Does your cat do this? I'm concerned. *Pidge is home *pix 6/4*

[Medusa]

I feel kinda silly posing this question but it's bothering me so I'm going to anyhow. Does your cat at times stick out its tongue and just sit there w/its tongue hanging out? Lately, Puddy has been doing that and it's freaking me out. It isn't just a little bit of the tip of the tongue showing, which is rather cute; it's almost the entire tongue, as though she has no teeth or something. She's purring, she isn't sick or crying or anything, so I'm not sure why it bothers me but it does. It makes me want to cry for some reason. Creamsicle does it, too, but I attributed it to her being a CH baby. I can see no reason why Puddy would do it. She's only been doing it for the last month or so.

[Catty1]

In our household, we found the tip of the tongue sticking out of our cats' mouths a very endearing type of "dumb". :-)

The whole tongue? Puddy is trying to outdo the
rest?

I found some info- bottom line is, as long as she seems healthy otherwise, probably this is ok.

I couldn't copy and paste anything here, but there is a question on this about 3/4 of the way down, under "Tongue Tipping"
http://www.showcatsonline.com/s_expert2.htm

Most likely your cat is just jaking. "Jaking" is basically a cat's way of tasting/smelling the air, via the Jacob's Organ.

Answer: Lily-

Before I get to the part where I tell you the things that might be wrong, I
have to be sure to say that if KeeKee seems normal in all other respects it
is very likely that he is normal and that your husband is right --- or at
least that there isn't a harmful cause of his tongue sticking out habit.

Now that we got through that part, there are some things that can cause the
tongue to stick out or to enlarge, which might make it stick out, too.

Acromegaly, which is a hormonal disease that affects a small number of cats
in their lifetime, makes the tongue enlarge in some patients and it may
stick out slightly when this occurs. This is disease in which there is too
much production of growth hormone and it causes increased drinking and
urination, increased appetite, enlargement of the head, separation of the
teeth (they move apart as the jaw grows), heart disease and other symptoms.
Since you don't report any of these signs, I am hoping that none are present.

There are several reports on cats with feline leukemia that include
observations of tongue sores, which might cause the tongue to stick out. In
addition, there are some anecdotal observations of cats with feline
leukemia sticking their tongues out, with no mention of cause. There is a
chance in these cats that they would have done this, anyway, and that the
feline leukemia virus just happened to be present.

Several diseases that can affect the central nervous system can cause the
tongue to stick out or to fall out of the mouth on one side or the other
(this doesn't usually happen in cats because their tongue isn't as mobile
as a dogs). Toxoplasmosis, feline infectious peritonitis and feline
immunodeficiency virus are possible diseases that can cause neurologic
signs in cats.

It is possible for tooth problems, gingivitis and pharyngeal problems to
make it more comfortable for a cat to keep its tongue held out rather than
in the mouth. Usually by the time this happens there is some evidence of
difficulty swallowing or discomfort while eating.

If KeeKee develops something that really seems like an illness to you, then
it would be a good idea to see your vet as soon as possible. I am pretty
sure that you are not seeing anything like this at this time, based on your
note. So I think it would be OK to wait for the next routine visit to ask
your vet about this problem unless I am wrong about the lack of other
signs, currently.

Mike Richards, DVM
1/18/2001

Some cats sit with their tongue sticking out a little. This seems to show relaxation and contentment or that the cat has become interested in something. On the one hand it gives the cat a rather daft look. On the other hand it gives the cat a look of concentration. Licking the lips may indicate anxiety or anticipation depending on what is happening around it. Cats may lick their lips slightly as food is presented, but reserve real lip-licking for the after-dinner wash.

[Catlady711]

My cats do this sometimes either when they're sleepy, or if I interrupt a bathing session. lol I think it's cute myself.

[catfamily]

i would have the vet check for tounge ulcer...if he has one,and you get him antibiotics quick...he'll survive,if you let it go...the ulcer can grow and nothing would be able to cure it.
that happened to my husbands sister's cat.
same thing...started hanging the tounge out...and sure enough it had a big ulcer under it's tounge.i would get it checked...or look yourself.
but i think if it's all the way out...i'd go to the vet ASAP.
Good luck and i hope it's nothing.

[kitten645]

Medusa,
You are an excellent meowmie and if it's freaking you out, have it checked out. Trust your instincts. Calvin sticks the it bitty end of his tongue out and it cracks me up! That tiny bit of pink agains all his blackness.
Go with your meowmie radar and have Puddy checked out.
Claudia

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Maybe Puddy is literally being a copy cat but if it is concerning you then get her checked out for some peace of mind

[catfamily]

have you called the vet?or looked under his tounge?
is he still doing it?
just curious on an update.hopefully good news.

[Medusa]

Thanx for the replies everyone. I checked Puddy's tongue this morning, underneath, too, at least as well as I could considering this is the Pudilator I'm talking about here. LOL All looked and felt normal to me. She doesn't stick her tongue out all the time, just occasionally, and admittedly, it's when she appears to be content, such as when I'm giving her a noggin noogie. I guess it's because her tongue comes out so far and not just the tip sticks out. I'll keep watching her as well as look for other symptoms that were mentioned in Candace's post and, if I see anything slightly abnormal, I'll give my vet a call. She seems ok in every other sense so, in order for my vet to fully examine her tongue, she'd have to be tranquilized and I surely don't want to do that unless it's absolutely necessary, given that she's in CRF and only 5 lbs. I'll keep you updated.

[smokey the elder]

Smokey the Elder used to stick her tongue out just because. Moby sometimes sticks a little bit of it out, when she's being goofy.

[catmandu]

IF I BRING IN A FOOD THATS NOT POPULAR, OR DO SOME EVEN STUPIDER THAN NORMAL, THEN THE FOUND CATS STICK OUT THIER TONGUES , BUT NORMALLY THEU STAY WHERE THEYRE MEANT TO BE!!!

[columbine]

Smudge did that for a short while, and drooled a bit too, which he hadn't done before. I noticed that he had bad breath, so I started giving him tooth-cleaning treats. Once we found some he wasn't allergic to (he can't have Greenies, but Meow Mix Crustacean Crunch and C.E.T. fish chews are fine and he likes them) his breath and drooling cleared up, and he can keep a civil tongue in his head. :-) Does Puddy get anti-tartar treats?

Love, Columbine

[kb2yjx]

Our Raven sticks out her tongue, but she has no teeth!!! Hope your Puddy will be OK!!!

[Medusa]

Does Puddy get anti-tartar treats?

She does but she's been turning her nose up at them lately. Her appetite is good, as a matter of fact, a little too good and she's drinking a lot of water but I chalked that up to CRF. Then when I read what Candace posted, I couldn't ignore it. I just put a call in to my vet. He's in surgery so I now wait until he can return my call. I booked an appt. for her but my vet won't be in until Wed. That's 5 days away so I want to talk to my vet to see what he has to say and if there's anything I should be doing for her until her appt. She seems fine, as I mentioned earlier, she isn't sick at all, no vomiting, no crying, nothing. But my instincts are screaming to have her checked and maybe my vet will want to do some blood work. If I'm making something out of nothing, then all I'm out is money. But if I don't get it checked out and it turns out to be something, I'll never forgive myself and I don't want to cause her any more physical problems. This little 5 lb. calico girl has been through enough. As soon as I hear from my vet, I'll tell you what he said.

[lvpets2002]

Yes my Darling CH baby Taccoa does the tongue thing sometimes.. Usally when I am Loving on her & Talking to her is when she does this..

[Barbara]

I have noticed it in older cats- it is just as if they forget to pull it in. Tigris can be seen with it very rarely- but he is only 12
I think it looks cute dumb and I do not believe it is a bad sign.