We’ve all heard someone or something being called “the cat’s whiskers” before. She looks like the cat’s whiskers in that dress! Pretty high compliments for the long hair on your pet’s face, don’t you think?
Well, whiskers are pretty important, especially to your cat. Yup, these long hairs are more than decorative. They play an important role – in fact, they play many roles. Keep reading to learn all about your cat’s whiskers, why they have them, and what they’re good for.
What are Whiskers?
First of all, what even are they? Whiskers (or scientifically, vibrissae) are long, stiff, and highly functional hairs on the sides of your cat’s face. They can also be found on loads of other mammals. Dogs have whiskers, as well as bears, rabbits, raccoons, mice, and even seals!
Whiskers are known to grow in clusters on other parts of the body, too. However, what’s extremely interesting is that, unlike other types of hair and fur, creatures with whiskers are able to move them at will, using them for various tasks. This makes whiskers crucial for a cat’s daily life, acting as an extra set of hands (or paws).
For a cat, whiskers perform a few different and very important functions.
Whiskers as Sensory Tools
The follicles that whiskers grow from are surrounded by sensory cells, which means that they transmit tactile information to the brain. In short – whiskers help a cat to feel around their environment. The sensory cells are stimulated by vibrations, which means that cats can even feel nearby movement from changes in the air.
This makes them extremely useful for measuring spaces (can they squeeze into this box?), determining distance, and chasing their prey.
Whiskers as Hunting Equipment
That’s right – hunting down and catching prey in the wild is one of the main reasons cats have whiskers. Of course, our domesticated felines rely on kibble and the occasional treat for their daily meals, but even so, cats are apex predators.
Interestingly enough, it’s the whiskers on your cat’s legs that play the largest role here. While their facial whiskers can help detect where their prey is and whether or not they’re within striking distance, it’s the sensory tendrils on their legs and wrists that help them climb trees, do the catching, and even determine whether the creature they’re captured is still alive or not.
Whiskers as Communication Devices
Cats even use the whiskers on their faces to help them communicate, which means they can be an indicator of your cat’s mood and emotions.
The signs make sense too: relaxed whiskers indicate a happy and chill cat, while rigid, twitching, or pulled-back whiskers show that your cat might be feeling threatened or agitated by something. If this is the case, you might also notice your cat’s claws coming out and their tail flicking. If their whiskers seem to be reaching out, they could be curious or interested in their surroundings! You can use whiskers alongside your cat’s body language to help you understand how they’re feeling.
Whiskers as Balancing Poles
One of the most well-known cat stereotypes is that are nimble and agile, quickly and easily climbing trees, walking along narrow ridges, and always landing on their feet in the rare instances that they do slip up. All of this comes down (for the most part) to whiskers as well as your cat’s tail.
Thes sensitive sensors in whiskers are what help a cat stay balanced and upright. The cells can perceive gravitational pulls and tell them where they’re at in relation to the ground beneath them. Any shift in vibration is felt and allows them to move gracefully and easily through the world.
Whiskers as Visual Aids
You know how your cat always seems to be up and about causing havoc in the middle of the night? This is, in part, due to the fact that these creatures are crepuscular, meaning that they’re more active at dawn and dusk, resting more during human waking hours.
This is made possible by the fact that cats have excellent night vision due to their curved corneas that allow maximum light into their eyes. This superpower is enhanced by their whiskers which help them to easily feel around in the dark, move by vibration, and sense a piece of furniture before they bump into it. However, it’s also interesting to note that cats can’t see all colors, so their enhancement in other areas can be helpful.
Whiskers as Protectors
With everything you’ve learned in mind, it’s safe to say that whiskers are fierce protectors of the cats they sit upon.
They help the animal stay upright and balanced, preventing falls and any form of physical pain in your cat. They alert them of environmental hazards (even simple plants) that might get in their way or hurt their eyes. They aid in determining which spaces are large enough to enter safely, and they even help the creature make a kill, feed, and stay alive. All of this to say, whiskers save the day, just about every day.
What is Whisker Fatigue?
With so much work to do, it makes sense that a cat’s whiskers can get tired and even sore. Whisker fatigue or whisker stress occurs when excessive pressure on the hairs causes somewhat of a sensory overload and discomfort.
This occurs most commonly when your cat is eating due to the consistent bumping of whiskers against the side of their food bowls. You might notice your cat scooping food out of their bowl and eating it on the ground – this isn’t pickiness or a silly habit, but rather discomfort from their food bowl. You might want to consider investing in a wider-rimmed bowl to help your cat manage their whisker fatigue. However, if you notice any other issues relating to your cat’s eating habits, getting pet insurance and taking them to a vet should be your priority.
