Summary
A cat's tongue is covered in tiny backward-facing hooks. Deep Look zooms in to show how these little spines groom fur, scrape meat off bones, and even help a cat drink.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
Those rough bumps on a cat's tongue aren't random — each is a tiny scoop-shaped hook. The structure helps the cat clean its fur and get every last bit of food.
- What do the tiny hooks on a cat's tongue help it do?
- Why is grooming its fur important for a cat's survival?
- How is a cat's tongue like a comb and a spoon at the same time?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: structure, spine, groom, tongue.
Try it: Run your finger over a rough sponge, then a smooth one. Write which one would clean fur better and why.