We’ve all occasionally wished that our pets could speak, but their mouths, tongues and vocal cords just aren’t built for it. However, cats do sometimes use their tongues to communicate with us; they just employ a form of nonverbal communication — licking. This simple act sends a message that we, being only human, may not always understand — or appreciate.
Anyone who has ever been licked by a cat knows to expect one thing: the sudden sensation of a patch of skin being lightly sanded — over and over — by a small but astonishingly rough tongue. Sometimes while licking, a cat will even throw in a light nip or painful bite as well.
What message or sentiment is your cat trying to convey? What’s up with the biting? And why are cats’ tongues rough, anyway? Your feline pal can’t tell you — but we can.
