History Main / AlternateAnimalAffection

[[/folder]]

** Cats have scent glands in their faces, and they rub things to declare to other cats "this object belongs to the cat that it smells like." So a cat rubbing its head on you is saying it likes you .... well enough to claim ownership of you.

[[AC:{{Comics}}]]

[[AC: Films -- Animation]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[AC:ComicBooks]]

[[AC:Films -- Animation]]

[[AC:Films -- Live-Action]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:Theater]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

-->'''Hans:''' Then who did I kiss? <fishsmack>

[[AC:RealLife]]

* In ''Literature/WarriorCats'' the cats often rub their faces together or wash each other as a sign of affection (or "sharing tongues" as its called). Cats also touch their noses to different parts of their bodies to signify different gestures, such as to comfort another cat or to show respect. This is pretty much what cats do in RealLife, so it works pretty well.

* Not animals, but in the future world of the ''Literature/{{Xenogenesis}}'' series, humanity has been altered by aliens, and as a result adults feel extreme discomfort if they make skin-to-skin contact with one another. Because of this, stroking someone's hair has become the default gesture of affection.
* Also not animals, but there are a lot of lipless aliens in ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}''. Andalites kiss by stroking each other with their palms. Hork-Baijir kiss by touching their foreheads against each other.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', kissing is a problem for female Shepard and her optional [[InterspeciesRomance alien Love Interest]] Garrus, as his species doesn't really have lips and swapping saliva could lead to a fatal allergic reaction for both of them. They settle for a HeadbuttOfLove instead. [[http://nicca-11y.deviantart.com/art/How-to-kiss-a-turian-II-254551631 Fanart has fun with this]].

** In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Hearts and Hooves Day", pony couples are shown performing Eskimo kisses. This appears again in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E8HardToSayAnything Hard to Say Anything]] when Big Mcintosh nuzzles Sugar Belle's nose.

* ''Disney/TheAristocats'' shows Duchess and O'Malley sharing an affectionate moment by holding ''tails'' as though they were holding hands.

[[AC:{{Comics}}]]

** In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Hearts and Hooves Day", pony couples are shown performing Eskimo kisses.

Compare FantasticArousal, for less... innocent situations.

* The ponies on ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePony'' comfort each other by nuzzling and licking.

* Lampshaded on ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'' in the episode "The Falcon and the Snow Job." After rescuing Kitka (the GirlOfTheWeek falcon), Skipper goes in for the big kiss, only to be interrupted by King Julien mocking them (and making pecking gestures with his hands):

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'' - both the original movie and the [[{{Sequelitis}} thirteen sequels]] - has affection in the form of neck-crossing, snout-nuzzling, and the occasional platonic lick on the cheek. This can lead to a little confusion, as baby dinosaurs who are quadrupedal often use their snouts as hands in games like tag. One circumstance had Littlefoot briefly reacting to an unexpected "tag, you're it" from Ali as one might to an a AccidentalKiss.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* In ''TheSwanPrincess,'' Lt. [[SpeciesSurname Puffin]] manages to give a kiss to the back of Odette's hand. The tip of his beak kind of... folds back.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' has actually shown both variants of the trope. Spike fantasizes about kissing Rarity in "A Dog and Pony Show" and is kissed on the cheek twice by Rarity in "Secret of my Excess". Also, at the end of "Canterlot Wedding", Cadence and Shining Armor are shown kissing in the usual way.
* Two pigeons that show up in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' movie, ''The Beast With a Billion Backs'' French kiss. Interestingly, the two pigeons are otherwise normal pigeons and their beaks don't get as pliant and squishy as human lips.

[[AC:Films -- Animated]]
* ''Disney/TheLionKing'' uses the "crossing necks" variant, for both romantic and familial affection. Nala also licks Simba's face when they are [[GRatedSex getting really intimate]].
* ''Disney/TheLionKingIISimbasPride'' does, at a couple points, have Kovu and Kiara kiss like humans, both on the cheek and on the "lips."

* In ''Literature/WarriorCats'' the cats often rub their faces together or wash each other as a sign of affection. Which is pretty much what cats do in RealLife, so it works pretty well.

* For the dragons of the Literature/AgeOfFire verse, a crossing necks is the equivalent of a kiss, while folding wings over another is a hug.
* The [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Kantri]] of Literature/TalesOfKolmar have rigid faceplates, but have affectionate gestures similar to the above dragons, as well as twining together and touching faceplates.

* According to WordOfGod, ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' stroke hair, horns and brow ridges rather than kiss. This can be seen between [[spoiler:Goliath and Demona]] in the 5-part series premiere, "Awakening."

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]
* In ''Webcomic/SandraAndWoo'', Woo and his LoveInterest Lily are portrayed [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2010/04/01/0151-spring-fever/ rubbing palms]]. Since raccoons' palms are supersensitive, [[WordOfGod the author]] thought it would be a neat alternative.

[[AC:Theater]]
* The musical version ''Theatre/TheLionKing'' follows the movie's model by having the lion's hug and nuzzle, despite them being played by human actors able to kiss now.

* Dog owners often refer to their dog licking a face as getting "kissed", more so for small breeds.

** Puppies lick their mother's muzzle to get her to vomit food for them. In adulthood, the same gesture demonstrates acceptance of the lick-ee's higher rank.
* Among sociable mammals, such as chimps, baboons, or rats, mutual grooming can serve a similar function to human kissing.
** In fact, the male Crab-eating Macaque will groom the female so she'll agree to mate.

* Dog owners often refer to their dog licking a face as getting "kissed", more so for small breeds. Cats nuzzling their owners is also often said to be this.
** Though cats have scent glands in their muzzles, and this is at least partly them marking you as "their property." Bumping the top of their head against you is more akin to actual affection. The page image shows Nala doing this to Simba (she's also rubbing her muzzle on him, but it starts as more of a headbutt).

* Nuzzling noses is apparently a common display of affection among the monsters in ''VideoGames/{{Undertale}}'', to the point where they even made a competitive event out of it. A BattleCouple you encounter were the runners-up one year.

-->"Mmm.. Peck Peck. Pecky, love peck.. (I'm trying to kiss but I got no lips)... Peck...No, wait! I'm getting good at this pecking."

-->"Mmm.. Nutty!"

* ''Disney/TheLionKing'' uses the "crossing necks" variant, for both romantic and familial affection.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rio}}'' has its two main birds kiss despite the movie having a surprising amount biological correctness up to that point.

* ''Disney/LadyAndTheTramp'' has the famous SpaghettiKiss where they end up accidentally smooching.

* ''TheLandBeforeTime'' - both the original movie and the [[{{Sequelitis}} thirteen sequels]] - has affection in the form of neck-crossing, snout-nuzzling, and the occasional platonic lick on the cheek. This can lead to a little confusion, as baby dinosaurs who are quadrupedal often use their snouts as hands in games like tag. One circumstance had Littlefoot briefly reacting to an unexpected "tag, you're it" from Ali as one might to an a AccidentalKiss.

* Puffins 'kiss' using a process called 'billing'. Basically, they rub both their beaks against each other in a way that is similar to kissing. Awwwwww.

** Though a frame by frame shows that the animators know how to animate CGI penguin kisses by when Private kisses the Peanut Butter Winky [[JustForFun/SyndicateQuestersUnitedAgainstDeviousness i]]n "Skorca."

** Though a frame by frame shows that the animators know how to animate CGI penguin kisses by when Private kisses the Peanut Butter Winky in "Skorca."

[[caption-width-right:225:To {{Pun bed}} , kids! This part is for the grown-ups.]]

[[caption-width-right:225:To [[Pun bed]] , kids! This part is for the grown-ups.]]

[[caption-width-right:225:To [[Pun bed]], kids! This part is for the grown-ups.]]