You must have seen those long projecting hairs from the cat’s face - would they look cute if they don’t have those hairs?We don’t think so. By the way, those are called whiskers.Be it short, curly, long, or straight: whiskers are one of the cutest and notable parts of the feline face. They don’t only make them beautiful, but they also serve many important purposes. They are loaded with nerves and help to navigate the world. Whiskers are also called vibrissae which have been derived from a Latin word, ‘vibrio’ which means to ‘vibrate’.Unlike normal fur hair, cat whiskers are deeply embedded in their body and are connected to the muscles and nerve endings. It helps to send sensory messages to the brain and make them savvy explorers. Don’t think those cat whiskers are just limited to the muzzle as there are other prominent regions where shorter whiskers can be found are above the eyes, ears, jawline, front legs. Paw whiskers help to determine the movement of prey and hunt easily.These tactile hairs on the muzzle are evenly distributed, each side has 12 whiskers so that your kitty can easily detect the environment. Cats use their whiskers as a built-in ruler and gauge how tight space is. Don’t get worried if your kitty sheds its whiskers as, like other hairs on a cat’s body, whiskers shed too and do grow back. However, never try to cut them on your own as these hairs are very vital for the cat to sense the environment. Also, don’t pull them as it would be quite painful for the cat.Let’s read more fun facts on Why do cats have whiskers? and if you find this article interesting, don’t forget to check out other exciting articles on Why do cats sneeze? and Why do cats throw up on Kidadl?Why do cats have whiskers on their paws?Just like facial, ear, and muzzle hairs, the feline possesses whiskers on paws. It is true that a cat’s whiskers are really adorable, but they serve as a sensory organ. Cats’ sensitive hairs play a very significant role in how the pet would perceive the world or environment.The whiskers on their paws are generally called carpal whiskers. Cats are known for their exceptional hunting skills and whiskers on paws are one of the reasons they are exceptional hunters; the whiskers aka the GPS and radar system helps to locate the prey easily. They also provide information about objects within their grasp.During the night and dark places, the radar system helps in hunting and defending themselves even in low vision. You must be wondering why these small animals have exceptional agility? It is just because they make fast decisions when it comes to their movements and whereabouts.Do cats have feelings in their whiskers?Three to four horizontal lines of facial hairs or whiskers can be found on either side of the nose. Generally, a cat has around 24 whiskers on average. Like humans, cats’ whiskers are just hairs made up of keratin-like fingernails and have no feeling. Cat whiskers are deeply embedded in their body and are connected to the muscular and nervous systems. Whiskers help to sense the prey and surroundings.Each cat whisker is attached to around as many as 100-200 neurons but the pet can face overstimulation of whiskers, also known as whisker fatigue. This issue is generally caused by chronic and recurrent pressure on the cat’s whiskers and neuron firing.If you notice certain changes in the behavior of your pet like when it dislikes eating from its usual food bowls and always feels distressed or anxious, it is always advised to visit the veterinarian. The doctor may help you by suggesting a few foods or water bowls to protect the sensitive cat’s whiskers. Also, cat whiskers are affected by numerous diseases such as vasculitis, infection, and mange. These complications sometimes make the whiskers follicles weaker or delay the growth.Cat whiskers also get affected by different kinds of medications such as chemotherapy drugs which might result in losing whiskers. Cat’s whiskers are considered to be good luck, so one needs to take care of them as well.Should you cut cat’s whiskers?It is always advised that one should never cut or trim the cat’s whiskers. Like other hairs of the body, the pet generally sheds whiskers as well and it is quite normal, too. However, the nerves are associated with the follicle and would be painful if someone tries to pull or pluck it.Cat’s whiskers are generally a sensory organ and cutting these sensitive hairs would be just like cutting off the senses of hearing, smell, touch, vision, and taste. It is a myth that a cat loses balance if someone cuts its whiskers off, however, if a cat loses these sensitive hairs, it generally becomes confused and disoriented. The animal may even become lost. Vibrissae are amazing sensory organs that help them to navigate and detect the environment. If you would cut whiskers, your pet may lose the ability to function. It can also lead to dizziness, fear as the pet would lose the sense of direction as the proprioceptors would not be able to send tactile signals to the brain regarding the position of limbs and body and the pet would not be able to move its body around. If you want to keep your cat active and cheerful, don’t ever pull or cut those sensitive whiskers.Do cat’s whiskers grow back?You can touch your cat’s whiskers, but do not try to pull them out. If you touch those whiskers, you would find that they are quite hard, unlike the fur. Also, don’t be scared to find a stray whisker every time near the food area. It is quite natural for cats to shed whiskers just like their fur as they get older.If your cat has lost its whiskers or they have been trimmed for a specific reason, don’t worry these hairs will grow back. In normal cases, a cat would shed only around one to two strands of whiskers, not more than that as it generally takes somewhere between six weeks to three months for a facial whisker to grow back to its normal length. Also, no need to take your cat to the veterinarian if you find a change in the whisker color as sometimes, they may turn gray, and it is totally part of their aging process.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Why do cats have whiskers, then why not take a look at why do cats trill? or Siamese cat facts?
You must have seen those long projecting hairs from the cat’s face - would they look cute if they don’t have those hairs?
