Why does my kitten's tongue feel like sandpaper? Is it normal?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This can be normal for long-haired kittens. As she grows and gets her adult coat, it will start looking less silly. Playful biting is also normal for kittens. I recommend getting her a toy or two that is appropriate for her to bite and claw at. This will decrease anxiety, decrease biting at you, and strengthen your bond with each other. Best of luck to you and Jandi!

Whether her tongue texture will return to normal or not would depend on the cause for the damage in the first place. The little bristles on the tongue should grown back as the body replaces those cells. However, if there is scar tissue from the damage (or even something like cancer of the tongue), they may not grow back. It is quite possible that she isn't grooming like normal because her tongue hurts. You can help her stay clean by brushing her daily. If she won't eat or drink, this could be from pain or other illness and should be addressed with your vet, especially if it goes on longer than 24 hours. This could also be a side effect of the medications she is on.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is not necessarily a problem. In fact, this is most likely a normal change in pigmentation. If this ever develops a mass effect, I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment. Best of luck!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It does sound unusual. I suspect Acorn was born with neurological problems or muscle atrophy and now he is not able to use the tongue properly. If he is not able to latch on the nipple and feed because of the problems with the tongue, you may have to start bottle feed him. It will be really a good idea if the kitten is examined by a vet to find out what is exactly stopping Acorn from moving the tongue.

Kittens will go through growing phases where their coat will look more dull or more shiny until they reach adult age. I would not be overly concerned based on those photos you posted - I think he looks normal. Once he is closer to adulthood you can have a better idea of how the coat is really doing and you can make a judgment from there if you need to change foods or add in a coat supplement to the diet.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! For a kitten Noushmc's age the gums should be a light pink and the tongue should be pink (darker shade than the gums). If the gums are white that is an emergency and indicates a severe anemia. I hope this helps and have a great day!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She is adorable! Some cats do this and it is normal. It doesn't usually indicate that they are sick. They tend to stick a bit of their tongue out when they are relaxed and/or sleeping. It isn't an indication of stress. Sometimes it goes away with age. I wouldn't worry too much if she is eating, drinking and playful. Have a good day!