Why do some animals have wiskers?

Question

Just wondering.

Answer 1

Whiskers are coarse hairs embedded in the skin of an animal's face. When they brush against something (like tall grass, or a wall), whiskers cause nerves in the skin where they are attached to send a message to the animal's brain. This tells the animal that it has touched something. Whiskers are especially useful in dark places, or at night when it is more difficult for the animal to see. Maybe animals find their way in dark places by feeling around with their whiskers. Like our eyelashes, some whiskers tell an animal when to close its eyes for protection. Whiskers are another example of God's wise design in nature. In other words, whiskers are useful for animals that are most likely to be active at night. Example? A cat's whiskers act like long, thin fingers. They help the cat feel its way in the dark. Whiskers also help some animals find food. A walrus's stiff whiskers are great at feeling for clams and other creatures hiding on the sea floor. Like our eyelashes, some whiskers tell an animal when to close its eyes for protection, as well. Other example of animals with whiskers? Whiskers on dogs measure of how far they can or can't put their head down a hole or into a small space, but it doesn't mean you can't trim a dog's whiskers off, unless it's a cat, you shouldn't. Walruses use their whiskers to feel around until they find food. Same thing goes with mice, rats, guinea pigs, and so forth. It's, sometimes, hard to tell if a specific animal actually has whiskers, though. There's a lot of animals that have 'invisible' whiskers that are used to find out if a predator is near, to fit into specific places, or to find food, just like cats and dogs, but animals that have 'invisible' whiskers have different senses than cats and dogs would.

Answer 2

almost all furry animals have whiskers. and they are little sensors. they are used like if a cat is getting ready to go in a small place they let the cat know if the space is to small for them to enter. same with dogs and hamsters and stuff.

Answer 3

To help them get around in places where the are not able to see very well---Makes me wonder why my husband has a beard ??????

Answer 4

whiskers are used to sense things....go to a cat and if you touch its whiskers they go forward