What is the anatomy of a cat's tongue, and how does it differ from other animals?
1 Answer
The anatomy of a cat's tongue is quite different from other animals. Cats have small, backward-facing barbs on the surface of their tongue which they use to groom themselves and to help them eat. These barbs, called papillae, are made of keratin and help the cat to hold onto food and groom itself. The papillae also help cats to drink by creating a vacuum when they lap up water. This anatomy is unique to cats and other felines and is not seen in other animals.