5 Interesting Facts About Cat Whiskers
Cat whiskers are so much more than just awesome-looking accessories. In reality, they are the brain’s multi-functional instrument for communication and sensory reception. Among their numerous roles are navigation and being a measure for little spaces. They can even indicate their owner’s mood!
Here are 5 interesting facts about cat whiskers:
Having nothing to do with human hair, cat whiskers are not superficial constructs but go deeply and interconnect to the cat’s nervous system. Their tips contain proprioceptors, which are sensory organs that provide the cat info about an object’s direction, distance and even the texture of its surface.
Whiskers located on the front legs’ back surface function as climbing aids but, more importantly, they play an essential role when the cat attacks its prey; acting as an additional visual organ, they help the cat determine the fatal bite’s position.
Cat whiskers closely correlate to their owner’s body size. Cats use them to estimate if they fit in tight spaces or not. Generally speaking, larger cats have wider whiskers.
Angry or frightened cats have their whiskers pulled back against their cheeks. On the contrary, relaxed and happy cats have them relaxed as well. When whiskers point out to the front, it generally means that the cat is ready to attack its prey, or feeling aggressive, but they may also mean curiosity.
Due to their extreme sensitivity, cat whiskers may sense subtle changes in air flow, which they exploit to move in the darkness. When inside the house, this ability helps them to sense the air current surrounding various objects and avoid them. In the outside environment, sensing how the air changes around them is a valuable cue when trying to evade predators.