Cat things

[brida]

Why do my cats stick out their tongues, just a little bit. The only pattern seems to be contentment. Also, if you scratch on a cats spine, they have the urge to lick. You have to get the right spot but all three cats I've tried it on have done it. Any ideas why?

[katejess]

I have often wondered exactly the same thing. My cat also has a tendency of sticking out his tongue...usually it seems to be that he just 'forgets' to put it away after he has been grooming himself. But as for a specific reason, I can't help you....it just seems to be forgetfulness!

[honkytonkman]

Cats have a thing known as the Jacobsen's Organ in the roof of the mouth. It allows them to both taste and smell a substance at the same time... so your cat is just 'tasting' the air. When the cat is drawing in air to taste in this way, they sort of grimace with their mouth open, hence the cat's tongue pokes out.

[brida]

Hi Honkytonkman. I know the expression you mean - they quite often do it if I've been in contact with another cat or a dog. However, this is more like Katejess mentions - they don't have their mouth open, just the tip of their tongue sticking out. Could be for the same reason I suppose but it just looks like a comfort thing - like a child sucking its thumb or something?

[coggles]

Hello Brida, our cat does that thing when you scratch her spine too! It's about a couple of inches up her spine from the base of the tail! I've no idea why she does it but it always makes the kiddies, and us, laugh!

[brida]

Hi Coggles. Glad to hear its not just our cats. Thought it might be a thing that only females do - something to do with mating - but we've had a tom that also did it. It is very amusing though (not that they are there for our amusement of course!!!)

[incitatus]

though if it is doing it with its paws behind its ears while makin a nah nah nee nah nah sound it is just teasing you.

[Kit]

My cats forget to put their tongues away too - if you remind them, by touching the tip of their tongue, they put it away quick! Haven't noticed the scratching spine thing - however, my cat will always lick the end of her tail when you tickle her nose with it - no matter how many times in a row you do it.

[Tam]

It is right about the cat forgetting to put its tongue back in. The automatic licking with tickling thing has something to do with when they're little kittens and the mothers teaching therm to clean themselves and stimulates them to do so by licking them herself. They don't seem to have any control over it.

[brida]

Excellent! Thanks to all for your contributions!

[fingerpie]

Because they are bloody rude ignorant b*stards, that why.

[pandoradeus]

have you noticed tho that if you laugh at your cat hen they've done something ultra dim, you get a really snotty look as if to say - 'actually that WAS deliberate you fool'