Cat Sticks Tongue Out When Petted – 8 Reasons Why!

Anytime you can cuddle up and pet your cat, it’s really enjoyable. Of course, all cats are a little different in how they handle being petted. Some may roll around, some may purr, and other cats might stick their tongues out. That last behavior is puzzling, and leaves many wondering; why does my cat stick his tongue out when I pet him?

Cats stick their tongue out when petted to show affection and as a social response. Cats also stick their tongues out to gain your scent, analyze different textures, relax their jaw, or are dealing with dental issues. Other reasons include underlying health conditions such as Flehmen Response.

While cats sticking their tongues out might seem odd at first, it’s actually quite normal for it to happen. We’ll dive into all the various reasons why a cat may be sticking its tongue out when you pet them.

Reasons Cats Stick Their Tongue Out When Being Petted

Cats have a reason for everything they do. This includes sticking their tongue out as a response to your love and affection. So, why exactly do they do it? Well, there are six main reasons we’ve identified that could be causing your cat to behave this way. Below is the complete list of reasons why cats stick their tongues out when you pet their fur, and some detailed explanations behind each.

1. Flehmen Response

Flehmen response is the most likely cause of a cat sticking its tongue out when being petted. But what exactly is Flehmen response and how does it affect cats?

Flehmen response is when an animal curls its top lip. That causes the inside of the mouth to be exposed as they inhale. The postured is usually held, and so as a result the tongue will stick out if it’s a cat.

The entire point of Flehmen response is for cats to transfer pheromones and other scents. That transfer is a cat’s way of communicating with others or simply mark territory.

When you pet a cat, it’s instant gratification for them. So, sticking their tongues out in the process and passing on those pheromones is their way of saying “hey, I like you”. It’s a sign of affection and entirely normal for them to do.

2. Your Cat Is Being Affectionate

Picking up on the Flehmen response, your cat sticks its tongue out when you pet them because they are being affectionate. Many times the tongue sticking out will be accompanied by a gentle purr and rolling on their backside, exposing the belly.

Sometimes a cat might even end up drooling in the process, so do be prepared for this to happen from time to time. Cats might show affection differently depending on where you pet them, the pressure applied, and how often.

So sometimes, you might have a cat that doesn’t stick its tongue out every time you pet them, however, don’t take that as a sign of them not being affectionate. It’s quite the opposite.

3. Your Cat Is Analyzing Scents And Textures

Cats who stick their tongues out are for the most part analyzing scents and textures, not just being affectionate. This is partly connected to Flehmen response.

Cats have a unique ability to process a ton of information by simply opening their mouths. Thinking about the following when you pet your cat:

• the clothing you are wearing
• other scents in the room
• how are you petting them

Some cats might only stick their tongues out when you wear a certain pair of pants. Sounds weird, but it’s true. In addition to that, if there’s a certain vibe in the room be it a certain scent or time of day, they may be more inclined to behave this way too.

How you pet your cat matters. Petting flat-handed vs scratching or quick rubbing might cause your cat to process all the different textures they are being petted with. Or perhaps you’re using a petting glove that they really enjoy, or maybe a brush.

Cats are very reactive, and the response of sticking their tongue out is likely due to association. Observe your cat as you pet them and see if you can identify the different patterns that cause them to react one way or another.

4. Your Cat May Be Experiencing A Medical Response

While most instances of a cat sticking its tongue out is just affection and gathering information about its surroundings, it can sometimes be a response to medicine that your cat may have recently taken.

Any kind of dose of medicine can cause cats to be lethargic and relaxed. When the jaw relaxes, naturally a cat will leave its mouth open and the tongue can naturally fall out.

If it’s medicine for anxiety issues, then the jaw muscles will relax and your cat will stick its tongue out, especially when petting begins. It’s important to remember that this stage of relaxation is only temporary.

5. Something Is Causing Your Cat Dental Issues

Anytime your cat is having issues in the mouth area, it’s essential that you consider dental issues as a potential cause. Dental issues could be as simple as food stuck in their teeth. It’s not uncommon for a cat to stick its tongue out repeatedly to loosen food between the teeth. So, if your cat has recently finished eating and you just began the petting session, the tongue is sticking out is most surely related to that.

In some cases, if your cat has cavities or tooth sensitivity, it can naturally cause them some pain. When a cat’s mouth is hurting it’ll react accordingly. They will make an effort to relax the jaw to ease the pain.

If they’ve recently had dental surgery, the medications given might cause numbness to the mouth area, and so the tongue will stick out regardless.

Common dental issues that can cause your cat to stick it’s tongue out, whether being petted or not include:

• gum disease
• cavities
• cracked teeth
• tooth decay
•  cervical neck lesions
• plack buildup

If you notice the tongue behavior is correlating with any dental issues, then you will want to take your cat to a vet. They can put them on a treatment plan, clean their teeth, and even steer you to healthy dental treats to keep your cats mouth in great shape.

6. There’s An Underlying Health Condition

Your cat may be sticking its tongue out when you pet them because of an underlying health condition. While these cases are not the most common, they are something to consider.

Below is a list of some common health conditions that may cause a cat to stick its tongue out:

Respiratory Infection

Respiratory infections are the most common. This can be something as simple as a cold, or your cat might have trouble breathing. Typically, a clear discharge can be seen leaving your cats nose or eye area when there’s a respiratory infection.

Your cat will likely have slight coughs, sneezing, and even mucous buildup. As a natural response, they will stick their tongues out and accompany that with excessive drooling.

Feline Dementia

Dementia is also another possible cause. In this instance, your cat is likely experiencing some cognitive disfunction.

How they process your touch is causing their body to respond awkwardly, which may result in them sticking out their tongues. For some cats, the tongue will always stick out whether you pet them or not due to this condition.

Stomatitis

When your cat has an inflamed oral area, it’s due to Stomatitis. The gums, teeth and entire mouth area will be in significant pain due to this condition. More severe conditions can lead to bleeding in the mouth area too.

This condition will cause cats to not only stick their tongues out, but to also drool and pant frequently. So, if you’re petting your cat but notice they are having sensitivity in the mouth area, they could be experiencing discomfort there.

Keep an eye on their eating and drinking habits, chances are the petting is not the cause.

Vision Issues

Sometimes older cats may have vision issues. When a cat can’t see well, the only way they can survey their surroundings is by using their senses. They may stick out their tongues to gather information as a result.

7. Your Cat Is Blepping To Balance Its Body Temperature

Have you ever seen a cat blep before? If so, it’s one of the oddest looking facial gestures, but there is a purpose behind it.

Blepping is the act of cats sticking out their tongues. Sometimes it’s to gather scents, but most times, it’s a cat’s way of relaxing the jaw, sticking out the tongue, and regulating their body temperature.

Cats blep in humid conditions as well, not when it’s just cold. That’s why the location of where you pet your cat is important, because you may not always catch them sticking their tongues out depending where this happens.

For example, if you pet them while they are waking by, they might not stick their tongue out. However, if they hop on your lap and your leg is warm, then they might stick their tongue out as you pet them because the entire area has them warmer than usual.

8. Your Cat Is Tired

Cats love to play. The more they play, the more exhausted they become. Naturally, if you pet your cat immediately after a play session, you may catch them panting and sticking their tongue out.

That’s simply a sign of a tired cat and nothing to be concerned with.

Final Thoughts

The mystery of why cats stick their tongues out when you pet them is still puzzling to some pet owners. Cat’s don’t communicate the same way other pets do, and it’s all about connecting the dots.

When you observe your cat doing this behavior ask yourself the following:

• What was my cat doing prior to being petted
• Does my cat stick it’s tongue out when I pet them one way vs the other
• When did this behavior start
• Does it matter which hand I pet my cat with to cause them to stick their tongue out
• Does my cat have any health conditions

By answering those few questions, it’ll help you narrow down the root cause of the behavior. Cats are creatures of habit, so they tend to repeat behaviors based on certain conditions.

In the end, the behavior for the most part is normal and nothing to be concerned about. Your cat is likely sticking their tongue out to communicate affection and excitement about being petted.