20 things you didn’t know about cat whiskers

Here are some surprising things you didn’t know about cat whiskers.

Be sure to read the post till the end!

What are cat whiskers?

Whiskers, also known as vibrissae, are thick, stiff hairs on a cat’s face, chin, and forelegs.

They are much thicker and stiffer than regular fur and serve various important functions for the cat.

Whiskers are used for sensing and navigation, helping the cat gauge the width of openings and determine if it can fit through a space.

They are also used for communication with other cats. Whiskers are deeply rooted in the cat’s skin, anchored in a special follicle rich in blood vessels and nerves.

This makes them incredibly sensitive to vibrations and changes in air currents, allowing the cat to catch prey by sensing movement in the dark and gauging the distance to an object.

Cats can also use their whiskers to determine a cat’s mood by observing their position and movement.

While whiskers can be trimmed, it’s not recommended as it can cause stress and disorientation to the cat.

How do cats use their whiskers to catch their prey?

Cats use their whiskers to catch prey by sensing movement in the dark.

The whiskers on a cat’s face are deeply rooted in the skin and are anchored in a special follicle that is rich in blood vessels and nerves.

This makes them incredibly sensitive to vibrations and changes in air currents.

When a cat is hunting, it uses its whiskers to detect the movement of its prey, even in low-light conditions.

The whiskers can pick up on the slightest vibrations in the air, allowing the cat to pinpoint the location of its prey.

The cat will then use its whiskers to gauge the distance to the prey and to determine the best way to approach it.

Once the cat gets close enough, it will use its powerful body and sharp claws to capture the prey.

Whiskers also help the cat gauge the size and shape of prey; this is especially important when hunting in dark or low-visibility conditions.

Below is an interesting video from BBC Earth of how cats use their whiskers in slow-motion!

20 things you didn’t know about cat whiskers

1. Whiskers, also known as vibrissae, are thick, stiff hairs on a cat’s face, chin, and forelegs.
2. They are much thicker and stiffer than regular fur.
3. Whiskers are used for sensing and navigation in cats.
4. Whiskers are also used for communication with other cats.
5. Whiskers are deeply rooted in the cat’s skin, anchored in a special follicle rich in blood vessels and nerves.
6. Whiskers are sensitive to vibrations and changes in air currents.
7. Whiskers are used to gauge the width of openings and to help cats determine if they can fit through a space.
8. Whiskers help cats catch prey by sensing movement in the dark.
9. Whiskers can also help cats to gauge the distance to an object.
10. Whiskers are often as long as the width of the cat’s body.
11. Whiskers can determine a cat’s mood by observing its position and movement.
12. Whiskers can be trimmed, but it’s not recommended as it can cause stress and disorientation to the cat.
13. Cats have whiskers on the top of their head, above their eyes, cheeks, chin, and front legs.
14. Cats use their whiskers to find food in the dark.
15. Cats use their whiskers to find their way around in the dark.
16. Cats use their whiskers to sense if the prey is nearby.
17. Cats use their whiskers to sense if a predator is nearby.
18. Cats use their whiskers to sense if a mate is nearby.
19. Cats use their whiskers to sense if a female is in heat.
20. Cats typically have around 12 whiskers on each side of their face, for a total of 24 whiskers.

Don’t miss our latest cats advice

Follow us on your favorite social media networks and get updates about new posts and products for your adorable cat!

You can find us on our Instagram account (Juguetes inteligentes para gatos Instagram) and Facebook page (Juguetes inteligentes para gatos Facebook).