Cat磗 tongue. Coloured scanning electron micrograph SEM of the surface of a cat磗 family Felidae tongue. The tongue is covered in many backward facing projections called filiform papillae. These tough structures are used to clean the cat磗 fur and to rasp meat from its prey. The flat round structures, some of which can be seen at upper left, are fungiform papillae, which contain the taste buds.