What Is Blepping in Cats?
A “cat blep” is when the tip of your cat’s tongue sticks out slightly, often for no clear reason. It usually happens after your cat finishes an activity like grooming, eating, stretching, or playing. While it may look like a continuation of grooming or resemble panting, a blep is different from both. It’s not an intentional action—it’s more like your cat simply forgot to pull their tongue all the way back in!
How Is Blepping Different From Panting or Licking?
Panting is usually related to heat or stress—it often occurs when your cat is overheating, anxious, or under physical strain. Licking, on the other hand, can be part of normal grooming behavior or a response to discomfort or pain.
Blepping is different. It’s typically a harmless, reflexive action—more of a cute quirk than a sign of distress. Unlike panting or licking, it isn’t usually triggered by heat, stress, or pain. Of course, there are some exceptions, and we’ll cover those a bit later.
Why Do Cats Blep? Cat Blep Meaning
So, why does your cat blep? This adorably odd behavior can actually have a few surprising causes.
Exploring Their Surroundings With Their Tongue
Cats have highly sensitive taste receptors and often use their tongues to explore the world around them. Just like dogs, cats may stick out their tongues to investigate a new texture, taste, or even to test the temperature of an object. Sometimes, a quick lick turns into an accidental blep.
The Flehmen Response and Pheromone Detection
If your cat makes a strange, scrunched-up face like they just stepped in something gross, you're probably seeing the Flehmen response. This comical-looking behavior helps your cat process complex scents, especially pheromones.
According to PetMD, the Flehmen response involves your cat drawing air through the Jacobson’s organ (or vomeronasal organ), located on the roof of their mouth. This organ analyzes scent molecules and sends that info to the brain.
Pheromones from another cat—especially a new feline friend or a neighborhood stray—almost always trigger this quirky response.
Relaxation and Absent-Minded Moments
When your cat is totally relaxed, purring, or even starting to drift off to sleep, their jaw muscles naturally loosen. This can cause the mouth to open slightly, letting the tip of the tongue peek out. That’s the classic relaxed blep!
Some cats may even drool a little during these moments—don’t worry, it’s just a sign of deep comfort and contentment.
Why Is My Cat Blepping During Sleep?
Seeing your cat blep while sleeping might be surprising, but it’s usually nothing to worry about. The most common cause of the cat tongue blep during sleep is simply relaxation.
Their muscles are slack, they’re calm, and they might even be dreaming—perhaps about exploring or sniffing around new places. All of this can lead to a sleepy little tongue sticking out.
When Cats Blep While Focused or Curious
If your cat is in the middle of grooming and suddenly spots a bird outside, they might freeze mid-action and stare. That stare might come with a blep.
In these moments of intense focus or curiosity, their tongue can stay suspended as they become engrossed in what they’re watching. It’s like they’re too fascinated to remember to put their tongue away!
Why Do Animals Blep in General?
Cats blep—but they’re not the only ones! Dogs, rabbits, lizards, goats, and many other animals blep too. In general, blepping is a reflexive behavior often triggered by a strong or interesting smell in the environment. It may also occur when animals are relaxed, distracted, or have certain anatomical traits that make blepping more likely.
Do Some Cats Blep More Than Others?
Yes, some cats do blep more often than others—and it usually comes down to either breed characteristics or physical differences like dental structure.
Breed-Specific Traits (Flat-Faced Breeds)
Brachycephalic (flat-faced) cats such as Persians, Burmese, British Shorthairs, and Himalayans tend to blep more frequently. Why?
These breeds have:
Shortened skulls
Shallow jaws
Overcrowded or misaligned teeth
This combination makes it harder for them to fully retract their tongue, which increases the likelihood of an adorable little blep happening.
Cats With Missing Teeth
Cats who have lost teeth—whether due to age, dental disease, or injury—are also more prone to blepping. That’s because teeth help keep the tongue in place. When there are gaps, the tongue can more easily slip forward without the cat even noticing.
Should You Be Concerned About Your Cat’s Blep?
Most bleps are completely harmless—and usually quite adorable! But if blepping is accompanied by other symptoms, it could be a sign of an underlying issue that needs a vet’s attention.
Normal vs. Abnormal Blepping
It’s normal for a cat to blep when it's happy, relaxed, or curious. Some cats naturally blep more than others, so it’s important not to worry if your cat doesn’t blep very often.
Abnormal blepping is blepping that becomes excessive or comes with other warning signs, such as the ones listed below.
Dental disease or mouth injury
Signs that your cat’s blepping is abnormal and related to their mouth include:
Drooling
Aversion to food/change of appetite
Pawing at the mouth
Swelling
Vocalizations when eating/drinking
Bad breath
Neurological conditions and excessive blepping
Neurological conditions can also cause excessive blepping. Signs that your cat’s blep is due to a possible neurological problem include:
Head tilting
Balance issues
Disorientation
Weakness in lower body
These symptoms should always be discussed with your vet, especially if they appear suddenly.
Blepping in senior cats
Cats who have lived a good life and reached their senior years are more likely to blep than kittens or adolescent cats. This is due to a number of factors including the aforementioned tooth loss and a general loss of muscle mass—including in their tongue and jaw!
If your excessively blepping cat is a senior, book them a wellness visit with their veterinarian to rule out any age-related health concerns.
Blepping Type | What It Looks Like | Likely Cause | What to Do |
Relaxed Blepping | Tongue sticks out while sleeping or being petted | Muscle relaxation, deep comfort | No action needed |
Curious Blepping | Tongue out mid-play or mid-grooming | Distraction, focus | Totally normal |
Breed-Related Blepping | Frequent blepping in flat-faced or toothless cats | Anatomy (short skull, missing teeth) | Monitor for changes, optional DNA test |
Excessive Blepping | Repeated bleps + drooling, bad breath, or swelling | Dental issues or oral discomfort | Vet check recommended |
Neurological Blepping | Blepping with balance issues or disorientation | Possible neurological problem | Immediate vet attention needed |
Senior Cat Blepping | Increased blepping with age | Muscle/jaw weakening, tooth loss | Schedule senior wellness vet visit |
When to Contact Your Veterinarian
You should reach out to your vet if your cat’s blepping seems abnormal—especially when it’s frequent and paired with any of the following signs:
Bad breath/foul odors from the mouth
Swelling
Drooling
Bleeding
Behavioral changes
Why the Internet Loves Cats Blepping
Even though blepping serves real sensory and biological purposes, it’s also just plain adorable—and the internet agrees.
From viral memes and TikToks to Reddit threads dedicated to “blep wars,” it’s clear that the charming little tongue peek has won over pet lovers everywhere. Whether your cat is mid-groom or caught in a sleepy daze, a blep moment is always camera-worthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when you’re petting your cat and their tongue tip is sticking out of their mouth?
If a cat sticks their tongue out when you’re petting them, it means that you should keep going! In general, a blep that takes place during a petting session means that your cat is happy and relaxed.
Why does my cat blep a lot?
Cats can blep a lot for a number of reasons. Some breeds, such as those with flat faces, blep more than others, and senior cats or those with neurological issues may also blep more.
Why does a cat sleep with its tongue out?
This is a sign of relaxation. When a cat bleps during sleep, it’s usually because the cat’s jaw muscles are relaxed, which enables the tongue to slip out.
Is a cats blepping bad?
Nope! Most of the time cat bleps are nothing more than quirky, endearing behaviors that indicate relaxation, happiness, or curiosity.
Do cats blep when stressed?
Blepping isn’t typically a symptom of cat stress. However, it could be possible that excessive blepping is a unique stress-induced behavior for your specific cat. If you’re concerned about your cat’s stress and an increase in blepping, reach out to your local vet.
