Is it true that a cat is as broad as it's whiskers are long. Does a cat determine?

Question

whether it can get through a space by the length of it's whiskers or is this just an old wife's tale.

Answer 1

Hi , if it were true my cat would be nearly a foot wide, they use the ends of their whiskers to sense something is in the way but all cats will squeeze through a gap if they can get their head and part of there shoulders through, they rarely get stuck in a hole but will plead at you to get them down from a tree. mine have Always got down from what looks like a very difficult height if left to there own devices it us humans that panic, if they get somewhere they can always get down, HTH

Answer 2

It wouldn't make sense if it were true; whiskers can get damaged. So a cat with damaged whiskers would be at a disadvantage.
Cats do use their whiskers to measure how wide a gap is, but they also use trial and error and make mistakes. They get stuck under floorboards, in walls and other ridiculous places. They can see but get stuck up trees.
I expect a cat uses its whiskers to feel the actual width available in the dark, and also knows how wide it is the same way that you do!
We all know how much space we take up, where our arms and legs and hands are, and what our limits are. We make measurements all the time, without thinking about it.

Answer 3

Not exactly. What happens is that a cat uses it's whiskers to judge distances. Over time it learns how wide it's butt is and how far apart it's whiskers are. This is not much time. Getting stuck once does it for most cats. Afterwords the cat knows, I can get through here or back it up Tubby Tabby.

Answer 4

This is partly true. A cats whiskers are generally as wide as its body (not true for very obese cats!) and they help them to be so good at moving around in the dark as they can sense with their whiskers the space around them.
It is part of the sense of touch that they rely on to move about in such an amazing agile way!

Answer 5

Yes it is true that a cats whiskers determines where it can and can't squeeze through.
Read more about cats whiskers here:

http://www.cat-world.com.au/FelineWhiskers.htm

Answer 6

No it's true. And yes the whiskers are usually as wide as the cat.

Answer 7

Yep its true. My cat came from a rescue centre and had had its whiskers cut among things to him. It took him age to be able to gauge the space he had to get thru stuff.

Answer 8

My friend told me that his cat had it's whiskers cut (by a naughty child or something) and it got stuck in a tight spot because it couldn't determine the width.

This might be rubbish though. He tends to tell fibs that friend of mine.

Answer 9

initially, this is great which you relatively % to allow your cat exterior , and surprisingly if he's used to it at your previous domicile he would be desirous to circulate out lower back. Cats are regardless of each little thing of course exterior creatures. yet i might propose you do here :- a million. Wait a minimum of a pair of weeks until now letting him out. 2. the 1st couple of circumstances he desires to circulate out, take him on a leash. make it an prolonged leash so he's unfastened to discover somewhat, yet a minimum of this way you're nonetheless finally in fee. you have already began doing this that's fantastic. 3. you need to be a methods sufficient out of your previous domicile so no genuine undertaking there. 4. i think he's microchipped in basic terms in case he gets lost. Then once you ultimately % to allow him on his very own:- a million. Do it in the process the day so which you would be able to watch him. 2. stick to him the place you could. while my first cat went out, i ended up trespassing into a number of peoples gardens so i ought to stick to him, yet i replaced into very worried. i do no longer propose breaking the regulation :) 3. do no longer feed him until now he is going out. extra desirable to do it previous due interior the afternoon until now his night feed. That way he will come back fairly quickly while he's hungry. 4. while he comes lower back before everything, %. him up and verify him for any injuries. That way you could tell if he's battling or in basic terms doing stupid issues. maximum person cats know their limits with leaping/exploring etc so must be ok. 5. reward him with treats for coming lower back. 5. For the 1st mutually as determine you shut the cat flap at night. After he has been out some circumstances in the process the day and is derived lower back you could come to a sort for your self regardless of if he can circulate out at night.

Answer 10

In theory yes it is true. Cats use them as a sensor in terms of getting into tight spaces, however they need to know how to use them! My cat was a rescue kitten and never knew her mum or an adult cat. So like so many things she didn't learn this. She would still get her head stuck in things as she would squeeze in and couldn't get out as she had big ears too!!! She also didn't know how to miaow so made a funny noise instead bless her!