The Dog Bowl Pet Supply and BARF Raw Food Blog

Here are a few whisker facts:

• Whiskers are two to three times thicker than the cat's hair.
• Whiskers, like hair and nails, fall out and are replaced.
• Whiskers should never be cut or trimmed (you’ll read why later).
• Whiskers are rooted deep in the cat's face, in an area rich in nerves and blood vessels.

Whiskers help the cat feel his way around. They are so sensitive they can detect the slightest directional breeze change. This helps a cat slink its way through a dark room without bumping into anything. How? The air currents in the room change depending on where furniture is located. As the cat walks through the room, he knows which way to turn based on those changes.

A cat's whiskers are also a good indicator of his mood. When he is angry or defensive, they pull back. When he is playing, they push forward. When he is happy, curious or content, the whiskers are more relaxed.

But their primary use is to help a cat judge whether or not he'll fit through an opening. A cat's whiskers are roughly as wide as his body-- sort of a natural ruler -- and whisker tips are sensitive to pressure. You'll probably see a cat stick his head in and out of an opening before he goes through. He's judging the width of the opening and determining if he will fit. An interesting note: cats don't have a true collar bone, like humans. This allows them to turn and twist their way through very narrow openings.