They are freakishly long. I mean the whiskers that are like their eyebrows..?
2006-12-21 14:34:00 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
No! Whiskers are kitty's way of 'tasting' or 'sensing' what's around them. I wouldn't do that unless your vet says okay, though.
Sounds kind of cute to me.
-Tally
2006-12-21 14:37:07 · answer #1 · answered by Hannah! 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Whiskers
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It's more than just a beautiful face. A cat's whiskers is a very important part of what makes a cat a cat. In fact, they are specialized tools that have many important functions, including, navigating, avoiding injury, hunting and social interaction.
If you look closely at your cat's face, you can see that the whiskers on the upper part of the lip are arranged in four rows on each side. Notice the upper two rows can move independently of the bottom two rows. These whiskers develop from specialized hair follicles that assist a cat's sense of touch. The follicles also have specialized muscle attachments, allowing the cat to have some control over whisker movement.
The whisker hair has no sensation and can be cut without causing any discomfort. However, any movement or touch to the whisker causes sensation to the hair follicle's nerve supply. The best thing is to leave the whiskers and the whisker hair alone in case you cut in the wrong place. Whiskers are too important to take the chance of confusing your feline, or causing your cat to feel disjointed.
Whiskers are an important part of a cat's sense of touch. This is especially true in the first 10 to 14 days of a kitten's life when their eyes are not yet open. They navigate their surroundings mainly by touch.
Have you ever seen newborn kittens moving about and bobbing their heads back and forth? They are collecting data through their whiskers. Their whiskers help them find mom and hone in on dinner. they also warn them about danger and help them to learn about their new home.
As a kitten gets older, whiskers continue to help her avoid obstacles. Although cats have excellent night vision, it is a fallacy that they can see in absolute darkness. Their whiskers are what enables them to find their way in complete darkness by touch. Even in perfect light, whiskers help a cat avoid perils.
Different whiskers do different things - the whiskers above the eyes help avoid eye injuries and the upper lip whiskers can even help a cat decide if an opening is large enough for its body to make it through.
One of the most important functions of whiskers is assisting the cat to hunt. A cat can sense their preys movement through the air currents on the whiskers. This enables the cat to pinpoint exactly where the prey is.
When a cat is pouncing on its prey, the whiskers are pointed as far forward as possible. This assists the cat in accurately catch its prey and then after its caught, the whiskers surround the captive. The whiskers sensitive hair follicles will tell the cat when its prey is dead and can be safely put down without escaping.
Whiskers are also used for purely social purposes. When introduced to a new cat, part of the greeting ritual is to touch whiskers, on the back, on the neck and on the flanks.
Also, whiskers communicate emotions: when pushed forward, they indicate openness and friendliness, when pushed back against the cheek, they indicate hostility.
You can see why your cat is proud of its whiskers. Remember, NEVER trim whiskers. They are an important part of your cats anatomy and most importantly, they add a majestic appearance to you feline friend's physical look. Watch and learn next time your cat is stalking its favorite toy or greeting another kitty.
Now that you've learned a bit about whiskers, you will be able to better appreciate them.
2006-12-21 14:37:33 · answer #2 · answered by pirulee 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Never!
The whiskers are highly sensitive. They are as important as eyes or ears to a cat. The whiskers tell them what space they can get through. They are also very sensual for showing affection.
2006-12-21 14:58:46 · answer #3 · answered by jimmiv 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO! don't touch them be ause whiskers of any kind serve more of a purpose than you think. they give them a sense of the things around them and they also play a big part in balance. whiskers are also used for depth perception as in if you cat is trying to go into a hole - it is too tight if thier whiskers are uncomfortably closer to thier body that normal instead of sticking straight out.
2006-12-22 02:40:33 · answer #4 · answered by ~ Tink ~ 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not to be mean or anything but no way that could heart the cat really bad.
i found out that if you trim any of a cats whiskers they loose their balance and their 5 sences all of them and finally when your cats whiskers grow back thier sences all messed up.
2006-12-21 14:45:09 · answer #5 · answered by snapple 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do her long eye whiskers bother you? I'm confused. Leave them alone, they help her find her way around in the dark. It wouldn't be nice to trim them.
2006-12-21 14:37:21 · answer #6 · answered by T.M.Y. 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO! the whiskers are the most important in them!
that what it says in my science book!
once u trim them they might die and have bad luck!
2006-12-21 14:46:31 · answer #7 · answered by Kellikayyy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they help the kitty with blance and judging distance.
2006-12-21 14:40:39 · answer #8 · answered by Rachel T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont shave them. Those are what gives a cat ballence.
2006-12-21 14:40:01 · answer #9 · answered by katiemustang 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No leave them alone, some cats are just like that .
2006-12-21 14:36:42 · answer #10 · answered by Urchin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋