I think the word "flense" is poorly chosen. The etymology of "flense" describes a rather different process.
Flense (?), v. t. [Cf. Dan. flense, D. vlensen, vlenzen, Scot. flinch.] To strip the blubber or skin from, as from a whale, seal,

Flensing involves careful dissection to remove the blubber in large pieces. The text in the magazine describes removal of hair or tissue by the spikes on the big cat's tongue. For this the word "rasp" would be a much better description.