are you supposed to trim cats whiskers

Bởi

Whiskers are vital to your cat’s awareness and contribute largely to helping them understand the world around them. Vets and experts agree that whiskers should never be trimmed or cut. Clipping your cat’s whiskers would be like taking away part of their vision or sense of smell.

What’s Your Cat’s Mood? Watch Their Whiskers

The facial muscles that control whiskers are intricate.

A cat’s arrangement of them can reveal to another animal—or to us humans—how they are feeling. A cat’s whiskers will stay in place and protrude straight from the side of their head when they are at ease. They will move a little closer if they are inquisitive or hunting. When a cat is anxious or upset, its whiskers will point back toward its face.

Whiskers Don’t Need Trimming!

Like other hairs on a cat’s body, whiskers shed. That’s normal. But you should never trim them.

A cat with cut whiskers will become disoriented and scared.

Veterinarian Jane Brunt argues that cutting them is akin to blindfolding someone and removing their ability to recognize objects in their environment.

Additionally, cats have a sensory organ called a proprioceptor at the tip of their whiskers that communicates with the brain. In addition to vision, the proprioceptors provide the cat with information about its body and limb positions, which enables it to make those graceful, death-defying leaps from point A to point B.

The cat’s whiskers are active even when it is quiet and sitting. Your cat’s whiskers serve as a kind of early warning system, so you can blame them if you’ve ever wondered why it’s difficult to sneak up on them. The cat can be immediately alerted to the approach of someone or something by a slight alteration in the air currents.

Although they resemble stiff hairs, they are far more Each whisker is incredibly sensitive and precise, communicating with the brain through connections to the muscular and nervous systems.

There are more whiskers on the cat than just the ones on either side of its nose. Additionally, cats have whiskers on the backs of their front legs, above their eyes, and on their chins and jaw lines.

One of the reasons cats are such skilled hunters is that their whiskers can also detect the movement of prey when they are pursuing it.

FAQ

What happens if you trim a cat’s whiskers?

Cutting whiskers is not only painful, but can decrease a cat’s spatial awareness. This can cause them to knock into things, become disorientated, less able to protect themselves from danger and less agile. So, put the scissors away and let your cat’s whiskers grow wild!

Why are my cats whiskers so long?

Your cat’s genetics determine the length of their whiskers, so you can rest assured they’re the exact length they should be: neither too long nor too short. Shed whiskers will grow back, so there’s no need to worry if you find a stray.

What is the purpose of whiskers on cats?

They serve an important function. Whiskers are finely tuned sensory equipment that guide a cat through daily functions. These specialized hairs aid vision and help a cat navigate the environment, providing additional sensory input, much like antennae on insects.

Is it OK to pluck cat whiskers?

Trimming whiskers can decrease spatial awareness and cause a cat to feel disoriented and confused; therefore, it’s best to leave them alone. Needless to say, you should never pull or pluck your cat’s whiskers, and always be gentle when petting them near the face.