Your cat's whiskers are far more important than you might think. Today you'll learn more about the often underrated and underestimated whiskers of a cat.
The most sensitive hairs on a body are called tactile hairs. On cats they are commonly referred to as whiskers. They are found on their upper lip, their chin and where their eye brows would be. Take a look behind your cat’s front paws. There are also whiskers there!
Usually cats have about 12 whiskers in four rows on either side of their muzzle. The top row of whiskers move independently of the middle row. They are all connected to nerve fibers deep inside your cat's skin.
These very special hairs on their faces are extremely sensitive and can detect changes in air current and vibrations that help your cat to locate prey as well as a safe escape route, like furniture or the closest tree. The whiskers on their ankles helps them with captured prey in their clutches. Cats are farsighted and often can't see what's right under their noses and the whiskers help.
Your cat's whiskers are far more important than you might think. Today you'll learn more about the often underrated and underestimated whiskers of a cat.
Your cat's whiskers also communicate three distinct moods. Whiskers flat against the cheeks means shy. Fully fanned and a bit forward indicate a tense or excited cat and whiskers in a neutral position, as if when sleeping, means a calm kitty.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the longest whiskers to date belong to a Maine Coon Cat named Ellie, living in Woodland Hills, California. She holds the record for the longest single whisker on a cat at 6.5 inches.
When your cat comes up to your face for a snuggle and tickles you with their whiskers ,enjoy this sign of affection and resist the urge to clip whiskers. Clipping their whiskers will impair their senses and lead to a clumsy, unhappy feline.