Why Does Your Cat’s Tongue Feel Like Sandpaper?

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Cat anatomy is endlessly fascinating to me. Cats have some unique anatomical abilities that they share with no other species, and this is true for their tongue as well. That sandpaper sensation is caused by what is one of nature’s perfect designs: the cat’s tongue allows her to groom and to consume her prey.

Anatomy of the cat’s tongue

The cat’s tongue is covered with tiny, backward facing barbs called papillae. These papillae are made from keratin, the same...