Why do cats stick their tongues out?
When you turn to look at your cat, do you ever see him staring off into space and his tongue sticking out? Did you ever notice the same thing that happened to you once?
The fact that cats are curious creatures, and this cute tongue-out position turns out to be routine behavior for them. In some cases, you might have wondered if there was something wrong with your pet if his tongue was partially stuck out of his mouth.
But what is causing your cat to stick his tongue out?
Despite its adorable, yet strange expression, there are quite a few reasons behind it. The most obvious ones are quite simple and natural. Others, on the other hand, are somewhat concerned as they may be signs of an undiagnosed health condition.
Here are some other helpful articles about the same subject!
Facts about cat tongue
The tongue of your cat is a useful tool that will help you better understand how to eat, groom and maintain your cat’s general health.
When you check your cat’s tongue up close you will see it covered with small barbs, a feature called papillae, which are quite different from the surface of your tongue, which is relatively smooth. As the name suggests, these are stiff spines with curved backs, designed to catch hair and bits of food in their snares.
The rough, dry tongue of your cat is familiar to anyone who has been licked by one. In the same way that your nails are made up of keratin, so are your spines, which is exactly why they are covered in keratin. When your cat keeps licking the same spot on your body, it can become incredibly painful.
For cats, grooming is important because, in the wild, any scent left behind by their food invites other predators. Food particles and loose hair are collected by the papillae when grooming. If a cat snags something in its mouth, such as food or hair, there is no easy way to free it.
Cats with sticking tongues have a number of reasons for doing so
It is not uncommon for you to see cats sticking out their tongues, but you may be wondering why this happens. A cat sticking out its tongue does not mean that it is upset or behaving rudely at all.
The tongue is simply stuck with something that must be removed. It is possible that they are trying to look cool and act tough or they need to groom themselves better.
If this happens to them, try not to laugh too hard when you see it. Having food particles clinging to their tongue can’t be very comfortable for them.
You may find that your cat’s tongue is sticking out for the following reasons:
- Your Cat is Blepping.
Although it may look like your cat is sticking its tongue out at you (or someone else), an alternate possibility is that he or she might be blepping. This bizarre term was coined to refer to a cat’s cute, but sometimes annoying habit of blepping!
This is generally considered to be adorable behavior since the little guy looks so darned cute with his tongue sticking out.
Cat owners should note some key aspects of this behavior: it almost always begins as the kitten reaches about 3 weeks old and may disappear by around 12 weeks; many cats’ mouths seem partially open when they do it; and if you touch or stroke their chin or face while they’re blepping, they’re likely to stop (which suggests that they feel relaxed and comfortable).
- Tuning Taste and Texture.
Your cat’s tongue does not serve solely for the purpose of licking its fur; it also has several other important functions including helping your pet to taste and sense the texture of his or her food. Cats typically (and perhaps unsurprisingly) prefer foods with a smooth, meaty texture.
Your cat’s tongue has special sensory organs known as Papillae which come in handy for identifying different types of food, including fleshy-textured meats!
Your kitty uses these incredibly small but highly sensitive organs to identify objects by their shape or size – this allows him or her to decipher foreign bodies on the outside of their food before they eat it.
Sometimes cats may even use their tongues purely out of curiosity to explore their surroundings, so it is important not to punish them if you do see them sticking out their tongue.
- Self-grooming is often cited as a reason
When a cat licks his own fur, it might seem like he’s trying to clean himself; but in actual fact, this behavior serves two purposes: self-grooming and emotional comfort.
A good example of the latter is when cats groom their human companions as a sign of affection – their tongues are an incredibly powerful tool for bonding with smaller animals, so they do what they can to express their love!
Another explanation could be that your pet may have an oily coat or there might be something stuck on his tongue that he cannot chew off by chewing on his side.
If you suspect this is the case then it would be worth checking with your vet who will either remove the object or provide medication if required.
- Due to the hot weather
Cats tend to pant (i.e. breathe with their mouths open) during hot weather or if they’ve been running around, and this is usually a good sign that your cat is feeling comfortable and cool.
This may sound like somewhat of an odd explanation but it is perfectly possible for cats to overheat just as much as humans (and dogs) can!
When you notice your kitten panting it might be useful to provide him or her with water in order to avoid other potential complications such as dehydration.
Feline fangs are incredibly sensitive yet sturdy enough to crunch through bones; however, because the tongue doesn’t have any bones itself, there are not many dangers associated with sticking it out too far while playing.
- There is hair on your cat’s tongue.
If your cat has long hair and frequently grooms itself, it is possible that you may notice a bit of fur sticking out of its mouth. A lot of the time, cats will swallow their own fur which will naturally collect around their stomachs and intestines.
If you notice this, don’t worry as your cat will pass this kind of ‘ball’ through them as part of digestion (much like we do every day with our own feces).
The best thing to do if you see fur outside your cat’s mouth is to brush it off or remove it using tweezers.
- Your cat is resting or sleeping
Your cat’s relaxed body position is the main reason why you might often notice its tongue sticking out. When a cat is resting, it will usually sleep on one side with all four paws tucked underneath them and its head resting down on the floor or against an object.
Because of this, you’ll often notice that your cat’s tongue is hanging out at the same time which is completely normal. Not only are cats relaxed when they are sleeping but they also enjoy ‘cat naps during the day where they curl up in a ball and rest their eyes for 10 to 30 minutes in between longer bouts of activity.
- Cat is nauseous
Your feline friend is feeling nauseous, you may see its tongue hanging out quite often. A cat’s nausea will usually be accompanied by other symptoms too such as incessant meowing, pot-bellied appearance, unwillingness to eat or drink, and even vomiting from time to time.
If your cat shows any signs of being nauseous, it is best to take them along to a vet so they can get the treatment they need fast!
- The breed of your cat naturally shows the tongue out
Some breeds of cats (and even certain traits within a breed) will naturally show their tongue out all the time. These cats are usually very vocal and ‘chatty’ throughout the day which means that they may end up sticking their tongues out as part of playing or interacting with other pets in the house.
In a similar way to kitties that have missing teeth or jaws that are malformed, brachycephalic breeds lack the proper anatomy to be able to keep their tongues in at all times.
- Food stuck in between the teeth.
A cat may stick his tongue out to try and dislodge food particles caught between the teeth, so if your cat is flicking his tongue around in the air or licking his lips a lot to lick it clean, then you can bet that there’s probably something stuck somewhere that could use a little probing.
He certainly isn’t trying to be rude; it’s just not very convenient when your mouth is otherwise occupied. When your pet sticks its tongue out at you, they are showing affection, much like when dogs do the same thing.
- When traveling, cats stick out their tongues
Cats can also get motion sickness, just like people. You may see your cat sticking its tongue out, drooling, and panting when he’s going for a car ride.
The reasons for motion sickness in cats can include fear of unfamiliar surroundings, an inner ear imbalance that makes your cat feel dizzy when the car is in motion, and even a painful memory from the past. The tongue-wagging should subside once the kitty is out of the vehicle and back at home.
Could your cat have a physical reason for sticking out his tongue?
Many cats stick their tongue out, but there may be physical reasons behind this behavior.
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Cats suffer from dental problems.
If your cat isn’t regularly brushing his teeth, bacteria build-up can result in gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), which can cause bad breath and make him feel like his tongue is sore, so he may push it outside his mouth with his paw for comfort.
If your pet hasn’t had an oral exam in over six months, schedule one with your veterinarian. Your cat should have his teeth brushed daily with an enzymatic toothpaste designed for cats, and it’s helpful to provide him with food puzzle toys to reduce the risk of boredom that can lead to destructive behaviors.
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There is an infection or blockage in your cat’s respiratory system.
When a kitty is having problems breathing, he may stick his tongue out as if panting, but since felines don’t pant very effectively the way dogs do, you will mostly see this when they are trying to get something out of their throat rather than actually being overheated.
If your cat is having any trouble breathing, take them right in to see the vet so they can check for blockage infections.
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Other health issues affect your cat
You may notice that your cat sticks out his tongue in response to other significant health issues such as stomatitis which can cause significant discomfort. An issue with your cat’s tongue hanging partially out can sometimes indicate that she has a serious health issue, such as dementia.
It’s important to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian if you are concerned that your cat’s behavior is unusual and is related to a health problem.
Conclusion
Is your cat sticking its tongue out? Having a tongue like your cat’s is a great way to trap food and fur which makes it very difficult to clean out your cat’s mouth once it gets contaminated with unpleasant substances.
It is important to keep in mind that cats are prone to many diseases and infections, including dental disease, heatstroke, poisoning, motion sickness as well as other diseases and infections that cause them to stick out their tongues.
If you notice any other potentially worrying signs, such as dropping food from the mouth when they are eating, changing their appetite, changing their grooming habits, or if their behavior changes, you should contact their primary veterinarian for guidance.
