Help me explain what I call "cat mouth" to my boyfriend.

January 11, 2008 10:31 AM

Help me explain what I call "cat mouth" to my boyfriend.

When I had cats, if one of them walked in front of me while I was at the computer, and their hair softly brushed against the front of my face, the entire inside of my mouth would go all funny. It is like a cross between pins and needles and cotton mouth, but a very strong sensation. I call this sensation "cat mouth" per its origin.

I can also get it if something else brushes against my cheek or lips just very slightly, especially if it is fuzzy in texture. It is not a pleasant feeling at all, although its not painful.

Does anyone have any idea what causes this, or what it is? Am I the only person that gets this?

posted by letahl to health (21 comments total)

You are not alone. I have something very similar that I refer to as "sound of paper towel ripping" mouth. Hear the sound, get the feeling in my mouth. Ack.
posted by 2bucksplus at 10:37 AM on January 11

I've had cats do exactly that, but I've never experienced that sensation.
posted by greekphilosophy at 10:37 AM on January 11

I get a sensation that sounds like this if I brush the roof of my mouth with my tongue. Does that make anything happen for you?
posted by olecranon at 10:55 AM on January 11

Darn it, olecranon! You just made me do it to myself. Eck!
posted by letahl at 11:00 AM on January 11

I get this too
posted by soplerfo at 12:53 PM on January 11

Oh totally, both on the tongue and cat triggers.
posted by chelseagirl at 2:00 PM on January 11

I get that feeling whenever I touch something made of wool or hear paper towels ripping as mentioned aboved. Makes me feel like I'm chewing on a wool sweater or a bath towel.

I have to go get a glass of water now...
posted by thewalrusispaul at 2:37 PM on January 11

wow. no idea what y'all are talking about & quite curious to hear what it is and how common it is. Especially re: the "brush the roof of my mouth with my tongue" part - doesn't your tongue touch the roof of your mouth all the time? How do you avoid having this feeling multiple times a day?
posted by mdn at 2:51 PM on January 11

Like mdn, I've never experienced anything remotely like this.
posted by frobozz at 3:03 PM on January 11

I get this all the time, generally caused by touching something of a specific texture.. not that I can recall the texture, but I will be sure to take notes next time.
posted by thedaniel at 4:38 PM on January 11

Whenever I'm in an apartment that has cats, I always feel like I have cathair stuck in my stubble. I don't know if the cathair is there or not, but it always seems that it is, no matter how much I try to wipe it off my face.

It's one of the reasons that I kinda hate cats.
posted by Afroblanco at 11:35 PM on January 11

Oh, wow. Everyone makes fun of me, but I get this whenever I touch suede or fake suede or almost anything with that brushed ...eck...texture. Like my tongue is going to crumble up, in a weird spiky way. I have grown up with cats and only sometimes felt "cat mouth" (which I just call "oogie") but I'm with you all the way. You mention your computer and it makes me wonder if static is part of the problem. I feel this "cat mouth" with cats and suede far more intensely in the winter.

As far as what causes it and how to explain it to your boyfriend, hmmm. It's a bit akin to "nails on a chalkboard...in your mouth."

To me, anyhow.
posted by metasav at 12:46 AM on January 12

The technical academic psychology term for it is an "aversion".
posted by roofus at 9:26 AM on January 12

I get this sensation whenever I touch that material that covers airplane pillows. Or think or airplane pillows. Eeeeeegh. It's definitely a feeling in the mouth, not related to vomiting, but similar, like all my tastebuds are standing on end.
posted by jennyjenny at 11:50 AM on January 12

I get this too with certain textures, but I kind of like it. So maybe it's not as overpowering as you guys have.


The technical academic psychology term for it is an "aversion".

I think this is more than that, though. This is some kind of weird, senses-spilling-over-into-each-other physical thing.
posted by empty commercial spaces at 1:39 PM on January 12

I get this at the barber's.
posted by BeaverTerror at 5:50 PM on January 12

I get it when touching any two-ply paper product. The thought of gauze in my mouth makes my teeth itch!
posted by Bear at 5:57 PM on January 12

I have been told that `cat mouth' in Chinese refers to someone who has a strong aversion to hot foods. (Ever see a cat eat something slightly hotter than body temperature? Hilarious!).

I get a feeling in my teeth from some textures, sanding wood does it for me if I haven't done that in a while, but I get used to it pretty quickly. My mother can't stand the thought of a wire brush on suede.
posted by tomble at 2:47 PM on January 13

Tomble, in Japan having a "cat's tongue" means you have an aversion to hot foods.

Is "cat mouth"/"two-ply paper mouth" the same as "pickle mouth"? When I think of (or anticipate eating) pickles or other highly acidic foods, my mouth waters in a kind of shivery way...
posted by soviet sleepover at 5:22 PM on January 13

empty commercial spaces: "I think this is more than that, though. This is some kind of weird, senses-spilling-over-into-each-other physical thing."

Which seems similar to synesthesia. Could this be that? I think maybe not.

I've never had that kind of sensation in my mouth, but I get what I think is the same sort of nails-on-chalkboard sensation when I hear or think about someone scratching their nails on fabric, particularly denim, but that seems to be the sensation of a physical response to the stimulus, not a purely psychological response.
posted by squarehead at 4:21 PM on January 14

Is "cat mouth"/"two-ply paper mouth" the same as "pickle mouth"? When I think of (or anticipate eating) pickles or other highly acidic foods, my mouth waters in a kind of shivery way...

Hm... my sensation is more like metasav's "Like my tongue is going to crumble up, in a weird spiky way", nothing watery or shivery.

I like the synesthesia link. It is very similar to that if not that specifically. Yeay!
posted by letahl at 5:07 AM on January 15