Question

Describe how the properties of water allow cats to drink in this fashion, including how water's molecular structure contribute to this process

Answer 1

Answer : Cats have a unique feature while they lap. They tend to extend their tongues straight down towards the bowl so that the top of the tongue touches the liquid surface first. They then curl the tip of the tongue backwards and store the liquid and suck it back into mouth.

This was different when a video on cat’s lapping mechanism was released by MIT. It showed that it’s far more subtle and elegant. Their smooth tipped tongue barely even touches the liquid, when suddenly the cat draws its tongue back up. A column of liquid forms during this process between the cat’s tongue and the liquid. This also keeps its chin dry as it enjoys the liquid.

A liquid adhesion works as the cat’s tongue touches the liquid causing some of the liquid to stick to the tongue. But as the cat draws back the tongue in a fraction of a second, inertia works overcoming gravity resulting in the liquid to enter the mouth. It closes its mouth before gravity overcomes inertia and the liquid falls back in the bowl.

Answer 2

The way a cat drinks liquid is credited to the two forces that they have to balance: inertia and gravity. The cat doesn't dip its tongue to the liquid. It just merely touches the surface. As it touches the surface, there is an adhesive force that attracts the water molecules to the surface of the tongue of the cat. The cat then brings it back in a fast pace taking advantage of the inertia before gravity overcomes and the water drops back to the bowl. So, the contribution of the water molecules are in the adhesive force. The rest is the work of the cat's motion.