Often times when you pet a cat, the cat will wait for you to remove your hand before it promptly starts licking the exact area where you touched it. While this might seem like your cat is trying to wipe away any germs from your hand, it’s really a sign of affection.
Your cat may just be grooming the area you touched as a sign of mutual affection. Then again, cats being completely irrational beings, your feline might just be cleaning itself to maintain its pristine condition of its fur and your petting might have disturbed the precarious equilibrium needed to keep your cat happy.
To read more about why your cat might lick the area where you pet it, click here.