Why does a cat’s tongue stick out?

The cat’s face with its tongue stuck out, more often than not, is a source of fascination to eyewitnesses. It looks really funny! Especially if we are talking about a cat with black fur, against which the pink tongue looks very contrasting. But few people think about the reasons for this behavior.

Why does a cat’s tongue stick out?

Unexpectedly absorbed in the process of licking the cat’s tongue the cat might not remember to put it back.

More often than not, a cat may simply be distracted by something in the process of licking and forget that her tongue is in that state. At such a moment her gaze lingers on what she is so interested in, so everything else ceases to exist for her. Such absent-mindedness is characteristic even of humans, so for a cat it is also something that is a matter of course.

In a relaxed state the muscles of the muzzle do not hold the tongue in its mouth and it can slip out. This just shows that the animal feels good and rests, knowing that there is no danger anywhere. Although it does happen that an incorrect bite, which is a characteristic of different breeds, contributes to the loss of the tongue.

Heat or pathology?

If the ambient temperature is too high, the animal fights overheating as best it can

In hot weather, the tongue is a thermoregulator for the cat’s body. Therefore, by sticking it out, the animal tries to save itself from overheating. If its breathing is accompanied by hissing sounds you should immediately help the cat to cool down – ventilate the room, turn on the air conditioner and give it something to drink. In cases where such measures do not help, and the cat also starts salivating, it is better to contact the doctor, and immediately.

Some diseases also provoke sticking out of the tongue. For example, cats that often walk around, where they want, can suffer from stomatitis. And since it causes unpleasant sensations in the mouth, the cat instinctively tries to relieve them by sticking its tongue out. Respiratory diseases can also manifest in this symptom. The cat’s nose may be blocked, and it will open its mouth to breathe somehow. In cardiovascular failure, the animal thus tries to restore the rhythm of breathing, struggling with shortness of breath.

The most complex causes are

Prolated tongue, accompanied by a strange, not typical for the pet, behavior – a reason to go to the doctor

The tongue helps the cat to get rid of toxic substances. For example, when she is poisoned and begins to vomit, the airways become blocked and the animal chokes and coughs. Then the tongue contributes to the elimination of this situation.

Brain disorders can occur in a pet as a result of mental disorders or head trauma, or nervous diseases. In such cases, the cat can not control certain parts of the body, it may have seizures or strabismus, or other, standard for disorders of the nervous system.

If the cat’s tongue sticks out occasionally, but otherwise its behavior is normal – it is active and eats well, then there is nothing wrong with it. But when this picture happens regularly for a long period of time and there is no logical explanation for such behavior, it is better to visit the veterinarian and make sure that the stuck out cat tongue just means that the animal lives quietly and well.