Cat whiskers guide: Answering cat whisker questions

By Kristia Goodnight

If you’ve ever marveled at your cat’s ability to move gracefully in the dark or squeeze through impossibly narrow spaces with little effort, you can thank their whiskers for that. Cat whiskers are more than just an admittedly cute feature - they’re essential tools that help cats explore their world, stay safe, and even express their feelings.

Let’s take a closer look at why whiskers are so important to our cats and all the amazing things they help them do every day.

Why do cats have whiskers? (What do cat whiskers do?)

Cat whiskers, also known as vibrissae, are special hairs that play a foundational role in your cat's ability to interact with and understand their environment. Here’s what cat whiskers do:

Navigation

Whiskers are incredibly sensitive and help cats navigate their surroundings, especially in low light or dark conditions. The whiskers can detect subtle changes in air currents, allowing cats to sense nearby objects without seeing them. This is particularly useful for avoiding obstacles.

Measuring spaces

Cats use their whiskers to determine whether they can fit through tight spaces. The length of a cat's whiskers generally corresponds to the width of its body, so when a cat approaches a narrow passage, it uses its whiskers to gauge whether it can pass through without getting stuck.

Spatial Memory

Cats use their whiskers to build a mental map of their surroundings. By sensing the location of objects around them, cats can remember the layout of their environment, which is helpful when moving through familiar spaces, especially at night or in low light.

Balance and orientation

Whiskers help cats maintain their balance and sense of orientation. The sensitive nature of these hairs allows cats to detect changes in their environment, which can influence their posture and movement, helping them land on their feet after a fall or navigate tricky terrain.

Hunting

Whiskers are highly sensitive to touch and vibrations, which helps cats detect the movement of prey, even when they can’t see it. The whiskers around the nose and above the eyes are particularly useful for this purpose, allowing cats to sense the position of their prey, even in the dark.

Communication

Whiskers also play a role in a cat’s body language. A cat’s whiskers can indicate its mood; for example, when a cat is relaxed, its whiskers are typically at rest, but when a cat is alert or feeling threatened, the whiskers might be pushed forward.

Protection

The whiskers around a cat’s eyes act as a protective mechanism. If something brushes against these whiskers, it triggers a blink reflex, protecting the eyes from potential harm.

Stress detection

Interestingly, whiskers can also help detect stress in cats. When cats are under stress, their whiskers may become more rigid and spread out, a phenomenon known as whisker fatigue.

This condition occurs when the whiskers are overstimulated, leading to discomfort. Observing changes in whisker positioning can be a clue to a cat’s emotional state.

What is whisker fatigue?

Whiskers are designed to pick up on subtle changes in the environment, so when they frequently come into contact with objects, like the sides of a narrow food or water bowl, the repeated stimulation can overwhelm the sensory receptors at the base of the whiskers.

This can lead to a cat feeling uncomfortable or stressed when engaging in these normal activities.

Symptoms of whisker fatigue

A common sign of whisker fatigue is when a cat seems hesitant to eat or drink from their usual bowls. They may bat at the food, pull it out of the bowl with their paws, or approach the bowl and then walk away.

Cats experiencing whisker fatigue may also become irritable or aggressive due to the constant discomfort. They may seem unusually sensitive to touch, especially around their face and whiskers.

How to help whisker fatigue

Pay attention to your cat’s behavior around feeding times. If you notice signs of discomfort or hesitation, consider whether whisker fatigue might be the cause and adjust accordingly.

Switching to shallow, wide bowls can help minimize whisker contact with the sides of the bowl, reducing overstimulation. This allows the cat to eat or drink without its whiskers touching the edges.

Also, offering food and water in different locations or using plates rather than bowls can give the cat options to avoid overstimulating its whiskers.

How many whiskers do cats have?

Cats typically have prominent facial whiskers, smaller whiskers above their eyes, on their chin, and on the back of their front legs.

• Facial whiskers: The most noticeable whiskers are on the cat’s muzzle, with 12 on each side, arranged in four rows. These are the primary tools for sensing the environment.
• Above the eyes: Cats have whiskers above their eyes, which act as a protective mechanism. If something touches these whiskers, it triggers a blink reflex, protecting the eyes from injury - similar to human eyelashes.
• On the chin: Whiskers on the chin help cats sense objects and navigate as they move their heads close to the ground.
• Carpal whiskers: These are located on the back of a cat’s front legs and help with hunting and climbing. They allow the cat to sense and control the position of prey while holding it in their paws

Can cats injure their whiskers?

Yes, cats can injure their whiskers, and because whiskers are highly sensitive, those injuries can cause discomfort, disorientation, and even pain.

Whiskers can be accidentally broken or damaged, especially if a cat gets its whiskers caught in something, like a narrow space or when playing with toys. Although whiskers are sturdy, they can break off if subjected to too much force.

A cat’s whiskers can be singed if they get too close to an open flame, like a candle, stovetop, or fireplace. This can cause pain and temporary loss of sensory function in the affected whiskers.

The follicles where whiskers grow can become infected or irritated, especially if the cat scratches at them frequently due to allergies or skin conditions. This can lead to discomfort and may cause the whiskers to fall out prematurely.

Can damaged whiskers grow back?

Yes, damaged or lost whiskers can grow back, but it takes some time. Whiskers are similar to regular hair in that they go through a natural growth cycle, so if a whisker is broken or falls out, a new one will eventually replace it.

Can you trim a cat’s whiskers?

No, you should not trim a cat's whiskers. Whiskers are an essential part of a cat's anatomy, playing a critical role in their ability to interact with the world around them. Trimming or cutting whiskers can lead to significant physical and emotional distress for a cat, so it's important to leave them untouched.

If you’re concerned about your cat’s whiskers - for example, if they appear damaged or are shedding excessively, talk with a veterinarian.

Do cats shed whiskers?

Yes, cats do naturally shed their whiskers. Shedding whiskers is a natural part of a cat's growth cycle, much like how they shed fur. While it might be less noticeable than fur shedding, whisker shedding is a normal process that allows old, worn whiskers to be replaced by new, healthy ones.

Whiskers grow from follicles embedded deep in a cat's skin, and like all hair, they have a growth, resting, and shedding phase. Over time, each whisker will naturally reach the end of its cycle and fall out, making way for a new whisker to grow in its place.

Unlike fur, which sheds continuously, whiskers shed less frequently. You might occasionally find a whisker on the floor or in your cat's bed, but this is typically nothing to worry about.

When a whisker sheds, it usually signals that a new whisker is already growing to replace it. This system means that the cat always has a full set of functional whiskers, even as they naturally shed old ones.

However, if your cat is losing multiple whiskers at once or if the whiskers appear brittle and break easily, it could be a sign of an underlying health issue, such as a nutritional deficiency, skin condition, or stress. A conversation with your veterinarian is recommended to rule out any problems.

With our Lifetime Protection Membership you have 24/7 access to veterinary support to answer any questions about your cat’s whiskers or their health, along with so many other benefits.