![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Lilylicking3-e1580934055234-225x300.jpg\")
You probably don\u2019t give your cat\u2019s tongue much thought, unless she licks you. Then you might recoil from the sandpaper feel of her cute, little pink tongue. Have you ever wondered why a cat\u2019s tongue is so rough?<\/p>\nYou probably don\u2019t give your cat\u2019s tongue much thought, unless she licks you. Then you might recoil from the sandpaper feel of her cute, little pink tongue. Have you ever wondered why a cat\u2019s tongue is so rough?<\/p>\n
Just like her claws, her tail, and her whiskers, the cat\u2019s![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/LilyLickPaw-e1580934097221-225x300.jpg\")
tongue has a unique purpose. It\u2019s a grooming tool. Grooming for cats in the wild is vital to their well-being. They clean all traces of their meals from their face and paws so as not to attract predators through the scent. Licking keeps them cool in the summer. Cats sometimes lick to relieve stress\u2014in fact some over-groom.<\/p>\n
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The design of a cat\u2019s tongue can get them into trouble. I once had a cat swallow a needle. I believe what happened is that she was sitting too close to my pin cushion while I was sewing and, in the process of grooming herself, she licked up a piece of thread which happened to be attached to a needle.<\/p>\n
With cats, whatever gets caught up on the tongue ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/catyawning-e1580934182595-225x300.jpg\")
pretty much must be swallowed. There\u2019s no release mechanism on that barbed tongue. What goes in, must go down. We discovered the needle sideways in Crystal\u2019s throat and the veterinarian was able to remove it. Whew!!!<\/p>\n
Be aware that cats can get into trouble if they lap up a strip of rattan, ribbon, string, yarn, tinsel, and maybe even feathers and straw. It can get caught up in those barbs and swallowed.<\/p>\n
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The cat\u2019s tongue is instrumental in lapping water. You\u2019ve all watched your cat drink from a bowl, maybe your glass of water, and even from the tap or a fountain. The tongue is a big part in the process of drinking. It used to be thought that cats drank by forming a spoon shape with their tongue.\u00a0 The fact is that they fold their tongue back and sort of flick the water into their mouth, closing it in time to swallow. Whatever their process, they certain can lap up the water and sprinkle a few beads of it all over their face and whiskers in the process. Cute!<\/p>\n
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You probably don\u2019t give your cat\u2019s tongue much thought, unless she licks you. Then you might recoil from the sandpaper feel of her cute, little pink tongue. Have you ever wondered why a cat\u2019s tongue is so rough? Just like … Continue reading