Cats’ whiskers are very cute. Are they just for decoration? In fact, cats’ whiskers have many functions. Today, let’s talk about some common sense about cat whiskers.

　01

On a cat’s body, in an obvious place, we can see clusters of symmetrical whiskers on both sides of the nose. This number is not fixed, and there are generally 24 whiskers on both sides.

If you don’t believe it, you can stop reading now and count the masters of your family.

​Except for the beards on both sides of the nose,

Both sides of the cheek,

Around the eyes,

Chin

And the back of the front foot,

You can also see beards, especially around the eyes, which are also very noticeable.

The color of a cat’s whiskers is also very interesting. It will slowly change from white to gray as it ages.

Eventually, some older cats will find a few black whiskers on their bodies.

　02

Cat's whiskers are generally twice as thick as normal hair, and the roots are thicker, and there are many peripheral nerves at the roots of the whiskers.

These nerves are very sensitive to wind speed, air pressure, touch and other things we don't know about in the environment.

Whiskers can also be said to be an important organ for cats, because they are a navigation tool for cats.

How important is it?

If your cat is blind, it can still live well indoors with its whiskers.

Cat whiskers have a very strong sense of perception. Biologists have not yet fully understood the specific sensing principles.

It seems to be an ability that can only be possessed by creatures from another dimension. Therefore, it is not impossible for cats to be alien creatures.

Since cats are short-sighted, they cannot see close prey clearly when hunting in the wild. At this time, whiskers with super-sensing abilities play an important role.

These whiskers help cats pinpoint the location of prey.

Cats who live at home may not have to worry about catching prey every day, but their whiskers play an equally important role.

They are so pervasive that they use their beards to judge whether they can enter a small space with their whole body.

By the wayPoint out that if the bowl holding cat food is too small, the width of the whiskers will be greater than the width of the bowl, and the edge of the bowl will touch the whiskers, which will be felt by the cat, which will make the cat very uncomfortable.

They may fast because of this, so the food bowl should be as large as possible. This is also an easily overlooked source of stress in the home.

　03

As for beards in other locations:

The whiskers around the eyes can help cats sense dust and foreign objects in the air. Cats will close their eyes in time to prevent squinting.

The whiskers on the chin will help the cat sense the location of objects below.

The whiskers on the same feet can help cats locate prey.

It can also help cats land safely when taking off and landing.

　04

Just like normal hair loss, under certain conditions and under the influence of certain seasonal factors, cats’ whiskers will also fall off.

However, in natural shedding, it is generally rare for beards to completely fall off.

Of course, breeds like hairless cats have few or even no whiskers due to genetic mutations, which needs to be discussed separately.

Most cats' whiskers will grow back within 2 to 3 months after they fall off.

So don’t worry too much.

Whiskers are so important. For cats living in the wild, if they don’t have whiskers, their survival may be seriously affected.

But for cats raised at home, a few whiskers missing or no whiskers will basically not affect any normal daily life and is just a cosmetic problem.

　05

In addition to the above functions, whiskers also play an important role in cats expressing their moods:

When relaxed, the cat’s whiskers will be slightly forward and drooping;

When it is nervous and on guard, its beard will stick flat to its face;

When you are angry, your beard sticks forward.

So I really have to admire God’s design for cats.

If you were a human being, there wouldn’t be many people who could consciously move the muscles in their belly, right?