Why do cats show their tongue, stick out its tip and do not remove it, sleep with their tongue out and bite it?

There are peculiar behaviors displayed by cats that frequently baffle us. One of these is when their tongues protrude and appear to stay there. Though many cat owners find it amusing or even cute, it does make them wonder why their feline friends act in this way.

Your cat may occasionally be seen sleeping with its tongue sticking out or even slightly biting it. There are several reasons why this behavior may occur, including simple relaxation, specific reflexes, or even dental problems.

Owners can feel more at ease if they know why cats show their tongues and when it’s normal or possibly concerning. Let’s investigate the reasons that could underlie this intriguing behavior.

Features of the structure of the oral cavity of a cat and its tongue

Members of this family’s oral cavity are formed by:

• The tongue, which is an elongated movable organ located on the bottom of the oral cavity, the base of which is attached to the body of the hyoid bone, and the free tip is located in the anterior zone of the jaw. On its surface are papillae – special mushroom-shaped formations with tiny holes or pores leading to taste buds. The tongue is mainly formed by muscle bundles that are interspersed with hard connective and fatty tissue. It is permeated with many blood vessels. It is surrounded by openings of the ducts of the salivary glands, through which saliva enters the oral cavity. This organ is responsible for many functions: moving food in the mouth, helping to chew and swallow it, delivering liquid to the oral cavity during drinking, determining the taste of food through taste buds, regulating body temperature (moving over the tongue in the back and front directions, the air cools, evaporating saliva), cleaning the fur.

• Teeth located along the outer borders of the oral cavity, the upper ones of which are fixed in the maxillary bone, and the lower ones in the mandibular bone. Each of these bone formations consists of pulp, dentin, enamel and cement. The dental root in the bone socket of the jaw is held by periodontal ligaments made of connective tissue. One tooth can have one or more roots. Kittens have 26 milk teeth, adults have 30 permanent teeth: 12 sharp incisors, 4 long canines, 10 premolars, 4 molars. Functions of teeth: grinding and chewing food. Incisors are responsible for biting off food, canines – for piercing and tearing it, premolars – for friction, grinding and chewing food, molars – for final chewing.

• The mouth, which serves for the reception of food and its primary processing. It is the gateway to the gastrointestinal tract. The cat"s mouth is located in the lower front part of the muzzle between the maxillary and mandibular bones. It is formed by the space behind the teeth and gums, lips and cheeks. The main part of the mouth is limited by the hard and soft palate at the top, by the teeth and lips at the sides and in front, and by the tongue and adjacent tissues at the bottom. The mouth is responsible for the production and secretion of saliva, which moistens food and helps form portions from it. It contains enzymes that help digest food and cleans the tongue. Additional oxygen enters the cat"s respiratory system through the mouth if necessary.
• Mumbraneous membrane. The upper part of the oral cavity is the palate. Its front part, which is formed by the bone covered with a mucous membrane, is the hard palate, which separates the oral cavity and the nasal passages. The soft back area is the soft palate, formed by a flexible fold of the mucous membrane between the back of the mouth and nasal cavity.
• Lips, with which the animal picks up food, throwing it into the oral cavity.
• Cheeks.
• Numerous small glands, including the sublingual salivary gland, which is located under the tongue.

Why a cat can stick out its tongue?

Representatives of this family occasionally stick out their tongue for a variety of reasons:

• Curiosity. These animals are very curious. Some of them stick out their tongue when something has caught their attention.
• Smells. Representatives of this family are able to catch odors not only with their nose, but also with their tongue. This elongated organ is equipped with receptors that catch aromas. In an effort to smell and taste an appetizing aroma, the cat uses its protruding tongue.
• Replacement of milk teeth with permanent ones in kittens. Usually this phenomenon is observed in cats with a shortened muzzle.

• Hunting. Cats have a naturally developed hunting instinct. The presence of a victim in sight, interest, excitement and the desire to catch the smell – all this leads to the fact that the pet involuntarily sticks out its tongue.
• Interesting game. During an exciting pastime, the animal cannot control itself and, carried away, often pulls out its tongue. Sometimes, when the game is already over, cats continue to walk with their tongue hanging out and, having forgotten about it, can even bite it.
• A sharp switch in attention during washing. Cats use their tongue to clean their fur. Suddenly distracted by something interesting, they do not always have time to hide it. At this time, their mouth is slightly open, from which the tip of the tongue is stuck out.

See also: The anatomy of cat ears and at-home grooming: what is the right way to clean a cat’s ears and is it really necessary?

• Getting valerian particles into the nasal passages. The smell of valerian has an intoxicating effect on these animals. They lose control of themselves, their tongue involuntarily falls out. They remain in this state until the intoxicating effect disappears.
• Nausea As a result of poisoning or motioning for a trip by car.
• Heat. When an animal is hot, it begins to breathe heavily and stick out its tongue. This is how the pet tries to normalize heat exchange.
• Childbirth. Cats giving birth have a protruding tongue and rapid breathing. This is normal.
• Sexual heat.
• Strong anxiety.
• Sleep. The tongue consists of muscle bundles. It, like any other muscular organ, relaxes during sleep. A relaxed tongue does not fit in the mouth, so a sleeping cat sticks it out.

Why an animal does not remove its tongue and even bites it?

The following are the causes of feline family members’ persistent tongue protrusion, which occasionally leads to them biting it:

• Special structure of the muzzle. There are breeds of cats with a flattened muzzle. This structure is called brachycephalic, and animals are called brachycephalic. Animals with a very short nose are considered flat-faced. They have an expanded and flattened skull in front. Due to genetic features, the bite of some brachycephalic cats (Persians, Scots, British) is incorrect. The flat structure of the muzzle leads to the fact that the tongue does not fit behind the teeth, slightly ahead. An animal always showing a language is not recommended to be allowed to knit.
• Mental retardation or complication of the tha. Such animals almost always hang a tongue limp. Cats who have suffered a traumatic brain injury can also have a similar phenomenon.

Cats may display their tongues for a variety of reasons, from boredom to medical conditions. Frequently, especially when they sleep with their tongue out, it’s just an indication that they feel secure and at ease.

Occasionally, cats may forget to retract the tip of their tongue when they are engrossed in grooming or deep thought. Usually, this behavior is endearing to watch and harmless.

See a veterinarian to rule out any health issues if your cat bites or sticks its tongue out frequently, along with drooling or other signs of discomfort.

In general, cats that stick their tongue out tend to be eccentric, but it’s a good idea to monitor them to make sure they’re content and healthy.

Cats frequently display their tongues or leave the tip visible for a variety of reasons, including dental problems, relaxation, and grooming habits. Usually, when they sleep with their tongues out, it’s because their mouth muscles are so relaxed. Cats occasionally bite their tongues accidentally while playing or grooming. These behaviors are usually harmless, but it’s a good idea to consult a veterinarian if they occur frequently or exhibit other unusual symptoms.

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