As a cat owner, it seems more often than not that my cats have an uncanny ability of being able to sense things much earlier than I am able to. It could be the mailman dropping off a package, they know he is there before he knocks. Or their ability to effortlessly navigate throughout a pitch black house in the middle of the night, bypassing the minefield of children’s toys, shoes, and furniture. Lets face it, cats have adapted to be the masters of their modern domains. These adaptations are what have carried the survival of their species into our modern age, and are as useful to them today as they were thousands of years ago. Today we are going to be specifically talking about the cats whiskers, and how they play such a vital role in their long terms survival and day to day antics.
Cats have whiskers strategically located above their upper lip, above their eyes, on the chin, in front of the ears, and on the front legs. Unlike the hair covering the rest of the cats body, the whiskers are much thicker and are much more sensitive. They are so sensitive that they can detect minuscule movements in the air and immediately transmit that information to the cat to alert them of prey, predators, or any changes in their environment. Similar to a motion detector we would install on our home to alert us of any movement in our environment.
Not only do the whiskers help alert a cat to any movement or changes in its immediate environment, they also play a big role in helping a cat get around in the dark of night without running into walls or other objects. Cat eyesight is not especially great at close distances, so the whiskers make up for it by acting as a second set of eyes. This ability to navigate at night has helped them hunt for their food while avoiding predation from larger animals.
Have you ever wondered how your cat knew that they would be able to squeeze through such a small space or get into areas that seem mathematically impossible? You can thank their whiskers for this ability. A cats whiskers generally end at a distance that would be the width of their bodies, and act as a mini tape measure giving them an on the go ability to assess and determine distances and spaces within their environment in relation to their ability to get into these spaces.
Do you ever feel like your cat is working out a math problem before they launch their body from place to place with the finesse of a mountain goat? I still find myself impressed regularly as my cat’s seem to defy gravity propelling themselves over distances I didn’t think were possible. Again, this is thanks in part to the cats incredible whiskers. Cats have sensory organs at the base of their whiskers called proprioceptors that tell their brain about the position of the legs and the rest of the body (Dagner et al.). This helps them achieve those acrobatic feats and still land on their feet.
Cat whiskers are clearly a massive part of their ability to interact with their environment, but have you ever noticed that they also give visual clues to a cats emotions and feelings? For instance, when a cat is active and exploring, their whiskers are also active and moving. When they are laid out relaxing, so are their whiskers, drooping and relaxed. When they are nervous or afraid they often draw their whiskers in close to their face, and when they are facing a threat they seem to exaggerate and push their whiskers forward.
All of this to say, a cats whiskers are an incredibly important part of how they function and interact with the world around them. These ultra sensitive thick hairs were essential to their survival in the wild, and continue to play a vital role in their domesticated life. Take extra care to ensure you do not cut, pull, or damage their whiskers when handling and playing with your cat. Always try to take time to remember creation and life is such an amazing thing to explore!
Cited:
Anne Dagner, DVM; Tammy Hunter, DVM; Lynn Buzhardt, DVM . Why Do Cats Have Whiskers? VCA Animal Hospital. www.vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet