Cats stick their tongues out for several reasons, including normal behaviors like eating, drinking, grooming, and relaxing. Their tongues help scoop up food and water, and when relaxed or distracted, such as during grooming or rest, they might leave their tongue sticking out unconsciously (called "blepping"). Cats also stick out their tongues during the Flehmen response to better detect scents and pheromones in their environment by transferring them to a special sensory organ in the roof of their mouth. Additionally, some cats' facial structure (like Persian or Himalayan breeds) might cause their tongues to naturally protrude a bit. Other reasons can include signs of stress, nausea, dental problems, or neurological issues, though these are less common and often accompanied by other symptoms.
Common reasons cats stick their tongues out:
- Eating and drinking: to scoop food and water
- Grooming: tongue barbs remove loose hairs, and tongue may get momentarily stuck out
- Relaxation: muscles relax, tongue slips out when sleeping or resting
- Flehmen response: to detect pheromones and scents
- Breed traits: flat-faced cats may have tongues that stick out naturally
- Playfulness or distraction (blepping)
Possible health-related reasons:
- Stress or anxiety
- Nausea or digestive upset
- Dental disease or mouth pain
- Neurological conditions affecting tongue control
If a cat frequently sticks its tongue out along with other signs of illness or distress, a veterinary checkup is recommended.
