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Cat Whiskers Trivia Quiz

How much do you know about those magical hairs sticking out of a cat's face? Let's explore whiskers!

A multiple-choice quiz by catnippin. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
catnippin

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
52,074

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
24530

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the scientific word for a cat's whiskers? Hint

vibrissae

quaverae

oscillatae

jactitatae

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Question 2 of 10

2. How many total whiskers does the average cat have coming from the 'whisker pad', that puffy area between the top corners of the cat's mouth and the outer edges of his nose? Hint

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Question 3 of 10

3. How many times thicker than ordinary cat hairs are cat whiskers? Hint

2-3 times

1-2 times

3-4 times

4-5 times

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Question 4 of 10

4. Whiskers are rooted very deep in the cat's face, in an area rich in nerves and blood vessels. Compared to cat hairs, how many times deeper in a cat's tissue are whiskers set? Hint

3 times

4 times

2 times

5 times

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Question 5 of 10

5. Cat whiskers can give an indication of your cat's mood. When the whiskers are relaxed or pushed forward, which of the following is NOT how your cat feels? Hint

happy

content

curious

anxious

6. You've 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. If a cat gains a lot of weight, do his whiskers grow to accomodate his new girth?

Yes

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Question 7 of 10

7. True or False - It is okay to trim, or cut, your cat's whiskers.

True

False

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Question 8 of 10

8. Whiskers help the cat feel his way around. This is because whiskers are so sensitive they can detect the slightest change in ....? Hint

air temperature

air currents

air speed

air humidity

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Question 9 of 10

9. When can whiskers be a 'bother' to a cat? Hint

when he is playing with string

when he sleeps on his side

when he tries to eat out of a bowl

when he is hunting

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Question 10 of 10

10. True or False - Cat whiskers fall out and are replaced.

True

False

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Mar 13 2024 : Lrgindypants: 5/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the scientific word for a cat's whiskers?

Answer: vibrissae

They are also known as 'tactile hairs'.

2. How many total whiskers does the average cat have coming from the 'whisker pad', that puffy area between the top corners of the cat's mouth and the outer edges of his nose?

Answer: 24

A cat has about twenty-four movable whiskers, twelve on each side of its nose (some cats may have more).

3. How many times thicker than ordinary cat hairs are cat whiskers?

Answer: 2-3 times

4. Whiskers are rooted very deep in the cat's face, in an area rich in nerves and blood vessels. Compared to cat hairs, how many times deeper in a cat's tissue are whiskers set?

Answer: 3 times

5. Cat whiskers can give an indication of your cat's mood. When the whiskers are relaxed or pushed forward, which of the following is NOT how your cat feels?

Answer: anxious

When a cat is anxious or feels under stress, the whiskers will be pulled back. The further back they are, the mores stressed the animal is feeling.

Answer: Yes

Thanks to DakotaNorth for this info 'According to the book 'The Cornell Book Of Cats', Cats' whiskers do grow to match any weight gain. When a cat gets fat, the whiskers grow to accomodate the widest part of the cat. Grant it, not all whiskers grow that long, only one or two on each side.

The book that I'm referring to is a medical book that deals with all things cat.' (The original information I had found online told me differently...it had stated that cat whiskers were set genetically and did not change - so my apologies to anyone who may have gotten this wrong because of that.)

7. True or False - It is okay to trim, or cut, your cat's whiskers.

Answer: False

Whiskers are extremely sensitive as they are closely connected to the nervous system. Any damage to your cat's whiskers will cause your cat discomfort, and he may become confused or disoriented.

8. Whiskers help the cat feel his way around. This is because whiskers are so sensitive they can detect the slightest change in ....?

Answer: air currents

At night, a cat can slink its way through a room and not bump into anything. The air currents in the room change depending on where pieces of furniture are located. As the cat walks through the room and approaches the couch, he'll know which direction to turn based on the change in air current around the couch.

9. When can whiskers be a 'bother' to a cat?

Answer: when he tries to eat out of a bowl

The end of the whiskers touching the side of the bowl transfer irritating sensations to his brain, making it hard for him to continue eating.

10. True or False - Cat whiskers fall out and are replaced.

Answer: True

Whiskers, like hair and nails, do fall out and are replaced. It's fun to find these lost 'gifts' from your cat and collect them - I know I do!

Source: Author catnippin

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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