Interesting facts about your cat’s tongue for Stick Your Tongue Out Day

If you have ever been licked by a cat, you may have noticed that their tongue is not soft and delicate as you might expect. The tongue of a cat actually has a coarse and scratchy texture. A gentle lick can feel like sandpaper being dragged across your skin.

The reason a cat’s tongue is so rough is because of all the tiny backwards-facing spines that run along it. These hook-shaped structures are called papillae. They are made of keratin, the same tough protein found in human nails and hair. Papillae help to give your cat’s tongue all sorts of fantastic uses. 

Uses for a cat’s rough tongue  

1. Grooming. A cat’s rough tongue is the perfect hairbrush. When a cat uses their tongue to lick their fur, the backwards-facing spines act like a comb. As they pass through the fur, they detangle and clean away loose fur and dirt as they go. Find out more about grooming.
2. Drinking water. When cats drink, they don’t put their whole mouth into the water. Instead, they dip their tongue in and out. The papillae on their tongues help pull the water up from the surface. This creates a column of water that the cat then closes their mouth around and swallows. A clever way of drinking without getting their chin wet! Find out more about how cats drink. 
3. Eating prey. The spines on a cat’s tongue are great for stripping meat from bones. This allows them to extract the most nutrition from their prey in the most quick and efficient way.

Why does my cat stick out their tongue?

Cats can stick their tongues out for various reasons. Most of these reasons are harmless and nothing to worry about. If your cat starts to stick out their tongue more then usual, speak to your vet in case there is medical cause.  

1. They got distracted. If your cat has been interrupted while they’re grooming or eating, they may momentarily forget to put their tongue back in their mouth. This is affectionately known as ‘blepping’.
2. They’re relaxed. When cats are relaxed or sleeping, their face muscles may relax and cause their tongue to stick out. This is also known as a ‘blep’.
3. They’re sniffing something. As well as being able to smell with their nose, cats also have a scent-sensing organ on the roof of their mouths. If they detect a strong smell, they may open their mouth to let the scent particles reach this organ. This enhances their ability to detect and interpret the smell. This open-mouthed sniffing is known as the ‘Flehman response’. It may be accompanied by your cat sticking out their tongue. 
4. There’s something stuck on their tongue. The spiny papillae on a cat’s tongue are great at catching debris. But sometimes this debris can get stuck. Your cat may stick out their tongue to try to dislodge it. 
5. They have a flat face. Some Persian cats are bred with extremely flat faces. This face shape means there is less room in their mouth for their tongue and it may stick out a little. They can also have other health issues due to their flat face shape. Find out more about pedigree cats.

What does an unhealthy cat tongue look like?

A healthy cat tongue should be pink in colour. It’s a good idea to get to know what your cat’s tongue looks like when they are healthy. If you notice any changes to their tongue, this could be a sign of a health issue. Speak to your vet to find the cause. 

An unhealthy cat tongue:

• is an unusual colour, such as white, blue, purple, grey, yellow or dark red 
• has spots, lumps or bumps
• is swollen
• has cuts, sores or ulcers 

Find out more about your cat’s health.