You should never trim, curl, dye or otherwise touch a cat's whiskers. They are that important. The whiskers, known as vibrissae, are essential to the cat. They help it find its way in the dark, judge the space between objects and even sense the approach of a predator.
Cutting whiskers is not only painful, but can decrease a cat's spatial awareness. This can cause them to knock into things, become disorientated, less able to protect themselves from danger and less agile. So, put the scissors away and let your cat's whiskers grow wild!
They serve an important function. Whiskers are specifically tuned sensory equipment that guide a cat through daily functions. These specialized hairs aid vision and help a cat navigate his environment, providing additional sensory input, much like antennae on insects.
' Thankfully, cat whiskers do grow back if they've been cut or naturally fallen off. Phew. However, it can take some time and, as we've discussed above, whiskers are a key part of cat communication so a loss of whiskers can affect how your feline friend navigates their environment and how they feel within themselves.
Why Can Cats' Whiskers Be So Long? Cats' long whiskers are the result of their natural development. Usually, this part has the same size as a cat's body width, which plays a vital role in their ability and well-being. If you've realized that your cat's whiskers grow a bit longer every day, it's fine.
Whiskers Don't Need Trimming!
Like other hairs on a cat's body, whiskers shed. That's normal. But you should never trim them. A cat with cut whiskers will become disoriented and scared.
The whiskers on their face need to be as wide as their head. If your cat gains weight, however, their whiskers won't grow longer to match their bigger body size—which is why your “chonky” cat may still think they can fit through narrow spaces.
Never trim, pluck, or pull your cat's whiskers. Not only will plucking them hurt your cat, but you will be reducing your cat's ability to gather information about her surroundings, which can cause confusion, disorientation, and fear.
Unlike hair, whiskers are rooted deep under a cat's skin. They're also wider at the base and taper off toward the tip. That means they're harder than fur to pull out, and it will hurt when a whisker is pulled. Whiskers do fall out sometimes.
Does purring mean your cat is happy? In most cases, cats will purr when they are in a relaxed environment, sending out waves of calmness. This may also occur when you stroke them, and if this is the case, your feline friend is feeling happy or sociable. However, cats purr to communicate other emotions and needs, too.
Key takeaway. Cat whiskers are an important part of your cat's anatomy. Cats use their whiskers to communicate, keep themselves out of harm's way, and feel the world around them. That said, a cat's whiskers are extremely sensitive, so it's best to touch them as little as possible.
Licking is not only a grooming mechanism but also a way cats show that they love you. Your cat is creating a social bond by licking you, other cats, or pets. This sign of affection may stem from kittenhood when your cat's mother licked them to groom them and show care and affection.
Kneading to mark territory — Cats are strongly driven by scent-related communication, relying on scent markers to claim territory and leave other cats a message. Your cat has scent glands in her paws, and scratching and kneading deposits her scent, letting other animals know she was there.
So, how exactly do cats go about choosing their person? Cats prefer to spend time with people who understand their body language and around whom they feel safe. This is often the person who makes the most effort or is frequently involved in day-to-day cat care.
Refrain from touching your cat's whiskers or manipulating them in any way, as this could cause discomfort and disorient your cat.
Trimming a cat's claws every two to three weeks is an important part of maintaining your pet's health. Not only does a quick trim protect you, your pet and your family, it can also save your sofa, curtains and other furniture.
So what is it about scent-gland areas that cause cats to enjoy being petted there? When you rub these spots (like the cheeks behind the whiskers, pictured here), the glands release your cat's scent onto you. Cat experts call this "scent marking."
What Are Cat Whiskers? Although they look like antennae and have a radar-like function, cat whiskers are highly sensitive hairs made of keratin, a protein also found in their claw sheaths.
The main function of cat whiskers is the sense of touch. The follicles that these hairs grow from are surrounded by sensory cells. These cells transmit tactile information that's similar to the signals our fingertips send to our brains.
Let's explore this medical condition. Cat whisker fatigue – also called whisker stress – is a term veterinarians use to describe the sensory overload cats feel when their sensitive whiskers repeatedly touch a surface, according to an article by Oklahoma State University Veterinary Medical Hospital.
Around their eyebrows, they have the superciliary whiskers. These whiskers help protect your cat's eyes and detect any movement around the eyes, causing them to blink and protect the eye from injury. Along their chin, there's the genal whiskers.
In fact, they actually have special powers to help your pet explore and understand the world around them. If you're wondering whether your dog will feel pain if you cut their whiskers, for example during grooming, the answer is no.
Scientists have discovered that many pet cats show a marked preference for the right or left front paw when it comes to walking down stairs, stepping over an object, or reaching for food. These preferences also differ by sex—males tend to prefer their left paws, whereas females were more likely to be righties.
The cat's meow is her way of communicating with people. Cats meow for many reasons—to say hello, to ask for things, and to tell us when something's wrong. Meowing is an interesting vocalization in that adult cats don't actually meow at each other, just at people.
There are lots of reasons that cats love boxes, but the main one is because they're confined, enclosed spaces. Cats are ambush predators and finding confined places where they can hide, hunt prey and feel safe and warm is an instinctive behaviour. Snug cardboard boxes fit the bill perfectly.