Cat Tongue Colors

[sivyaleah]

So, I've noticed for months that our black Maine Coon kitten's tongue is very dark colored in the middle. The part known as the filiform papillae, which is the area they use to groom themselves (and rip flesh from prey).

I keep forgetting to mention this to our vet - although Luna has been there numerous times since we got her and had her mouth looked at many times including having a PCR test done which means taking swab samples from her mouth. So our vet is very familiar with the interior of Luna's mouth and has never mentioned this being a problem.

I know some breeds of dogs have dark tongues such as the Chow Chow so I wonder if there are some breeds of cats that are similar or darker colored ones? I read some torties will show up with dark patches on their tongues and gums so perhaps this is something similar.

Aside from Luna having chronic mildly runny eyes (possible herpes - tested negative but may not have been shedding virus when tested) and potentially one partially blocked tear duct (we see a specialist in 2 weeks about that) she's healthy and nothing points to the kinds of things that would cause her tongue to turn black such as circulatory problems - and besides, it's always been that way since I can remember. Plus it isn't the whole tongue, just right down the middle and her gums look healthy.

I did some searching and got hits here at TCS but all of those turned out to be things like the cat was licking a dark colored blanket (I know that's not it here lol), or other minor things. And can't find anything else about whether or not some cats might be born with discolored tongues that are just a genetic anomaly - not health related.

Wondering if anyone has any idea about this? And certainly going to try to remember to ask the vet next time we are there!

 

[Jem]

Had Appeared Black Spots on Tongue in Cats - Is It Dangerous? | All about cats

I found this site that explains different reasons for discoloration on tongues.
I don't personally have experience with this.....that I know of. I'm going to take a peak at my kitties tongues more closely!

 

[sivyaleah]

Had Appeared Black Spots on Tongue in Cats - Is It Dangerous? | All about cats

I found this site that explains different reasons for discoloration on tongues.
I don't personally have experience with this.....that I know of. I'm going to take a peak at my kitties tongues more closely!

This is a great article, thanks. Reading that, it's very possible it's just her fur. She's extremely fastidious. More so than any of our other cats. Like, ridiculously so. Every time you pet her, she HAS to clean herself. I know that's a normal response but our other cats have never done it to the excess that she seems to do it. And being she is black and also long haired black I can see where the fur would be getting caught. I also think, sometimes it looks worse than others so this to might lead me to think it's her fur.

It certainly not some kind of deficiency. She's never been nutritionally deprived, and in fact for the first few months we were adding additional vitamins to all her meals (she got wise to it eventually and would refuse the food with it added). She eats a varied wet, grain free diet with no other fillers (i.e. no potatoes, peas, lentils etc), some high protein kibble because...kitten (which we're weaning her off of now that she's heading towards her 1st year) but her main meals are wet food. And any other snacks are pure protein with no other additives.

And it isn't spots. This was the first article that I've seen that directly addressed the possibility of this pigmentation being a natural occurrence due to the cat's dark coloration.

Good sleuthing! Thanks!

 

[Jem]

Well if you do the toothbrush thing that they mention in the article, (if kitty will let you!) then you'll know for sure it's fur.

 

[sivyaleah]

Well if you do the toothbrush thing that they mention in the article, (if kitty will let you!) then you'll know for sure it's fur.

Please, I can barely clean her eyes with a damp cloth every morning. Major treat bribes must be paid. I can't even imagine what I'd have to do to get a toothbrush into her mouth

 

[Jem]

Dip it in tuna water and see if she will lick the bristles. With the mouth open a bit, if she licks it, you might be able to get a couple of swipes in....just wear some protective gear...LOL!
Either that, or give her some textured treats of sort and then see if her tongue looks "cleaner". Maybe some wet pate with little bits of crushed dry treats or kibble in it. They did say in the article that eating does remove fur as well.