Why do cats'tongues feel like sandpaper?

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Unlike dogs and other household pets, cats' tongues are extremely rough to the touch. Examined closely, cats' tongues are stippled with thousands of tiny barbed structures called "filiform papillae."

Features

The filiform papillae that line the tongue's surface are hooked at the top, like Velcro, and pointed toward the throat.

Benefits

The barbs of the tongue have two main uses: they help a cat grip its prey while eating, and they also allow a cat to pull out dead hairs and debris from its fur, like a hairbrush.

Effects

The barbs tend to direct items collected from the fur down the throat rather than out of the mouth. This is why cats spit up fur in the form of hairballs.

Considerations

To prevent hairballs caused by the tongue, cat owners should brush their pet's fur regularly.

Fun Fact

Because of their special tongue, which allows them to sense flavor, texture, and temperature, cats have sharper senses of taste than dogs.

Source:

The Honolulu Advertiser: Why Is a Cat's Tongue Like Sandpaper

Why Does My Cat: Why Does My Cat's Tongue Feel Like Sandpaper?

Families.com: Your Cat's Tongue

More Information:

Felinest: Cat's Tongue Up Close

GreatFelines.com: The Cat's Tongue

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Why do cats'tongues feel like sandpaper?

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