

    You have enough earwax to smear on your arm, thats disgusting hahaha!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • VOLDEMORT

    today I stuck a hair pin in my ear because it was tching, and my cat licked it !! I did it again and she was soo happy...

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • a__what in your ear did it hurt

      Comment Hidden ( show )
  • bust out the peanut butter, they love that too

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • katysue

    just give cat nip or sumthin. earwax is gross

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • herold94

    It good to know I am not alone. Kizzie loves ear wax...don't ask

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • I didn't really believe you when I read this, but then I tried it. My cat NEVER licks me, even when I have food on my fingers. So, I stuck my finger in her ear and she smelled it and then...suspense..she actually licked it. Crazy shit.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • Bartholomew

      Aren't you the OP...?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
  • To the moron waaaay up there... someone who won't abuse it? Since you think letting a cat lick earwax off your finger, arm, or hand is abuse then I guess you'd think petting the damn thing is to?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • YOU ARE AN IDIOT

      Comment Hidden ( show )
  • MissClaire

    OMG MY CAT LOVES EAR WAX!!! he actually grabs my fingers with his paws when he smells it - I thought he was mental.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • illusionist

    My cat loves to lick cosmetics I put on my face...We have to educate our cat,not good for health.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Hornet_13

    IT may sound weird but my cat does so to... not that i feed it to the cat but everytime i clean my ears with a cottenstick and leave it on the table... the PUCKING CAT EATS IT!!!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • graciebird

    This is totally normal. My cat too loves to lick and goes straight for my ears in the morning sometimes...which drives me nuts. I don't let him do it because it is gross to me, but it is not abnormal. They would not do it if it was abnormal. Cats lick. That's just their thing.

    P.S. DoodyHead, you are creepy and abnormal for sure...or just a full of shit jackass.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • hmmmmich

    and then australia is still like wtf!!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • illusionist

    Also,I just picked my ear to test my cat love it or not.but when I finished pick my ear,my cat already run from me and hiding in attic.Result:Not for my cat.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • you picked your ear how does it smell

      Comment Hidden ( show )
  • tbiz96

    tho i do find Virva's comment quite interesting and it makes sense, i still think it's odd to feed your cat ear wax

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • robbing16

    I always wondered why my cat always would try to sniff and lick my ears.. I suffer from sever itching in my ears but no one can help resolve my issue so I consistently try to anything to get rid of the itching by gently scraping a pen cap,car key, bobby pin, i will wiggle my finger in my ear.. anything to get rid of the darn terrible itching! Well low and behold my cat went to town on my finger even tried biting my finger to get the wax.. I thought he was just weird which I still believe it is but I am glad to know he isn't the only one!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • sarah.acro

    My cat does it all the time! Totally normal!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Sove

    HAHAHAHAHA!!!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • hellomyloverhellomyfriend

    well my kitten used to lick my ear and pur.. it was rrly cute

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • just picked my ear to and the cats love it i smear it on my ear and the cats lick it up and it feels good and relaxing

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • benjie105

    Lol!! My cat was licking my ear..!! Bit gross but Really Funny!!!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • iiRamen

    ...LOL maybe you should feed your cat some quality cat food so she/he wont think ear wax tastes good

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • la_uva_mojada

    My guess would be he just is comfortable with your scent and some cats will eat anything.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Jessie735513

    Aha, your cat gets high off earwax... Mines happy with cheese

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • shittydaughter

    Okay, I just tried it and my catkid loves it also...so weird!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • minx

    My cat virtually armwrestles me for the waxy delights of my finger if it catches me pulling it out of my ear. I have since, with varied success, tried to ween it onto Marmite which tastes pretty much the same to me and I am revolted by both- although given the choice I`d opt for the earwax (provided it was my own!) To all those of you who are disgusted by this subject- you poo in the sea! How disgusting is that!!!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • sky915

    Fucking dumbass

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Frosties

    ...

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Rena^^Ryuugu

    I just gotta say...that's really weird and gross. XD It's your cat that's not normal, lol.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Meh cat lilo dus tht. Once i wer sleepin and she came in and started lickin meh ear. I woke ur with a shiver down meh spine and shed beeb lickin meh ears 4 about 5 mins. The next morning i had cuts and stuff all over meh ears o: it tickles tho

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • belmont13103

    well since cats like "interesting smells" get it high, then you can have fun and have the then stoned cat watch you fuck a chick that you got at a bar, the cat will love that and you will too unless your gay, then you should give away the cat and try to choke yourself with your own earwax

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • theytookthisone

    I dont believe its normal. But I guess you have to be a weirdo to own a cat, so technically it is normal?

    Comment Hidden ( show )