The cat shows its tongue - reasons, is it a disease?

Probably everyone has at least once seen a cat stick out its tongue and been touched by this sight. The animal’s face looks very funny at this moment, causing smiles on the part of those around you.

On the Internet you can find a lot of funny photos and videos of a cat sticking out its tongue. There are even animations and emoticons depicting such animals. You can download wallpapers for your computer desktop with similar pictures for free.

However, is all this as cute and funny as it seems at first glance? Should you laugh or should you cry when you see a cat with its tongue hanging out? The animal may need urgent medical attention.

When a cat's tongue sticks out is normal

Veterinarians will name many pathologies in which a cat sticks out its tongue. However, we are not necessarily talking about illness. Do not panic ahead of time if you notice strange behavior in your pet. There are many situations in which a cat’s tongue sticking out is normal. Among the most common are the following :

The animal is as relaxed as possible . As a rule, this happens during sleep. The tongue, like any muscular organ, should also rest. After all, it already has a lot of functions that tire it. During relaxation, the cat's tongue becomes slightly longer than when it is tense. So it sticks out of the mouth. This feature is unique to pets. Cats living in the wild cannot afford to relax for a second. They are tense even in their sleep, and they always keep their tongues shut.
Cats stick out their tongues due to the heat . The pet's heat exchange has been disrupted. It is urgent to give him something to drink and move him to a cool place if the cat is in the sun. Without doing this, you can bring the animal to heatstroke.
Malocclusion is another common reason for a cat sticking out its tongue . The abnormal structure of the jaw is to blame, in which it is shorter than necessary; the organ simply does not fit in the mouth. Malocclusion is common in artificially bred elite breeds. Sometimes this becomes a real shock for cat owners who dream of world fame for their pet. After all, with such a defect, an animal, even if it is of royal blood, will not be able to participate in exhibitions and other prestigious events.
Another reason is simple forgetfulness. The cat sometimes just gets distracted. Periodically forgets to hide his tongue even after hygiene procedures. This happens, for example, when she was washing her face and the owner called out to her. The cat turned around, but didn’t have time to hide his tongue. As a result, the cute photo is ready.

As you know, cats are very smart and quick-witted animals. Many of them are well trained, and Kuklachev’s wards are an example of this. So, some cats, having stuck out their tongue involuntarily a couple of times and noticing that the owner was delighted, can then do this on purpose in order to attract the precious attention of the owner and other people. Of course, this is a fairly rare reason for a cat sticking its tongue out at you. Only the most vain (or those experiencing acute attention deficit) or overly intelligent individuals do this.

Health problems that cause cats to stick out their tongues and not put them away

Heart

The most dangerous health problem that causes cats to stick out their tongues is heart failure.

The tongue will stick out of the mouth after physical activity (games, hunting), stress or in the heat. The cat will breathe like a dog.

The mucous membranes of the oral cavity may be pale or bluish, or may be of normal color. This condition usually indicates feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This disease requires patience from owners, since the animal will have to be given medications for the rest of its life and regularly visit a veterinary cardiologist.

Certain breeds of cats are prone to the disease - British, Scottish, Maine Coon and Siamese-Oriental breeds, but, unfortunately, any cat can get sick. It’s just that in these breeds, cardiac problems are registered somewhat more often and are inherited.

Virus

Another reason for protruding tongue is its swelling, which occurs with some viral diseases, for example, with rhinotracheitis and calicivirus, as well as with stomatitis and gingivitis.

These viral diseases are dangerous for kittens; adult animals get sick rarely and, as a rule, in a mild form.

You can’t do without a veterinarian: mild illness does not mean that the cat does not need treatment, and stomatitis and gingivitis will not go away on their own.

Trauma, neurology and pathological causes

It happens that cats get a jaw injury and cannot close their mouth. In addition to injury, this can result from damage to the nerve responsible for opening and closing the mouth, or to the central nervous system: cerebral stroke, poisoning.

With severe lesions, the cat will not be able to remove its tongue from its mouth when touched. A simple test will allow you to distinguish normality from pathology: if a cat can remove its tongue, it will definitely retract it, as soon as you put your finger on it. If it doesn’t work, it’s better not to delay your visit to the clinic.

Some representatives of brachycephalic breeds - British, Persian, Scottish - constantly stick out their tongues. Dishonest breeders claim that this is the breed norm, but no, this is a breed defect. The lower jaw of such a brood is too short, so not everything that should be in the mouth fits there.

In this case, you need to carefully monitor your teeth and visit the dentist: problems with bite often lead to the build-up of tartar, which can result in early tooth loss. From the reproduction of animals with malocclusion, it is concluded that this defect is inherited by the offspring.

Oral problems

Unfortunately, a cat does not always stick out its tongue for harmless reasons. This may be a symptom of oral pathologies or jaw dysfunction. Among them :

fracture, bruise or dislocation of the jaw bone;
dental diseases (gingivitis, periodontal disease, stomatitis), in which the tongue swells, the cat experiences pain and tries to alleviate its condition by sticking it out;
various tumors located in the oral cavity.

Ulcers, cracks and other lesions of the mucous membrane may be of a secondary nature. That is, it is a symptom of organ diseases that have nothing to do with the oral cavity. For example, acute renal failure, uremia, serious viral infection. If a cat suddenly begins to stick out its tongue, while the mucous membrane in its mouth is damaged, the situation cannot be left unattended. Veterinarian assistance is needed.

Gastrointestinal dysfunctions

Animals, like people, can feel sick. At the same time, cats sometimes stick out the tip of their tongue. Especially if the nausea is severe and there is vomiting. The cat, preparing to empty its stomach, already opens its mouth and sticks out its tongue. In addition, he may be bothered by increased salivation.

Such situations can arise for various reasons. From elementary and easily removable - the animal got sick in transport, to serious poisoning and pathologies of the liver or gastrointestinal tract.

Respiratory problems

If you ask your veterinarian why cats stick out their tongues, he will answer that this may be due to dysfunction of the respiratory system. Everything is explained very simply. When something interferes with the air supply, the animal tries to breathe deeply and often. To do this, it opens its mouth wide and shows its tongue. Respiratory diseases in cats are the same as in humans. Among them :

rhinitis;
sinusitis;
laryngitis;
bronchitis;
pneumonia

A sick animal definitely needs help. After all, it cannot sleep or eat normally. The most important thing is that there is a lack of oxygen, which has an extremely negative effect on the general condition of the body.

When should you sound the alarm?

A pet's tongue sticking out can also indicate serious diseases of the respiratory system, oral mucosa and other problems. Therefore, it is better to immediately contact a veterinarian and make sure (or better disprove) the occurrence of a certain disease. A cat with a tongue that sticks out may be sick with such well-known diseases as stomatitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, cardiovascular failure, etc.

Inflammation in the respiratory tract

Does the animal begin to breathe heavily and frequently, does its tongue stick out, does a mucous fluid flow from its nose? Isn't the air temperature very high? These are signs of respiratory disease.

To increase gas exchange in the lungs, that is, sufficient oxygen supply to them, the cat tries to inhale air more deeply and more often. The tongue automatically sticks out at this moment. The main diseases of the respiratory system in cats are laryngitis, rhinitis, pneumonia, and sinusitis.

Poisoning

During poisoning, the animal vomits at some point. The cat chokes, starts coughing, and automatically sticks out the tip of his tongue. And then the whole procedure of removing products from the digestive tract occurs.

Cerebrovascular accident

Functional disorders of the brain can be accompanied not only by seizures, strabismus and other nervous phenomena. With a skull injury, a cat cannot fully control its own body. And, as a result, the animal’s muscles relax, including the muscles of the tongue.

Heart failure

Heart failure is an acute and chronic disorder of the heart with insufficient blood supply to all organs and tissues of the body. Even cats can suffer from this clinical syndrome. Cardiovascular failure in animals is accompanied by disturbances in the frequency and rhythm of breathing and shortness of breath. In this situation, the cat’s frequent and deep breathing is accompanied by relaxation of the tongue muscles and it extends beyond the oral cavity. Monitor your pet's breathing!

Stomatitis

Damage to the oral mucosa may also be accompanied by a protruding tongue in the pet. Wounds on the mucous membrane are very painful, especially when the diseased organ touches the inner surface of the teeth and palate. To prevent the pain from being so severe, the cat sticks out its tongue.

Remember, stomatitis must be treated immediately. Open wounds are a good source for pathogens to enter. Therefore, the pet can also “get” a bacterial infection. During stomatitis, the animal loses its appetite and the digestion process is disrupted.

Nervous system and brain

Another reason that an animal shows its tongue is dysfunction of the nervous system. They can be a temporary phenomenon when they become the result of a severe shock the cat has experienced. For example, after moving to a new house, spending a long time alone, giving birth, etc.

However, there are more serious factors. These include pinched nerve endings or disruption of brain function due to injury or pathological processes. Such conditions may be accompanied by convulsions, twitching of limbs, and squint. All this is a reason to urgently contact a specialist.

Heart problems

One of the most alarming reasons for a cat sticking out its tongue is heart failure. The animal's breathing is rapid, as if it is hot. The cat looks weak, lethargic, and constantly lies down. Breathes with his mouth open, refuses food.

The muscles of an exhausted animal in this state relax. However, language is no exception. You should be as attentive as possible to your cat if these symptoms are present. There is a risk of heart attack. Especially if the pet is no longer young.