How do leopards keep their coats clean?

Uncannily similar to domestic cats, leopards are meticulous about their grooming.

They spend a lot of time keeping themselves clean, which is essential for both health and stealth.

Here’s how they do it:

1. Licking with a Rough Tongue

• A leopard’s tongue is covered in tiny backward-facing spines called papillae.
• These act like a natural comb, scraping off dirt, blood, and loose fur.
• The tongue also helps remove parasites such as ticks.

2. Using Their Paws as Washcloths

• Leopards lick their forepaws until damp, then rub them over their face, ears, and head—just like domestic cats.
• This allows them to clean areas their tongue can’t reach.

3. Full Body Grooming

• They twist and bend their flexible bodies to lick their chest, belly, legs, and tail.
• For harder spots, like shoulders or back, they rely more on paw-licking and rubbing.

4. Blood & Scent Control After Feeding

• After feeding on a carcass, leopards groom thoroughly to remove blood and strong odors.
• This reduces the chance of detection by hyenas, lions, or other scavengers.

5. Social Grooming

• Leopards are solitary, so they rarely groom others (unlike lions).
• However, mothers will groom their cubs to bond and keep them parasite-free.