Why do cats have whiskers?

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A cat's whiskers have a twofold purpose: they are precisely the narrowest width that the cat can squeeze itself through comfortably, and they are also used for balance. Cutting off a cats whiskers renders it incapable of standing up. Since cats use their whiskers to 'feel' their way around, a mother cat will often bite the whiskers off her kittens (including the ones over the eyes) when they are new born and the eyes are still closed, to keep them from wandering away from her. The whiskers of a walking cat point forward. Slightly downward if the cat is calm. Slightly upward if the cat is excited. http://members.fortunecity.com/husom/Trifles/Animals/Cats/Cats.html Jan 30 04, 6:04 PM

sequoianoir

Known as "tactile hairs" or vibrissae, whiskers are the long, thick, flexible hairs on a cat's face. These hairs are located in horizontal rows on the whisker pad, the puffy area between the top corners of your cat's mouth and the outer edges of his nose. Whiskers, like hair and nails, do fall out and are replaced. Whiskers are different from the cat's body hair in a few ways: Whiskers should never be cut or trimmed. Whiskers are two to three times thicker than the cat's hair. Whiskers are rooted very deep in the cat's face, in an area rich in nerves and blood vessels. In addition to having the long tactile hairs on their cheeks, cats also have shorter ones above their eyebrows, on their chin and on the back of their front legs. Facial whiskers are good for navigation, mood indication & measuring an opening Whiskers help the cat feel his way around. Whiskers are so sensitive that they can detect the slightest directional change in a breeze. How? The air currents in the room change depending on where pieces of furniture are located. As a cat walks through a darkened room and approaches the couch, he'll know which direction to turn based on the change in air current around the couch. In addition to having sensory properties, a cat's whiskers are also a good indicator of his mood. When a cat is angry or feels defensive, the whiskers will be pulled back. Otherwise, when the cat is happy, curious or content, the whiskers will be more relaxed and pushed forward. But the whisker's 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. The whisker tips are sensitive to pressure. You'll probably see a cat stick his head in and out of an opening before he puts his body in. He's judging the width of the opening, and is determining if he can fit into it. Jan 30 04, 6:13 PM

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