While it's fun to learn about cat whiskers, it's best never to touch them. Whiskers play an essential role in how cats operate in their environment and stay safe and healthy.
Whiskers are filled with nerves and can detect the slightest changes in the cat's environment (Grunbaum, 2013). Because of this, whiskers are extra sensitive. This can cause your cat discomfort. Touching, pulling, or otherwise manipulating cat whiskers can make them uncomfortable.
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.
Your cat's whiskers can sense vibrations in the air, making them incredibly useful when measuring distances or chasing prey. Additionally, they can also detect changes in air currents, enabling them to sense approaching dangers – making them sort of like their very own radar.
Cats typically don't like being petted on their tummy, legs/feet, or tail. Of course, there are always outliers—some cats will love every bit of affection, no matter where they're touched or who's doing it. But generally, you shouldn't pet a cat you don't know on their stomach or extremities.
Smell Transfer
Cats recognize each other (and us) by scent. Raising the butt is your cat's way of getting their anal glands closer to your nose so you can get a whiff of their pheromones.
Conclusion. Most cats don't understand that kisses from humans are a sign of affection. A cat will surely let you know if they enjoy being kissed or not. The best ways to show your cat that you love them are to give them toys, treats, and plenty of one-on-one time.
While it's fun to learn about cat whiskers, it's best never to touch them. Whiskers play an essential role in how cats operate in their environment and stay safe and healthy.
Cats release friendly pheromones from glands in their cheeks and chin, so when your favorite feline is rubbing its face on you, it usually means they are marking you as a friend.
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.
Eating from a bowl that is too deep is the most common cause of whisker fatigue. As cats' sensitive whiskers rub against the sides of a deep bowl, they can become irritated and hurt. In the past, cats pawing food out of their bowl to eat off the floor may have been dismissed as “cats being cats”.
Whisker fatigue doesn't exactly mean the whiskers are tired, rather, they've become stressed from overuse. The most common cause of whisker fatigue is something a cat does every day – eating and drinking. Small, high-sided bowls typically used for feeding a cat's food and water are usually to blame for whisker fatigue.
Those who uphold the concept of whisker stress point to the following signs: Pacing in front of a food or water bowl. Acting hungry, but doesn't want to eat from a bowl. Pawing food out of a bowl and eating it on the floor.
Head, Shoulders, Cheeks and Nose
The head, chin and neck are often their favorites. While some cats enjoy having their tails touched, others will recoil and even experience pain from a tail stroke. Take it slowly, paying close attention to your cat's reactions to your touch and always respecting their preferences.
Tail: Most cats don't particularly like to be petted on the tail. And for what it's worth, a cat's tail is a good measuring stick for how stimulated (read: agitated) she's becoming as a result of your petting. The more it starts to move, the sooner you should keep your hands to yourself.
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.
Headbutting is a way for cats to mark you with pheromones and bond with you. However, sometimes headbutting can be a way for cats to seek attention. As a general rule, cats like to be scratched under the chin and on the head, so a cat may just be presenting their head to you for some attention and good scratches.
Think of it as the equivalent of a cat fist-bump! Like other strange cat behaviors that may puzzle pet parents, rubbing their head against you has a purpose. Cats nuzzle to show affection and to mark territory, behaviors that share the common goal of leaving their scent behind.
They get up close. Cats are very protective of their personal space and don't like unwelcome guests to invade it. If a cat allows you to get close to them, that suggests a close bond, particularly where the contact is frequent or long lasting. Curling up on your lap for a nap is a sign of deep trust.
When you grab your cat's paw, you take away their best defense—their claws. They don't like feeling vulnerable, even if they know they're safe in your arms. Touching your cat's paws makes them feel trapped, and it causes them a great deal of distress.
But behind these amazing skills are the finely-tuned cat senses, honed over thousands of years of being on the prowl. Our cats have whiskers that work like antennas, ears that act as satellite dishes and a dual scent mechanism that beats even the most nose-sensitive canines.
Sorry to break it to you, but human meows mean nothing to cats. At most, you can get your cat's attention and they may even appreciate your attempts to communicate by purring or even meowing back. But to most cats, human meows sound like human language.
Your cat might not understand human crying, but she'll gather as many clues as she can and use them to adjust her behavior. Researchers know that reinforcement plays a big role in how your cat decides to react.
Yes, you read that right: A recent study revealed that getting your pet's attention is as simple as speaking with a high-pitched tone and extended vowels, just like how you'd communicate with a human baby.
It is a common behavioral interaction that cats usually engage in. This ritualistic "small bite" can be perceived as an act of affection between cat and owner, mainly if the petted animal happens to curl up with its human partner. Your cat is showing you how much they care by giving affectionate licks and bites.