[From: Bruce Nevin (Fri 921030 07:47:34)]
(From: David Goldstein Date: 10/29/92) --
I've seen cats lick themselves when they're nervous about something that
they want to keep an eye on but (as I have interpreted it) without
wanting to appear as if on their guard. The value of this, I imagined,
was that going one's guard in an evident way might be interpreted as a
hostile act by some parties that one might be nervous about. In these
sorts of situations, the licking is not at all relaxed and indolent, as
it often is in other situations. A bit more provocation and the cat
might abruptly get to its feet, but then walk away slowly, as though
unconcerned, but (as indeed with the nervous licking) with perceptible
tension and a (my) sense of it being irritated. More than that and the
departure from unpleasantness is less demure, graduating to full blown
alarm and retreat.
Just my interpretation of cat watching.
Bruce
bn@bbn.com