The Cat's Tongue: Structure, Functions & Care
Table of contents
1. Why is the cat's tongue so special?
The cat's tongue is much more than just a body part for tasting. It helps with grooming, makes eating easier and even plays a role in water intake. But why does the cat's tongue feel so rough?
🔹 Special feature: The tongue is covered with tiny, backward-facing hooks (papillae). These are made of keratin , the same material as claws.
🔹 Benefits of a rough tongue:
- Helps remove dirt & loose hair while brushing
- Makes it easier to pull meat from bones
- Creates a special drinking technique for efficient water intake
💡 Fun Fact: A cat can absorb up to 48 ml of water per minute with its tongue!
2. Structure of the cat's tongue: structure & functions
The cat's tongue is a fascinating organ. Its structure is perfectly adapted to the needs of carnivores.
🔎 Main components of the cat's tongue:
🟠 Papillae (horny hooks)
- Small, rough bumps that create the typical sandpaper texture
- Helping to clean fur and eat meat
🟠 taste buds
- Cats have fewer taste buds than humans (~470 vs. 9,000)
- They cannot taste sweet, but bitter and umami very well
🟠 salivary glands
- Contains enzymes that fight bacteria and make swallowing easier
- Saliva spreads over the fur during grooming and provides natural cooling
3. The most important functions of the cat's tongue
🟢 1. Grooming & Hygiene
✅ Cleans the fur and removes dirt
✅ Removes loose hair and prevents tangles
✅ Distributes natural oils for a healthy, shiny coat
🔹 Problem: Licking causes the cat to swallow hair, which can lead to hairballs.
✔ Solution: Regular brushing & malt pastes help in shedding the hair.
🟢 2. Food intake & eating
✅ Helps to separate meat fibers from bones
✅ Supports grasping and moving food in the mouth
✅ Promotes digestion through saliva production
🔹 Problem: Cats with dental problems often eat less or avoid hard food.
✔ Solution: Soft food or special dental care snacks help with food intake.
🟢 3. Water intake & drinking
✅ Cats drink with a unique technique:
- They dip their tongue into the liquid and, with quick movements, draw a column of water into their mouth.
- This happens up to 4 times per second !
🔹 Problem: Many cats drink too little, which can lead to kidney problems.
✔ Solution: A cat fountain or several water bowls motivate the cat to drink.
4. Common problems with the cat's tongue
While the cat's tongue is a useful tool, it can also cause problems.
🚨 1. Hairballs (bezoars)
🔹 Cause: Swallowed hair while grooming
🔹 Symptoms: Gagging, coughing, vomiting hairballs
✔ Solution:
Cat grass or malt pastes promote the digestion of hair
Regular brushing reduces loose hair
🚨 2. Tongue injuries
🔹 Cause: Sharp objects, hot food, foreign bodies
🔹 Symptoms: drooling, pain when eating, bleeding
✔ Solution:
Do not give food that is too hot or too hard
In case of injuries, immediately consult a veterinarian
🚨 3. Tongue inflammation & infections
🔹 Cause: dental problems, viruses, fungal infections
🔹 Symptoms: redness, bad breath, loss of appetite
✔ Solution:
Regular dental care & veterinary check
High-quality, dental-care food
5. How to keep your cat's tongue healthy
💡 With these tips you can support your cat's tongue health:
✔ 1. The right diet
Diet has a direct impact on dental health. Some foods can actually make dental problems worse, while others help reduce plaque, tartar and bacterial growth .
✔ Important characteristics of a good feed
🔹 Little or no sugar 🚫
- Sugar promotes the growth of bacteria and can cause dental problems.
- Many cheap cat foods contain sugar – you should avoid these!
🔹 Little starch (e.g. grains, potatoes, corn) 🌾
- Starch is converted into sugar in saliva, which promotes tartar formation.
- Grain-free or low-starch wet food is therefore better.
🔹 High-quality animal proteins 🍖
- Cats are carnivores, so their food should mainly contain muscle and offal meat .
- Vegetable proteins (e.g. soy) are difficult to digest and can promote dental problems.
🔹 Calcium-phosphorus balance (approx. 1.2:1) ⚖️
- A balanced ratio strengthens the teeth.
- High-quality food contains natural sources of calcium such as bone meal or eggshell powder.
✔ 2. Regular grooming
- Brush your cat regularly to avoid hairballs
- Long-haired cats need a lot of care
✔ 3. Offer enough water
- Distribute several water bowls throughout the apartment
- A drinking fountain encourages many cats to drink
✔ 4. Monitor oral health
- Pay attention to symptoms such as drooling or bad breath
- An annual veterinary check prevents tooth and tongue problems
Conclusion: The cat's tongue is a true all-rounder!
The cat's tongue is a fascinating tool. It helps with eating, grooming and drinking. But hairballs, injuries or dental problems can lead to problems.
💡 With the right care, the cat's tongue stays healthy - for a happy and vital cat life! 🐾
Danke, dass du bis hierhin gelesen hast – das bedeutet uns echt viel! Wir hoffen, du konntest was mitnehmen und vielleicht freut sich auch deine Katze schon auf ein kleines Extra. Bis bald und ganz viele Schnurrgrüße!
Übrigens
Viele Katzeneltern achten beim Hauptfutter genau auf die Inhaltsstoffe, vergessen dabei aber oft die Leckerlis.
Dabei stecken gerade in Snacks oft Zucker, Getreide und künstliche Zusätze, die auf Dauer der Gesundheit schaden können.
Wer seine Katze wirklich rundum gesund ernähren will, sollte auch hier auf Natürlichkeit setzen:
Hypoallergene Leckerlis ohne Zusatzstoffe – natürlich von RumbleBox. Perfekt als Belohnung, beim Training oder einfach für zwischendurch.
Über 2,500 Katzen sind schon auf gesunde Snacks umgestiegen!
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