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Why do cats groom themselves with their tongues?

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A Maine Coon longhair cat with cream and white fur sits beside a tabby shorthair cat in a garden with green foliage in the background. — cat Two kinds of domestic cats.

Cats groom themselves with their tongues because they are covered in backward-pointing, barb-like spines called papillae. These spines give the tongue a raspy, sandpaper-like texture that acts as an effective tool for cleaning.12

This behavior serves several essential purposes:

Hygiene and Health: Grooming removes dirt, dust, dead skin, and loose hair. It also distributes sebaceous oils across the coat, which provides water resistance and keeps the fur healthy.12
Survival: By removing odors, cats remain stealthy and undetected by predators in the wild.1
Physiological Regulation: The process stimulates blood circulation, and the evaporation of saliva helps the cat regulate its body temperature.12
Social and Emotional Well-being: Grooming is a soothing activity that reduces stress. When cats groom one another, a behavior known as allogrooming, it reinforces social bonds and reduces tension within a group.1

Would you like to know more about how to assist your cat with grooming, particularly for long-haired breeds?