than other
hairs. They have a rich supply or nerves & blood vessels.
Unlike normal hairs, the whiskers on at the side of your
cat's mouth are surrounded by a highly developed sheath of
muscle tissue which enables them to move both forward
& backward. Just like normal hairs, whiskers call out &
are replaced with new ones.
Whiskers are
the same width as the cat's body, which is useful for the
cat to determine if it is wide enough to squeeze into a
narrow space.
As the cat
moves in the darkness, it uses it's whiskers to find it's
way around & avoid object. The whiskers are able to detect
slight changes in the air current around the object & the
cat is able to walk around the object.
Whiskers are
an extremely valuable tool for the hunting cat, especially
at night acting as a guidance system. They are able to
provide information on the outline of the prey, which
enables the cat to bite the prey in exactly the right spot
in order to kill it instantly. A cat with damaged whiskers
will often aim the bite in the wrong area, therefore not
killing the prey.
It's not
uncommon for a mother cat to chew off the whiskers of her
kittens.
The Devon &
Cornish Rex breeds have shortened, curly whiskers.
The whiskers
behind the wrist on the foreleg are assist with tree
climbing & contact with prey. [1]
Whiskers also
give a clue as to your cat's mood. Whiskers pulled tightly
back on the face indicate an angry cat, when they are
pointing slightly forward & down from the face, the
cat is relaxed & happy, when hunting or feeling aggressive
the whiskers point forward & are tense.
Whiskers can
be a bit of a nuisance when the cat is eating if the bowl is
too narrow as they will touch the sides of the bowl, causing
discomfort. Therefore it is a good idea to provide your cat
with wide food & water bowls.
References:
[1]
Whiskers
