Animals that kiss include Cats, Dogs, Cows, Deer, and Dolphins.
In the animal kingdom, there are all sorts of interesting examples of animals that kiss. From deer rubbing their antlers together to reinforce their bond to dolphins swimming belly-to-belly and using their beaks to touch snouts, these creatures are showing us how important kissing is for maintaining strong relationships.
Here are just a few examples of animals that kiss and the reasons why they do it.
Examples of Animals that Kiss
1. Cats
| Scientific Name | Felis catus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Cats often kiss by rubbing their faces against their humans or other cats. This is a sign of affection and trust.
The cat cheek has scent glands that cats use to mark their people and territory.
2. Cows
| Scientific Name | Bos taurus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Cows lick each other’s faces to show affection and as a sign of submission.
When cows are happy, they express it by licking each other’s faces. This is a sign of affection and submission. Cows also use this behavior to show that they trust one another. By licking each other’s faces, the cows are able to communicate without words. It’s a way for them to strengthen their bond with one another.
3. Deer
| Scientific Name | Cervidae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Male deer use their antlers to rub against other male deer, which can be a friendly gesture. Female deer and fawns will also greet each other by rubbing noses together or licking each other’s faces and ears.
The deer family is very close-knit and they rely on each other for protection, food, and support. In the wild, a group of deer is called a herd. A group of female deer and their young offspring is called a doe or mother. A group of male deer is called a buck or stag.
4. Dogs
| Scientific Name | Canis lupus familiaris |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Dogs lick each other’s faces when they want to show affection and love. You may even see dogs kissing each other if one dog is hurt or sick as if the kiss is a way of healing it.
In the wild, dogs will lick other canines to show submission. When a puppy is born, the mother licks its face and body to clean it off and help warm it up. This behavior continues into adulthood as well: The alpha dog in a group of wolves or dogs often licks the others’ faces to reinforce their dominance.
5. Dolphins
| Scientific Name | Delphinus delphis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Dolphins sometimes kiss one another in the same way humans do with lips touching. However, they typically just touch their snouts together as a gesture of affection.
Dolphins will also kiss their trainer, sometimes on the lips.
The reason they do this is that it is a way to show affection toward another dolphin or human.
The dolphins’ slender snouts are equipped with flexible lips and sensitive nerve endings which allow them to touch each other gently without causing harm. Dolphin kisses are usually accompanied by a burst of clicks and whistles, which may be interpreted as the dolphins’ way of saying “I love you.”
6. Elephants
| Scientific Name | Loxodonta |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa and Asia |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Elephants often touch their trunks together as a gesture of affection. They may also put their trunk in the other elephant’s mouth, which is similar to French kissing.
Elephants are very social animals and often touch their trunks together as a gesture of affection. They may also put their trunk in the other elephant’s mouth, which is similar to French kissing.
This shows that they have a close bond with each other and are comfortable being around one another. Elephants are also known for their intelligence and emotional depth, so it’s not surprising that they would exhibit such intimate behaviors.
7. Fennec Fox
| Scientific Name | Vulpes zerda |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North Africa |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The fennec fox is a small desert fox that lives in North Africa and Arabia. These animals have been observed kissing each other on the mouth, cheeks, and forehead.
The foxes kiss for the same reasons that humans do: to show affection and create bonds.
8. Fish
| Scientific Name | Fish |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore, Carnivore, and Herbivore |
Some fish kiss, too! Male clownfish will make kissing motions to attract a female. The male and female will swim side by side, with their mouths touching each other’s fins.
9. Flamingos
| Scientific Name | Phoenicopterus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | South America |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Flamingos sometimes touch beaks as a way of showing affection. This gesture is often seen between mates, but it can also be exhibited between friends.
Related Article: Do Flamingos Eat Fish?
10. Foxes
| Scientific Name | Vulpes vulpes |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Foxes may rub heads and noses together in a “kiss,” or they may gently bite each other’s necks.
Foxes also greet each other in a similar way, with one standing and facing the other. The greeting behavior is often accompanied by “whining” vocalizations. It has been suggested that this type of greeting between foxes may be more important than previously thought because it can prevent aggressive encounters; it is believed to be an appeasement gesture.
11. Giraffe
| Scientific Name | Giraffa |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | East Africa |
| Diet | Herbivore |
When two giraffes meet, they often extend their necks and touch each other’s noses. This is known as “sniffing” in the animal kingdom, and it generally shows affection. Giraffes have a strong sense of smell, so they use this behavior to greet each other and show that they’re friendly.
Sniffing is also used to identify other giraffes, which helps them keep track of who they know and don’t know.
12. Gorillas
| Scientific Name | Gorilla |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | equatorial Africa |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Gorillas often kiss each other on the mouth as a sign of affection. They may also kiss their young ones on the lips to show love and protect them.
They may also display a kissing behavior to show affection for their young ones or adults. They are very protective of their young and if they sense danger, they will protect them by quickly moving away from the area where there is any threat.
Related Article: Do Gorillas Sleep a Lot?
13. Hippo
| Scientific Name | Hippopotamus amphibius |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | East Africa |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Hippos seem like some of the most dangerous animals in the world, but they are also known to be very affectionate toward each other. They often lick and kiss each other’s faces and mouths as a sign of friendship or bonding.
Related Article: How Many Legs Do Hippos Have?
14. Horses
| Scientific Name | Equus caballus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Horses will often nuzzle and kiss each other on the nose as a way of showing affection. They may also “lip curl” at each other, which is similar to humans puckering up for a kiss.
This behavior is thought to be a remnant of their wild ancestry when horses would use lip curls and nuzzling as ways of communicating with each other.
Today, horses will often exhibit this behavior towards humans too. If your horse starts lip curling or nuzzling you, it’s likely a sign that he or she trusts you and feels affectionate towards you.
15. Koi Fish
| Scientific Name | Cyprinus rubrofuscus |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | Japan |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Koi fish are a type of carp that is kept in ponds as pets. When they are together, they often swim right at each other and rub their heads against one another’s bodies. This behavior is sometimes called “kissing.”
Related Article: How Long Can Koi Fish Live?
16. Leopards
| Scientific Name | Panthera pardus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Leopards are one of the most solitary big cats, but when they do interact with others, they often kiss. They will rub their cheeks against each other and even lick each other’s lips as a way of showing affection.
17. Lions
| Scientific Name | Panthera leo |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Lions often rub their faces together when they meet. This behavior is thought to help them become familiar with one another’s scents, but it also looks similar to the way humans kiss each other on the cheek.
18. Macaw
| Scientific Name | Ara macao |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | South America |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Macaws are a type of parrot, and they often use kissing as a way to greet each other. The birds rub their beaks together in what is called “beak-to-beak” contact.
They also like to rub their beaks together when they’re feeling romantic.
In the wild, it is not uncommon for macaws to mate with multiple partners over the course of their lives. Some researchers have suggested that this behavior might lead them to kiss more frequently than other birds in an effort to build stronger relationships with potential mates and increase the chances of producing offspring.
19. Otters
| Scientific Name | Lutrinae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Pacific coast of South America |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Otters are known to be some of the most affectionate animals in the world. They kiss and hug each other, hold hands while they swim together, and even groom each other.
20. Owls
| Scientific Name | Strigiformes |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Owls also like to show affection by rubbing their beaks on each other. They may nuzzle the sides of their faces together, which is a lot like kissing.
21. Panda
| Scientific Name | Ailuropoda melanoleuca |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | southwest China |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Pandas are well-known for the way they greet each other with a “panda hug,” which is when two pandas stand on their hind legs and wrap their front paws around each other. This is a sign of friendship, affection, and trust between them.
22. Parrots
| Scientific Name | Psittaciformes |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Australia, South America and Central America |
| Diet | Omnivore |
A parrot may express love for its human owner by kissing them, which usually involves the bird rubbing against the person’s cheek. The bird may also kiss a fellow parrot, either out of affection or to show respect in dominance.
23. Pigeons
| Scientific Name | Columbidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Pigeons often gently peck at each other’s beaks to show affection. This can happen between two pigeons that are partners or mating.
24. Pigs
| Scientific Name | Sus scrofa domesticus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Pigs are known for being very playful and loving creatures, and they often kiss each other on the snout as a way of showing their affection.
25. Polar Bears
| Scientific Name | Ursus maritimus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland, and some northern islands owned by Norway |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Polar bears are one of the few animals that kiss with their mouths open. They will often lick each other’s snouts as a sign of affection, and sometimes they will even share food with each other this way.
26. Prairie Dogs
| Scientific Name | Cynomys |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Prairie dogs are cute little rodents that live in underground tunnels or burrows. They often greet each other with a well-known “kiss,” which is actually them licking each other’s face and rubbing their noses together.
27. Rabbits
| Scientific Name | Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Rabbits rub noses together when they want to greet each other or “kiss.” Other rabbits may groom another rabbit by licking its fur, which is similar to the way humans kiss.
28. Red Pandas
| Scientific Name | Ailurus fulgens |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | China, Nepal, and Bhutan |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Red pandas greet each other by rubbing noses together. When they are very young, they will also groom each other with their tongues to show affection.
29. Seal
| Scientific Name | Pinnipedia |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the Arctic and Antarctic waters |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Seals often kiss each other on the mouth as a way of showing love and affection. They will also rub their noses together or touch flippers as a gesture of intimacy.
30. Snails
| Scientific Name | Gastropoda |
| Type of Animal | Gastropod |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | herbivorous, carnivorous, omnivorous, and detritivorous |
Snails are hermaphrodites, which means they have both male and female reproductive organs. To mate, two snails will rub their bodies together while releasing a white fluid called “love darts.” This fluid contains chemicals that help the snails to choose the best mating partner based on genetic compatibility.
31. Squirrels
| Scientific Name | Sciuridae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | every continent except in Australia and Antarctica |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Squirrels often touch each other’s noses as a gesture of affection. They may also kiss by pressing their lips against each other for a brief moment.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.