A cat’s whiskers are one of its cutest and most iconic features. They are also one of the most useful and important ones.
Whiskers are the first hairs to develop in the womb, and are longer and thicker than ordinary hairs. Each whisker's root penetrates deep below the skin, three times as deep as that of a regular hair. The root of the whisker has a sensory nerve cluster packed with blood vessels that transmits signals from touch and even vibrations from air currents to help the cat read their environment. This is part of what helps a cat move effortlessly and gracefully, even in a pitch black room.
At the tips of the whiskers there are special sensors called proprioceptors. These feed the brain a constant stream of information about the spatial orientation of the cats limbs and body, allowing them to make adjustments, such as when a car falls and it flips mid air to land on its feet.
Most cats have 12 whiskers arranged in 3 rows on either side of their cheeks, but can also have whiskers above the eyes, on the chin, forelegs, upper lip. This placement can vary depending on breed or the individual cat.
The scientific name for whiskers is “vibrissae,” from the Latin word vibrio, meaning “to vibrate.” This is because any touch or airflow causes the sensitive whiskers to vibrate, allowing the cat to gain valuable information about the objects around them, such as size, shape and speed. All of this adds to the cats ability to read and navigate its world with such precision.
Never cut a cats whiskers, this can be extremely painful for the cat, and it impairs their ability to sense and navigate their surroundings, leaving them confused and afraid. Also never pull on a cats whiskers as this is very painful for the cat.
When a cat feels relaxed its whiskers will relax, lying naturally along their face.
When the cat becomes interested or engaged the whiskers perk up and fan forward. The muzzle may plup, giving the mouth a pouty appearance.
The whiskers also fan out when hunting, to give the cat more sensory data.
Fear, anxiety and stress will cause the whiskers to start pulling back and flattening.
Hostility and aggression can exacerbate this, causing the whiskers to flatten tightly to the head, although when the cat is ready to take offensive action the whiskers will spring forward and fan out as the cat enters “fight mode”.
Whiskers can also signal pain. Pain and illness are very hard to detect in cats, but whisker position and facial expression can provide clues. The nose, cheeks and muzzle will appear flattened and tense, while the whiskers will pull forward.
If you suspect your cat might be in pain, take them to the vet immediately! Too often quick intervention can mean the difference between life and death when it comes to a cat's health!
As always, the whiskers should be part of a full body read, taking ear, tail, body, etc. Into account.
Once you learn to read your cats body language consciously, it will start to become second nature, and one look will cue you in immediately to what your furry friend is trying to tell you!
Puddin and I have been together for over 15 years, and we are incredibly in tune with one anther in a way I have rarely experienced, and it deepens our bond in many ways.
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