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Your cat's whiskers

Posted Wed, Mar 05, 2008, 4:44 pm PST

Do you know how important and marvelous your cat's whiskers are? Here are just a few interesting facts about your cat's incredible whiskers.

Whiskers are deeply imbedded into the skin and are rich in nerve endings.
Your cat's whiskers help her navigate in dark surroundings. The whiskers detect changes in air currents so kitty can avoid bumping into objects. They also help her detect prey.
There are four rows of muzzle whiskers on each side of the face. The top two rows can move independently of the bottom two.
The length of the muzzle whiskers typically extend the width of the cat's body. This helps a cat determine if she can fit through a narrow opening. If her whiskers fit without bending, she'll be able to get her body through. Sadly though, since many cats are overweight, their body width far exceeds whisker length.

The whiskers above the eyes trigger protective eye blinks when a cat is walking through brushy outdoor areas.
There are carpal whiskers on the back of the forelegs. These whiskers are used when a cat has trapped prey under her paws. The whiskers help her determine whether the prey is still moving. Cats don't see well close up and depend on their carpal whiskers when prey is in their grasp.
The positioning of the muzzle whiskers plays a role in communication. Your cat extends her whiskers forward when in prey-drive, alert, or agitated. During battle, whiskers are flattened against the cheeks to prevent damage.
Never cut your cat's whiskers as it is painful.

For information about how your cat uses her whiskers, check out my new book, STARTING FROM SCRATCH

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33 Comments

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1. flasteamer - 6:02PM on 03/05/08

i've also read that a mother cat will chew off her kitten's whiskers, if the kitty wonders off too much, to prevent this, as it disorients the kitty...this article is so interesting..thanx,sheree
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2. original_godzilla - 9:19PM on 03/05/08

One of my girls (korat) had lovely long lush whiskers, then a couple of months ago (when she was about 9 months old) it was as if someone had snapped them off to a length of about 1/2 inch. At first I thought it was the adult whiskers growing through, but since the other one only lost whiskers after they were replaced, that did not fit. They are 100% indoor cats, so she could not have met with any foul play outside the house. I asked the vet and he said maybe she had just tried to squeeze through a space too small, which could have caused them to break off. This is contrary to what I knew of cats and their whiskers (as per the article too).. so it is a mystery. Even now, one side still has not grown back fully, though they are getting there. Anyone else ever experience this?
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3. Duane O - 11:17PM on 03/05/08

Thank you for the wonderful information regarding a cat's whiskers. I didn't know my little kitties were so well tuned!
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4. George S - 11:23PM on 03/05/08

I was petting kitten Pluto when I noticed his whiskers were partially missing. It looked like someone had cut them. He was three months old. Later I read about a mother cat barbering the kittens whiskers to keep them close to home. This has only happened once. Our kittens are usually placed by this time.
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5. Sheila M - 11:37PM on 03/05/08

To original_godzilla, All my cats (5) are indoor too and I noticed that they all have certain furniture they like to rub their faces on. A couple of them always have alot of broken off wiskers because of the particular piece of furniture they like to use! It is a couch with a rough wooden edge and I think thats why they like to rub on it. Unfortunately, the rough edge breaks off their wiskers! Maybe your cat has a favorite rubbing edge too.
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6. ddnyteskye - 7:27AM on 03/06/08

My Maine Coon has looooong whiskers. After her early morning "snack," I gathered the leftover dry food to the center of the dish. She went straight for it for her mid-morning "snack" instead of asking for more food. Thanks for the tip!
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7. JuicyJ - 7:42AM on 03/06/08

My first cat was a Burmese I bought from a breeder. Since there were multiple cats in the house, my cat's mother chewed down the whiskers of her kittens to distinguish them from the other kittens born at the same time. The whiskers grew back shortly after I brought him home.
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8. dpouchet - 7:47AM on 03/06/08

I always learns SO much from these articles. Thank you. Knew never to cut a cat's whiskers, but never understood how important and amazing they are. I too find the occasional dropped whisker around the house - usually at the favorite "face rub" places. To be expected I'm sure.
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9. gmckerlie - 8:30AM on 03/06/08

I have a stud boy and he chews of the whiskers of the boy kittens but leaves the girls whiskers alone. Any idea why?
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10. Sunshine - 10:53AM on 03/06/08

We have three six month old neutered male litter mates who still groom each others' faces. I've noticed that the runt will chew on his big brothers whiskers when it's his turn. Maybe he's trying to make his brothers think that they're smaller. Great article.
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11. stacy_chambers - 1:37PM on 03/06/08

This has nothing to do with this article, but my Allie will be 3 in April and I was wondering if anyone had an opinion on declawing a cat at this age. I've tried the soft claws that you glue on, but as soon as they get put on it only takes her about a day to chew them all off She is rather agressive, and bites when she doesn't get her way. I've heard that if you declaw a cat at this age, or one that is agressive, it will change their personality for the worst. Has anyone had any experience with this?
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12. Di - 2:52PM on 03/06/08

We had our 5 year-old female declawed a few months ago. It was done by laser which is quite expensive but worth it. She had no pain the day after surgery and the paws seemed to heal quickly. She does miss her claws when catching or batting a ball. But she's learning to play anyway. She is somewhat more timid outside but that may be because we just moved to the desert southwest and she has to be on a leash when outside. So she's just getting used to that too. She's happy in that she doesn't get yelled at and told, "No" when scratching on the furniture. Also, she used to stretch her claws when especially happy, such as when she is petted or rubbed in her favorite ways. So having her declawed is saving on our clothes. And she gets more lovies as a result. I think we are all happier now that she is declawed. If you decide to have our cat declawed, I hope you have as good a result as we have.
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13. jonsey_98 - 6:12PM on 03/06/08

I think declawing a cat is like taking thumbs off of us. And that keepin cats indoors is like keeping a child indoors, its very unhealthy...
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14. jonsey_98 - 6:13PM on 03/06/08

I think declawing a cat is like taking thumbs off of us. And that keepin cats indoors is like keeping a child indoors, its very unhealthy...
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15. original_godzilla - 10:24PM on 03/06/08

to post #5 (Shiela M) - Thanks for the tip! I will certainly keep an eye on her to see if that is the case. Maybe I should get a cat-cam to see what they are up to when I am at work! to post #14 (jonsey) - whilst I agree that declawing is akin to taking off our thumbs (I cannot ever imagine doing it to my cats), I have to disagree about it being unhealthy to keep a cat indoors - well, if you keep it confined to a cage or very small space I would agree - but if the cat has plenty of room to run and climb and jump it is no problem. My girls are quite happy - so long as they also get some interactive play with us each day. The only time they get outside is with us and wearing a harness vest for a short stroll in the garden and a quick game on the lawn (maybe once a week).
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16. miz - 2:06AM on 03/07/08

jonsey...While you are entitled to your opinion...you're an idiot. Studies prove that indoor cats live longer, healthier lives. Cats allowed to wander outside face cars, dogs, coyotes and feral cats carrying FIV and others life-threatening diseases. Indoor cats are only unhealthy if they are given too much food and their owners are too lazy to play with them.
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17. Bill - 12:25PM on 03/07/08

This is my opinion about letting cats outdoors: I feel pet felines should be allowed outdoors to see and experience God's beautiful green earth as we ourselves get to enjoy.
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18. lejoy88 - 12:27PM on 03/07/08

WHEN YOU SEE ENOUGH CAGED OR THROWN AWAY CATS AS I HAVE. YOU WILL FIND OUT DECLAWING IS BETTER THEN BEING THROWN OUTSIDE TO FEND FOR YOURSELF. I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE SAY DECLAWING IS SO ABUSIVE, AND THEY KEEP THEIR CATS IN SMALL CAGES ALL THEIR LIFES. I WOULD TEAR MY OWN FINGER TIPS OFF TO ESCAPE, WOULD YOU?
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19. denience1 - 1:06PM on 03/07/08

I have maine coon cat "pussycat" is her name and she loves it in side. She goes out with me and she'll catch grasshoppers to bring in and eat. She loves being inside.I've had her for 19 years. She is getting old but she still runs jumps and plays inside.She will also let me know when someone or something is outside. She is a good watch kitty.She is my baby and is spoiled rotten. We have no children,so she is my child.She gets snacks just as I do. And when I am sick she lays right beside me.Its like she is watching over me. She is just a fat fur ball.
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20. Bo - 2:44PM on 03/07/08

Hi Godzilla, I came home after being gone five days for a knee replacement a few years ago, to find my Cookie Monster's whiskers looking like they had all been snapped off a half inch from his face. He also had a uri, and the consensus was they were both stress related. I know he hadn't been harmed, as it was his breeder who stayed with the fur kids while I was gone, and he is strictly an indoor cat. Cookie's whiskers have since returned.
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21. Barbara D - 5:19PM on 03/07/08

I have bought 2 cats in from the outside one is a feral cat and the other one some one threw away and she came to my porch. The feral one I fed outside for a year with his brother until my neighbor decided he was going to kill the cats because they were sleeping on his bottom porch step. I got both boys in the house and since have lost one of them to impacted bowel the other boy will be in my home for 5 years come July and he doesn't even want to go back out.
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22. Jazz - 6:12PM on 03/07/08

i like to declaw my cats at an early age. 6 months at the max. mine are indoors, and love it....love it....love it. too much mean stuff in the big world.
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23. Amy - 6:55PM on 03/07/08

I have 3 cats, all of whom were adopted from shelters or animal rescue groups. Two of them were strays, 1 was kept by an animal hoarder. They're all stricly indoor cats, and are perfectly content with that. They love to sit at the windows and doors, especially when the screens are in. But they want nothing to do with leaving the house. They get scared and very upset. I guess they had enough of that when they were strays. I take pride in the fact that my cats are clean, healthy, and have a much longer life expectancy because of the care I give them and the protection my home offers them.
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24. bachlva - 9:07PM on 03/07/08

Information on de-clawing - do yourself, and your kitty a favor and research it thoroughly before making this decision. http://www.declawing.com/ IMO, if you feel you must declaw a cat in order to own one, perhaps a cat is not the best pet for you.
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25. Sandy S - 12:21AM on 03/08/08

Hello everyone. Just going to throw in my opinion on the de-clawing and the "in or out" comments. As to the de-clawing, it is my (and I'msure my 8 cats' ) opinion that they should not be de'clawed. It isn't natural. My furniture isn't that priceless that it can't endure a scratch mark or two and I have a couple of scratching trees for them inside. I very seldom get scratched and then only in playfulness. Another reason is that they are indoor'outdoor cats. This too is natural and I wouldn't want to deny them climbing a tree or being able to run around outside. I do live out in the country and have 2 acres for them to play around in so I'm very fortunate. If I lived in town, I guess I wouldn't let them out unless I had some kind of collar on them. I live on a gravel road quite far out so hardly any traffic. They go out in the am , come in and out all day, and believe it or not will come in in the evening when I call them. My neighbors have gotten use to hearing me call out for them all by name around 8 or so. They mainly climb and play in a couple of trees that are up close to the house or chase each other around the yard or just lay on the front or back porch in the sun all day. They do not go out in the coldest months during the winter here in Mich., and seem to understand that that is the way it is but when the sun starts shining more and they see some green grass they're ready to go out again. I understand that things can happen but I think I owe it to them. They give so much to me. I do think tho, that if you live in town and can't let your cat out it will be purr-fectly happy and content inside as long as it gets lots of love and playful excercise. You know, we shouldn't be too critical of anyone's decision either way because it's what ever works for you and your cats.You're all good people and what really shows up in these comments is that you all love your cats very much.
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26. Joan - 6:32AM on 03/08/08

Thanks Sandy S. I totally agree with you comments.
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27. Ed - 1:19PM on 03/08/08

Alright, I am now a bit confused. I had assued a cat's whiskers were like human hair with no feelings but the last line in the article states it is painful for them to be cut. OK, suprising, especially if they rub until they break off...it's that painful then?
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28. Rock - 4:28AM on 03/09/08

I have 3 inside cats and 1 Feral outside mommy cat to 2 of the inside "boys". out of them all the non-feral cat was the shedder=bratcat. She recently has become a model cat with my purchase of two scratcing posts and fiberfill in a basket. She kneads the fiberfill by the hour and it seems to satisfy her flexing her claws instinct. When Missymama starts using a litter box in the laundry is when she will gradually become an inside cat. A shelf and a window in a tree, snacks and play, the inside guys have it made!
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29. M S - 8:29AM on 03/15/08

It depends on the cat. I have adopted one cat that has her claws and was never outside. She has never scratched the furniture. She only scratches her posts. Then, a year ago I got another cat from a friend, and he has no claws. But, loves outside! Now they both go on the patio and that is it ( I live in the city). They get the best of both worlds, and I don't have to worry about other animals hurting them.
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30. ash_trufant - 9:34PM on 03/18/08

Clawing, I think, depends on what your situation is. I adopted my cat (at 5 months) from the local shelter. Mylo actually allows me to clip his nails, so we don't have problems, as long as I reward him after. Additionally, he's scratched the furniture exactly 3 times, he loves cardboard and the sisal posts. I have three posts, one in the front, one in the hall and one in my room where the most of his stuff is. I also have a large brown paper bag that serves two purposes - alone time if he wants it, or a scracth/hunt box. He loves it, and their cheap. If your cat is indoor/outdoor, I think clawing is a bad idea because they need more means of protection than simply teeth. Indoor/outdoor for your cat also depends on where you live. I'm in a suburban environment with a canal behind us and lots of construction, so I'd be concerned about letting him outside without constant supervision. Inside, we play all the time. We play hide and seek, chase, with toys, fetch and catch. (Yeah, he seems to have been a circus cat in another life.) He's healthy and happy and safe from environmental concerns that I can't control.
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