Much like fingerprints on humans, no two cat’s whiskers are the same. “When it comes to cats, all hairs are not created equal,” stated Myrna Milani, veterinarian and author of The Body Language and Emotion of Cats, “and this is especially true of their whiskers.” While you may hear “whisker” and think of those long hair-like structures over their eyes and framing their smiles, cats also have whiskers on their chin and behind their front legs (in the area that would be considered their wrists).
Since cats are far-sighted, their whiskers serve an extremely important function to help navigate the world. The only thing comparable is when a person feels the wind breeze past their skin and concludes which way the wind is blowing. In a similar way, a cat can walk into a dark room and ascertain where certain objects are placed in the room based on air currents “moving” past their whiskers. “This exquisite collection of sensory receptors enable cats to collect data about their position relative to their surroundings,” says Ms. Milani, “We blundering humans should be so lucky!” They also aid in keeping cats balanced, guiding them away from bumping into furniture, and is the reason why a frenzied feline can pounce on a mouse swiftly and accurately without actually seeing it!
You’ll notice that these coarse hairs are constantly moving on their own, assessing their surroundings. It may be tempting to trim these whiskers, thinking it’s for your cat’s own benefit, but it would be a detrimental mistake. “Your cat’s whiskers are attached to a vast amount of very sensitive nerve endings,” stated Dr. Paul Maza, veterinarian and consultant at the Cornell Feline Health Center. “It’s not necessary to cut or trim them and if you do, you’ll notice your cat will be disoriented for the two months it takes for the hairs to grow back.” While these tactile structures themselves have no nerve endings (they are attached to nerves at the base), it still will not be a pleasant experience, for either of you, to clip them. Have you ever brushed your finger across your cat’s whiskers? Did you notice him blink or twitch? Reason being, these finely tuned cat radar systems we call “whiskers” are tremendously sensitive and should be treated with care.
Another reason you should avoid trimming, is that cats use their whiskers for spatial reality to deduce if they can fit through openings or not. Their whiskers are roughly the same size as their bodies, so by putting their heads through an opening they can conclude whether or not the rest can follow.
So, the next time your cat nuzzles your face and those whiskers tickle your neck, remember all the fine details your cat is sensing. Whiskers aren’t just an adorable part of your cat’s face and character but a vital tool for your cat’s sensory perception and overall survival.
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