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

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

letahl — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:31:58 -0800

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?

By: 2bucksplus

2bucksplus — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:37:27 -0800

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.

By: greekphilosophy

greekphilosophy — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:37:52 -0800

I've had cats do exactly that, but I've never experienced that sensation.

By: olecranon

olecranon — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:55:55 -0800

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?

By: letahl

letahl — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:00:54 -0800

Darn it, olecranon! You just made me do it to myself. Eck!

By: soplerfo

soplerfo — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:53:05 -0800

I get this too

By: chelseagirl

chelseagirl — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:00:07 -0800

Oh totally, both on the tongue and cat triggers.

By: thewalrusispaul

thewalrusispaul — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:37:45 -0800

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...

By: mdn

mdn — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:51:25 -0800

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?

By: frobozz

frobozz — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:03:52 -0800

Like mdn, I've never experienced anything remotely like this.

By: thedaniel

thedaniel — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:38:48 -0800

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.

By: Afroblanco

Afroblanco — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:35:49 -0800

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.

By: metasav

metasav — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:46:29 -0800

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.

By: roofus

roofus — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:26:07 -0800

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

By: jennyjenny

jennyjenny — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:50:51 -0800

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.

By: empty commercial spaces

empty commercial spaces — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:39:19 -0800

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.

By: BeaverTerror

BeaverTerror — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:50:17 -0800

I get this at the barber's.

By: Bear

Bear — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:57:22 -0800

I get it when touching any two-ply paper product. The thought of gauze in my mouth makes my teeth itch!

By: tomble

tomble — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:47:40 -0800

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.

By: soviet sleepover

soviet sleepover — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:22:02 -0800

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...

By: squarehead

squarehead — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:21:47 -0800

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.

By: letahl

letahl — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 05:07:49 -0800

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!

By: Elysum

Elysum — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:02:58 -0800

Hmmm, was it only when the the side of your cheek/lip gets stroked?

While it might also be a form of synaesthesia, I'm wondering if it's being caused by a vestigial rooting or search reflex?

By which I mean, the searching or rooting reflex, is an instinctive response in babies to turn their head and find something to suck on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_reflexes#Rooting_reflex

I only learned you could have aspects of that continue to adulthood, because I had a boyfriend who snapped his teeth at me when I jokingly stroked his cheek.
Turns out he has, and had, a mostly involuntary search reflex as a kid, and had converted it into an 'attempt to bite' reflex when his family found it hilarious. It's still mostly automatic though.

Thing is, I wonder if something like that might just cause a weird feeling in the mouth - like you're supposed to do something?
Anyway, really old post, but fun theorising. ;)

By: letahl

letahl — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:12:38 -0800

Elysum,

Next time it happens I'll see if I feel the urge to suck on or bite something!