The amazing mechanics of cat tongues

One of the most unique features of cats is their rough tongue. I’m sure most pet cat owners have noticed this fact, but did you know that the rough tongue is a characteristic of all cats, from the largest lion or tiger down to the rusty spotted cat, Prionailurus rubiginosus, which is one of the smallest known cat species?

The feel of the tongue is caused by protruding lengths of keratin called papillae, so an up- close view of a cat’s tongue makes the tongue’s surface resemble the rough side of a strip of Velcro rather than a piece of sandpaper. The function of these papillae is multi-faceted. The papillae have hollow, scoop-shaped ends that curve backwards somewhat, making a surface like a brush, which aids in grooming. A study on cat tongues in 2018 even discovered that the papillae can be used to push saliva in between hair follicles. This provides the ability for cats to cool off in hot weather because cats don’t have sweat glands all over their bodies like humans.

Another function of the papillae is for eating. The rough surface of a cat’s tongue is thought to aid in holding prey in addition to processing their meal. The papillae are able to aid in removing hair from flesh and flesh from bone, making consuming a meal more efficient. Different species of cats have different shape, size, and number of papillae on their tongues. These differences seem to correlate with the variety of feeding habits and dietary needs that are found throughout the family Felidae.

Next time you visit the Zoo and see one of our lions or tigers eating or grooming themselves, take a moment to watch the tongue in action and appreciate how cool cats are!

Jennifer A.
Carnivore Team