Cat tongue. Why do cats have rough tongues? Cat tongue under a microscope

Have you ever been licked out of excess by your beloved cat? If so, then you probably noticed how rough her tongue is. Sometimes it feels like your skin is being rubbed with sandpaper! Owners of dogs whose tongue feels completely smooth to the touch are usually especially surprised.

The roughness of a cat's tongue is given by capillary papillae - keratinized sharp projections. on its surface, directed back towards the larynx. First of all, a cat needs them in order to bring beauty: after all, thick fur cannot be combed out exclusively with claws. Therefore, the protrusions on the tongue work like the teeth of a comb: the cat licks itself, they additionally comb the fur and fluff.

In addition, scientists say that a rough tongue helps the cat - a predator, as we know - to better separate meat from the bones of its prey and, accordingly, eat more of it.

But the rough tongue also has one very serious drawback. Due to the fact that the capillary papillae are directed inward and not outward, the cat cannot spit out what is caught on them. In such a situation, the cat reflexively begins to swallow, and from this, what gets on the tongue goes even deeper into the animal’s throat and stomach. This is how cats swallow whole threads with needles that pierce the stomach, or Christmas tree rain, which is not digested by the digestive system and can lead to intestinal obstruction. Remember this and hide dangerous objects away from your pets! If you are not already familiar with the complete list, be sure to read and remember it.

Happy cat owners have at least once experienced the manifestation of their beloved pet's feelings in the form of licking. But the contact of a rough tongue with smooth skin rarely causes pleasant sensations. So why do cats have rough tongues?

The structure of a cat's tongue

The tongue of cats consists of dozens of transverse and longitudinal muscles, with the help of which animals move it in the right directions, stretch it or fold it in a ladle. The main reason why cats have a sharp tongue is the presence of keratinized sharp protrusions on the surface. These hard capillary papillae are distributed over the entire surface and directed towards the larynx. The rigidity of the sharp protrusions is given by the keratin shell - a substance that is part of our nails.

In addition to “spikes,” the tongue is covered with short growths in the form of sticks and dots. They are equipped with taste chemoreceptors. Thanks to this, animals can taste bitter, as well as sour and salty. Scientists have not yet identified receptors sensitive to sweets. Therefore, veterinarians are of the opinion that cats cannot taste sweetness at all.

Why does a cat have a rough tongue?

The keratinized protrusions directed towards the larynx are necessary for predators, which include our pets, to simplify the separation of food in the oral cavity. Clinging to the rough surface of the tongue, meat fibers are separated from the bones more easily and quickly. Thanks to this, the cat can quickly deal with its prey. Long scales help small predators keep water and food on the surface of their tongue.

One of the reasons why cats need a rough tongue is the need for graceful animals to regularly “make a show”. After all, thick fur cannot be combed out and styled with sharp claws. The tongue, the sanding surface of which works like a brush, copes with the task perfectly. The protrusions on the tongue easily straighten the coat and get rid of excess fibers in the form of undercoat fluff.

The tongue is directly involved in the thermoregulation of the body. By sticking out the wet tip of its tongue, the cat gets rid of the heat accumulated in the body. This provides relief in extreme heat.

What is the danger

Despite such significant functions, the rough tongue of cats sometimes plays a “wicked joke” on them. The location of the capillary papillae directed towards the larynx does not allow the animal, if necessary, to spit out debris and wool hairs caught on the “needles”. In such a situation, the animal reflexively tries to swallow the contents. As a result, debris or wool fibers penetrate deeper into the throat and end up in the stomach.

Animals solve this problem by stimulating vomiting. Due to contractions of the diaphragm, the contents of the stomach are easily released. As for wool fibers, they enter the body in colossal volumes, where they are compressed into tangles. Through contractions of the diaphragm they are naturally expelled.

There are also more serious cases when cats manage to swallow spools of thread that are attractive to them, the sharp needles of which damage the walls of the stomach. Threads of shiny New Year's “rain” are very appetizing for cats, which are not digested by the system, but only cause intestinal obstruction. That’s why it’s so important to hide dangerous small objects away from your beloved, curious pets.

If you notice a thread or tinsel sticking out of your mouth, do not rush to pull it back out. It is better to carefully cut off the visible part, and then feed your pet two tablespoons of Vaseline oil. This will loosen the intestines and speed up the natural digestion process.

The cat has a multifunctional taste organ. It differs from a dog's in its roughness. No wonder V. Dahl called it a grater in his “Explanatory Dictionary”. Roughness is due to its specific structure. If you examine the tongue close up, you will notice many sharp tubercles that cover the entire area of ​​the cat's organ. These irregularities are called “capillary papillae” and provide great assistance to the animal in maintaining personal hygiene.

The structure of the taste organ in cats

The rough tongue of cats consists not only of capillary, but also elongated and mushroom-shaped papillae. They are located in certain areas of the cat's organ. The taste buds are located in these papillae.

The pet cannot detect the sweet taste of the product.

The animal has a long and very mobile taste organ. It is flat and can take any shape: when a pet laps milk, the cat's tongue resembles a kitchen ladle. The keratinized projections, which can be examined in detail only under a microscope, help cope with licking fur and eating meat located in hard-to-reach places on the bones.

Pets tend to swallow their fur, threads and other small objects, since the capillary papillae are directed towards the larynx and it is impossible to separate them, so the owner must regularly comb the cat and not allow it to play with small materials at hand.

A cat's taste organ is made up of muscle tissue and the mucous membrane that covers the muscle. The scales help retain food that the cat licks off and clear dirt from the fur when the cat uses its tongue to clean itself.

Worship of cats in Ancient Egypt - interesting facts

Functions

In addition to holding food, combing and cleaning cat hair, a pet's tongue performs a number of the following functions:

• Thermoregulation of the cat's body. In hot weather, the pet actively licks the fur and the tip of its nose so that the saliva, evaporating, lowers its body temperature.
• Health status indicator. White color - disruption of the functioning of the digestive system. Black - lack of vitamins in the animal’s diet. Gray or pale brown - problems with the cat's respiratory system. A yellow coating indicates liver or kidney disease in the animal. Pale tongue - heart or blood vessel disease. Ulcers, spots or other formations are a reason to take your pet to the veterinary clinic.

A cat's strong, long, spine-covered tongue performs many functions. Based on the condition of this organ, an attentive owner may notice that the cat is sick. For example, if an ulcer appears on a cat’s tongue, calcivirosis is suspected. Knowing what a healthy cat’s tongue should look like, how cats use their tongue in a given situation, why a cat sticks out the tip of its tongue and other useful “little things”, the owner better understands his pet.

The cat's tongue, like the human tongue, consists of many transverse and longitudinal muscles, with the help of which our pets can not only extend and hide their tongue in the mouth, but also move it in different directions and fold the tongue into a ladle. The latter is especially convenient when drinking - water is retained in the recess without splashing out of the mouth.

One of the reasons why a cat sticks out the tip of its tongue is a function of thermoregulation. The wet tongue quickly releases some of the heat accumulated by the cat's body, somewhat easing the pet's condition in extreme heat. If the pet is very hot, the cat breathes heavily with its tongue hanging out. For dogs, this behavior is the norm, but for cats it is a signal that the ambient temperature has reached a critical norm. If you don’t help your pet, it’s possible.

Although the reason why a cat sticks out the tip of its tongue may be much more banal - the pet recently ate or washed itself, and simply “forgot” to put its tongue in its mouth. Owners of Persians and exotic cats notice this especially often - the cat sticks out its tongue, as if teasing others. It's all about the shortened bones of the skull: the shape of the muzzle has been changed by selection, as well as the structure of the jaws - the tongue either does not fit in the mouth, or the tip sticks out between the teeth (malocclusion, in which the cat shows the tongue, which normally rests from the inside against the teeth tightly interlocked when the mouth is closed ).

An inexperienced owner, especially if he has previously had close contact with dogs, is always surprised why a cat has a rough tongue. The touch of a cat's tongue can even be unpleasant - the surface of this organ is so hard and prickly. Residents of Ancient Rus' did not have the opportunity to examine a cat’s tongue in close-up, but the tactile sensations were enough for them to give the cat’s tongue the apt nickname “grater.” It's all about the many papillae, like spikes, growing inward towards the pharynx. Long “scales” help the cat retain food and water on the surface of the tongue, thoroughly clean the coat and remove small debris from the surface of the fur - the dog will never be able to wash itself so cleanly.

Knowing why a cat has a rough tongue, it is not difficult to imagine what happens to tinsel or thread that gets into the cat’s mouth: the pet cannot spit out the thread (the “spikes” on the tongue that hold a thin foreign object interfere). The cat swallows thread or tinsel - there is simply nothing left for it. Having noticed this, you should not pull the end of the thread: carefully cut off the visible part and give your pet a couple of tablespoons of Vaseline oil.

If you look at a cat’s tongue close up, you will notice that in addition to “spikes”, it is covered with short “sticks”, flat dots and other “growths” - these are also papillae, and they all perform certain functions. In particular, many of them are equipped with taste chemoreceptors, which allow the cat to sense salty, sour and bitter tastes. Examining a cat's tongue under a microscope, scientists were unable to detect receptors sensitive to sweet taste, so it is believed that cats do not feel this taste at all. Or they can taste it, but only in high concentrations, which is harmful to their health.

Do you have pets? Many people who own animals say their lives are enriched. Whether it's a dog, cat, turtle, fish or something more exotic, pets can make life more fun and exciting.

For example, when you return home after a hard day at work, nothing compares to an excited dog happily waiting for its owner. That wagging tail can turn even the worst day upside down. And dog licks will not leave anyone dry.

Of course, if you have a cat, it's unlikely to greet you with a wagging tail. Instead, she may climb into your arms for a gentle hug. And you probably don't want your cat to lick you! Why? Have you ever felt the touch of a cat's tongue? It's rough as sandpaper!

A cat's tongue is covered with papillae, which are small, hook-shaped, sharp projections. They are directed towards the cat's larynx. Papillae are similar to hair because they are made of keratin, the same substance that makes up our nails.

Under a microscope, a cat's tongue appears as a rough surface filled with thousands of tiny teeth. Although they make a cat's tongue very rough, the papillae play an important role in the life of these animals.

Cats tend to take very good care of their fur and spend a lot of time doing it. And how do they do it? Like this! They lick the fur with their tongue, and the papillae act in the same way as a regular comb.

Unfortunately, the papillae have a disadvantage. Due to their shape, the papillae tend to accumulate hair. Anything that gets stuck on a cat's tongue is usually swallowed. This is why many cats sometimes have to regurgitate hairballs that accumulate in their throats and stomachs.

The papillae are also important for hunting and eating. Although cats have strong jaws, the papillae help cats hold prey in their mouths. When it's time to eat, the papillae also allow cats to pick up small pieces of food that might otherwise fall out.

How do cats drink water? Slow motion

Many people believe that a cat's tongue is also used as a spoon to lap up water. Although the tongue is an important part of the drinking process, it was only recently that scientists made an incredible discovery about exactly how the lapping process occurs.

Using high-speed imaging, scientists were able to understand what happens when a cat drinks water. Instead of curling their tongue into a spoon, cats actually twist the tip of their tongue in the opposite direction and then quickly flick it across the surface of the water.

This particular action causes a column of water to rise from the surface. The animal then quickly closes its mouth, just in time to catch the water before gravity brings it back to the surface. How quickly does all this happen? Very fast! A cat is capable of dipping its tongue into water at a rate of about four times per second, which explains why the process is invisible to the naked eye.