Why can cats only lick and drink water? What is the process of drinking water like?

The reason why cats choose to lick water instead of sucking water is because cats and other carnivores have much fewer facial muscles than humans. After weaning, they cannot seal their mouths to generate suction, so they must rely on their tongues. Put the water in your mouth.

Researchers from MIT, Virginia Tech and Princeton University repeatedly played footage of domestic cats drinking water captured by high-speed cameras and found that, contrary to previous knowledge, the cat’s tongue was not completely immersed in the water. It is to quickly retract the tip of the tongue after it touches the water surface, so that a small water column will be formed between the moving tongue and the water surface.

The water column will "fly" to the cat's mouth with the cat's tongue. At this time, the cat will close its mouth and drink the water "delivered to the door" without getting its chin wet.