Why are cats' tongues so rough?
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A cat's tongue is actually a very sophisticated cleaning device, in
addition to its other functions. It is covered with tiny, hooklike,
backward-pointing extensions called papillae, something like one half
of a velcro connector.
When it cleans its fur by licking with its tongue, a cat is pulling
these hooks through the fur. As the hooks pass through, they pick up
dirt and skin flakes, and more importantly, any fleas, flea eggs, or
other skin parasites that might be present. The cat swallows these
along with any loose hair, and they are killed by the strong acid in
the cat's stomach.
The cat's tongue is also important for eating, of course. In nature,
cats use their rough tongues as efficient tools for scraping the
flesh from the bones of their animal prey.Cats, tongues, taste, and eating:
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