My cats tongue is always poking out

Our question this week was:

My cat is about 8 now and has always been very timid/nervous but healthy cat For the past week or so I have noticed the tip of her tongue is always poking out of her mouth? Is there a medical reason for this that I should be worried about or is normal?

Amy Bird

Answer

Hi – Thanks for your email. Interesting. This is not a common problem in my experience. The things I’d worry about with a cat sticking her tongue out is that she has some sort of oral or tooth problem. It is possible she has a bad tooth, has lost a tooth, has mouth pain or an oral ulceration. That would be my first concern. If you can examine her mouth, look for any abnormalities or missing/loose teeth. The best thing to do is to have her examined by your veterinarian to see what is going on. In the meantime, make sure she is eating well and maintaining her weight. If she is not eating, vomiting, or acting lethargic, call your vet immediately.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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