Have you ever read up on cat behavour. it might help you to understand what you are doing as a cat alter. cats groom/lick themselves when they are feeling comfortable, happy, relaxed and can let their guard down and preparing to go to sleep. they feel comfortable about their surroundings so they can let their guard down and take care of their self nurturing and hygenic needs. I found this out when I had a cat alter. I had a few other animal alters too but I never took on the animalistic thingsthat symbol being comfortable and relaxed time to sleep modes like grooming and other preparing to relax anamalistic behavours. my animal type alters took on animalistic personalities like when I was my cat alter would constantly be looking around me watching for that lurking danger and lash out, scratching, hissing and biting when ever I felt cornered or trapped. As my mouse alter I snuck or walked around the house along the walls keeping myself out of contact with any one around me, always aware of where those around me were and always knowing my exits. as a deer I stayed always aware of danger and could run like anything out of the room the moment I pervieved anything dangerous to me.