Cat tongues are covered in small spines called papillae. These contain keratin, a protein commonly found in hair and claws that helps keep your cat's fur soft and smooth.
The papillae are very rough, a little bit like a rasp. So, when a cat washes, this rasp goes deep into the fur touching the skin. The dragging spines stimulate skin glands into releasing a series of body chemicals that help make the coat water-resistant.
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