Why does my cat stick his tongue out?

3 min read Updated on October 8, 2026

In shortMost of the time, he simply forgot it: your cat relaxed, dozed off or got distracted in the middle of grooming, and the tip of his tongue stayed out. Flat-faced cats and cats who have lost teeth do it more often, because the tongue is held in less well. It is harmless if it lasts seconds or minutes with the mouth closed. A tongue that stays out with drooling, bad breath or open-mouth breathing, on the other hand, needs a vet.

What it often means

Relaxation: when he dozes or sleeps, his muscles loosen and the tip of his tongue slips out between his teeth.
Interrupted grooming: a noise distracted him mid-lick, and his tongue stayed where it was.
A smell to analyze: after the open-mouthed grimace that follows a good sniff, the tongue may stay visible for a moment.
The shape of his head or teeth: a flat face, a short jaw or teeth missing after extractions leave the tongue less well held.
Less often, a problem: dental pain, a tongue ulcer, a foreign object, nausea, or trouble breathing.

Signals to read at the same time

How long: a few seconds or minutes before he pulls it back is ordinary; hours, or every day when it is new, needs checking.
His mouth and breathing: mouth closed and calm breathing is fine; mouth open and panting at rest is not normal in a cat.
The color of his tongue and gums: pink is normal; pale, white, bluish or gray is an emergency.
Mouth signs: drooling, bad breath, dropping food, chewing on one side, pawing at his mouth.

What you can do

If it is a relaxed “blep”, leave him be: he will pull his tongue in on his own when he wakes or at the first noise. No need to touch it.
Get him used to you checking his mouth, with a treat as a reward: gums, teeth and breath, once a month.
If you see a thread or string hanging from his mouth, never pull it: it may be caught far down in the intestine. Head to the vet.
If he pants after intense play, stop the game and let him rest somewhere cool: his breathing should be back to normal within a few minutes.
If the tongue tip has started showing often, film it and note when it happens: that is valuable for your vet.

When to see a vet

See a vet promptly if the tongue stays out for long or if it is new, with drooling, bad breath, blood, trouble eating, or a swollen or damaged tongue. Tartar and inflamed gums, ulcers sometimes caused by a virus, a foreign object, nausea or contact with an irritating product are among the possible causes. It is an emergency if he breathes with his mouth open at rest, if his gums are pale, bluish or gray, or if he seems weak: a breathing problem, heart disease or heatstroke are possible.

Frequently asked questions

My Persian often has his tongue tip out. Is that serious?

Not in itself. In the Persian and other flat-faced breeds, the jaw is short and the tongue has less room. Check that it stays moist and pink, that he eats normally and does not drool. These cats have dental and breathing problems more often: regular mouth checks are a good idea.

His tongue sticks out since he had teeth pulled. Is that normal?

Yes, it is common, especially when canine teeth were removed: the tongue has lost its stopper. It is not painful in itself. Watch the healing during the first weeks, and see your vet if the tongue dries out or bleeds, or if he eats poorly.

He sticks his tongue out at me. Is he mocking me?

No, there is no message behind it. The “blep” mostly happens when he is relaxed, often near you or on your lap: if anything, it is a sign he feels safe. He pulls his tongue back in as soon as he really wakes up or a noise catches his attention.

Mimo reads behavior. It does not replace a vet.