Everything You Wanted to Know About Cat's Whiskers

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| Print | By Jo Singer | April 10, 2009 10:36 AM

As I encounter cat lovers, both on the Internet and in real life seeking information about their cats in order to unravel some of their mysteries, one of the most frequently asked questions I am asked is: "Why do cats have whiskers and what is their purpose?"

His Royal Fluffiness
9-His Royal Fluffiness.jpg Cats use their whiskers for a wide variety of reasons. They provide some of the most important feedback for cats to gather data about their environment. They also use them to communicate their emotions. As an essential addition to their "navigational" equipment, it is crucial to never trim them or cut them off.

Without their whiskers cat become confused and often lost. Similar to radar, Cats use whiskers to "feel" their boundaries and to gauge distances to ascertain the size and shape of objects, and to discover if their bodies will fit into tight spaces. Whiskers help guide them in the dark to avoid running into objects.

Cats communicate with their whiskers, and they are an excellent mood indicator. Learning to "read" your cat's whiskers will give you crucial hints about your cat's emotional state and if they are open to contact or wish to remain undisturbed.

Pulled back whiskers translate into anger or defensiveness, whereas whiskers that are relaxed and pushed forward let you know that your cat is curious about something. It also can mean that your cat is happy and content. They indicate openness to connection.

Did you know that cats have approximately 24 whiskers on their face, arranged twelve to each side of the nose, in four horizontal rows? Cats also have special "whiskers" on their paws, eyes, chin and legs, but many folks do not consider them to be "true" whiskers, but more like "feelers". These additional whiskers are also utilized for sensing objects, textures and boundaries.

Some breeds of cats, such as the Rex, have curly whiskers. They are sufficiently long enough, even with their curly shapes to get around. Amazingly, I have actually met people who wanted to learn how to straighten them, which I cannot understand; doing so would seriously destroy their whisker mechanism.

That is why it is so important to leave your cat's whiskers alone. Cats are at a great disadvantage without them, as they depend on them for so many things. Blind cats can get around very well using not only their keen sense of smell and hearing, since they greatly rely on their whiskers for guidance, almost identically to humans who are blind and use canes to negotiate their environment.

From time to time you may notice a stray whisker on the floor. Cats do shed their whiskers as new whiskers are replaced. I have been known to save a whisker or two as a sentimental treasure.

Why do you think some folks cut their cat's whiskers? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

RELATED TOPICS: Blogs (262) , Cats (117)

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Donna April 10, 2009 12:37 PM

I've heard that finding a cat's whisker is good luck, so I keep all of 'em I find!

Ruth April 10, 2009 12:51 PM

I absolutely adore cats whiskers and I save any I find too.It makes my blood run cold when someone says can I cut my cat's whiskers .....why would anyone want to do that ? Why would anyone want to do anything at all to any part of a cat, they are just perfect as they are !

Vicki April 10, 2009 1:09 PM

What great information. I never realized that a car's whiskers are used for so many things. Glad to learn about this.

Jo Singer April 10, 2009 1:37 PM

Ruth: You are so right.. and all cats are also purrfect just the way they are!

Iniki April 10, 2009 1:55 PM

In two cases we have had cats that have had their whiskers cut. I the first situation we raised four kittens from the age of 5 days old. They were sweet and adorable and we were given the chance to let them go up for adoption at one of the local pet stores. This we an owner I trusted. Imagine my horror when I stopped by to check on the kittens and find out that the owners son had cut one of the kittens whiskers off! Poor "Snert" was scared for life. He was very fragile emotionally and skittish the rest of his life. Lesson Learned.
The other cat had been hit by a car and left for dead. We found him and rescued him. He had a broken jaw and multiple fractures of the facial bones. To have his life he had to have surgery. During his recuperation we kept him in a cage to make the missing whiskers a bit more easy for him to handle. Now, many years later, Lazarus is a happy well adjusted cat. During his recovery though he was like a lost soul. We know that the loss of his whiskers was the cause of that.
Thanks for the great information. It is much appreciated.

Amy April 11, 2009 4:38 AM

I love to watch when my cats whiskers are flicking back and forth because I look and try to see what has them so excited. It is usually a bird, squirrel or another cat outside.

Miss Kitty May 13, 2009 7:27 PM

Help! I have two kitties and i noticed today that the boy's whiskers look cut on one side of his face! They were just fine yesterday but all are only about one inch long, as if someone took scissors and snipped them at the same time. They are both inside cats, and we haven't had any guests over. To boot he is the very skiddish one so i just don't understand what or how this could have happened. anyone know what could have caused this?

Susan June 20, 2009 8:09 PM

Our female cat dominates our male by BITING his whiskers from above his eye down to 1/2". This is done while she grooms him, she nibbles and bites them down.We have been unable to stop this as we are not always home. He, as a result, loses more confidence.

Yajaira August 6, 2009 9:07 PM

wow.i was actually thinking about trming their whiskers couse they look kind of wierd.But now considering this information provided and reading the commnets i wont.I would feel bad if i had done it and then find out about how bad that is.so now ill leran to love their whiskers :).Now im just having trouble cutting their nails. im scared to hurt them

sydney September 5, 2009 3:30 AM

hey i had diffrent kind of info it was do cats know there cats or like what wel i dont know

madison September 13, 2009 8:04 PM

i did it once... but my cat looked fine she didnt do anything she accted exaclly the same but skiddish i feel so bad but then again her wisker are ahead and shelooks happy.... how do i kno wen she is happy are interested in something......

Lynn September 29, 2009 9:20 PM

My kitten who looks Siamese has whiskers that are white then black then white again. Can anyone tell me why?

karina November 26, 2009 8:55 AM

to madison u shouldnt do it cutting there whiskers makes them confused u din

brandon December 8, 2009 6:16 PM

do whiskers start small and then grow longer as a cat ages?

terri December 19, 2009 1:25 PM

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please help. my kitten's whiskers are almost all gone. we think he burned them somehow as he has a black mark on his chin. we have no idea what could have happened. this was four days ago and all he does is sleep, sleep, sleep. is lethargic and barely eats. any ideas would console me and i try to console him.

robin January 1, 2010 12:35 PM

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get him to the vet

mary January 2, 2010 5:43 PM

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why are cat whiskers good luck?

Gabe February 5, 2010 5:30 PM

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gabe:I did it once. He was fine yesterday. But now he is like sick or somthing. for Robin... I think it is a good idea to take him to the vet. Mary I do not know if whiskers are good luck. If I did I would of answered your questions.

LISA February 11, 2010 6:21 PM

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MY 6 YEAR DAUGHTER DID THE SAME SHE CUT MY 6 TO 7 MONTH KITTEN WHISKERS...I WAS SO MAD...DOES ANYONE KNOWS IF IT GROWS BACK? ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKE FOR THE WHISKERS TO GROW BACK?...

Lanny Murrell February 15, 2010 11:11 AM

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I would never trim a cat's whiskers, but we have one that trims her own. We have a small stationary fan in the bedroom with grills too small to get any parts into, such as paws. But this cat, every few days, stickes her whiskers, first on one side, and then the other, into the rear grill and gives her whiskers a "manicure". One can hear it from the bed. Whod'a thunk it?