The Whiskers

A cat’s keen sense of touch manifests itself in many areas including its long sensory whiskers (technically called vibrissae). They are coarse and more than twice as thick as a cat’s outer haircoat. They grow from special follicles that are embedded in the tissue of the cat’s upper lip to a depth three times that of other hairs and are supplied with a mass of nerve endings. The slightest whisker movement stimulates these nerve endings and provides information about the cat’s immediate surroundings.

Whiskers serve as wind detectors, which, combined with the cat’s sense of smell, contribute to its swift perception of the source of any odor. This can be observed as an inquisitive cat twitches its whiskers as it sniffs while investigating.

Whiskers also help protect the cat’s eyes. A springing twig or a sharp blade of grass will touch the whiskers before catching the eye and trigger a protective eye blink. Whiskers fall out periodically to be replaced by new ones. The loss of whiskers can impair a cat’s motions and orientation to its surroundings. Never trim or cut off those whiskers.