Cat tongues have papillae, which help them groom and feed themselves. Instagram/vet_techs_pj. Papillae have tiny keratin protein spines that transfer large amounts of saliva from mouth to fur.

Cat tongues really get put through the ringer: Domestic breeds spend up to a quarter of their waking hours engaged in fastidious grooming—and for good reason. “If you count all the hairs, a ...

Studying cat tongues might not seem like a promising jumping off point for new innovation, but for Georgia Institute of Technology doctoral candidate Alexis Noel, ...

With tongues from six cat species—domestic cat, bobcat, cougar, snow leopard, tiger, and lion—Noel and Hu got a closer look at the papillae, zooming in with a micro-CT scanner.

That cat tongues generally worked better was interesting but not surprising, van Kampen pointed out — after all, cats’ tongues are the result of millions of years of evolution, as opposed to a couple ...

Since 1982, scientists assumed cat tongues were shaped like a hollow cone. The Georgia Tech team, however, discovered that the papillae actually curve backward toward the throat, ...

By looking closely at cat tongues, research at MIT and Georgia Tech reveals clues to cats’ predatory prowess and finds inspiration for new technologies. Full Episode. Friday, Jul 4.

Cat tongues are covered in tiny, backward-facing spines called papillae. These papillae are made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails and cat claws.

Cat tongues are amazing little instruments that wick dust and dirt from furry pelts with every lick. This cleaning method may seem unhygienic to us, but it’s quite effective.

With their tongues, teeth, and paws, they’re usually able to keep themselves fresh and clean without any outside intervention. Sometimes, though, your cat might need help staying clean.