Geeky Cat Miusings

To call something The cat’s whiskers means that something as superlatively good, first rate, or attractive. A cat always looks first rate, so to call your cat The Cat’s Whiskers is redundant. But when she is sitting there on the porch with her whiskers bristling ….well that always makes me wonder just what is on the cat’s mind.

Cat whiskers are a wonderful example of nature’s exquisite design. Cats usually have 24 whiskers, twelve (2 rows of 6) on each side of her face. They are 2 or three times thicker than ordinary hairs and are rooted very deep in the cat’s face and are attached to a very dense cluster of nerve endings. The whiskers are extremely sensitive to air movement and can easily pick up a slight breeze or an object’s presence from a distance. This is especially useful for cats in a low light situation because they can detect the presence of a mouse who’s movements cause the the air to move ever so slightly, and thus be able to catch their dinner. They say that a cat is so sensitive to air currents that he will know how to navigate a dark room by detecting the air currents flowing around furniture. Neat! I would grow whiskers if I could because I don’t like to turn on the lights at night.

A cat’s whiskers indicate a cat’s mood. A happy or relaxed cat has his whiskers pushed forward. When a cat is feeling defensive the whiskers are pulled back. The bottom two rows of whiskers on a cat can move independently of the top two rows so they can be very expressive.

The most important use of a cat’s whiskers is to help the cat evaulate the size of an opening and judge if he will be able to fit through the opening before attempting to squeeze through and getting stuck if the opening is too small. Since a cat’s whiskers are about as wide as his body and because they are so sensitive to pressure they can be used as a ruler. Cats put their heads in the opening first and if his whiskers brush too closely to the walls around it he will decide whether to proceed or not. Kitties are able to squeeze through very tight holes…we always used to marvel how the late Leone used to be able to get into the house through a very small mailbox …he would lift the door with his paw, stick his head in and slide down the opening.

Whiskers are more than a pretty accessory to a cat’s furry face, they are an important and useful feature for cats. They are used for navigation, measuring openings, and indicating mood. So please, do not cut or trim whiskers it will interfere with their sensing. But do rub your kitties cheeks — they love it!