Why Do Cats Have Whiskers
According to HowStuffWorks cats whiskers are approximately the same width as their bodies so they often use them to decide whether theyll be able to fit through an opening.
Why do cats have whiskers. Causes of Whisker Loss in Cats Allergies. Whisker fatigue is usually caused by chronic recurrent pressure on the whisker and firing of the neurons. Even though whiskers are known as tactile hairs they dont feel anything.
Whiskers Help Protect Cats. It is also a good idea to stick to wide shallow bowls or plates for feeding as some cats can develop upset stomachs if their whiskers are being forced to bend to reach their food. Cats can be allergic to things in their environment such as pollen and parasites or more rarely they can have a food allergy.
Whiskers are like little pieces of armor for cats. In the wild whiskers can alert a cat to the presence of prey potential enemies or the location of his pack. As cats originated in the time when much larger animals roamed the Earth they had to adapt to a world in which they were in constant danger from various predators.
For example cats have superciliary whiskers or eyebrows for kitties These whiskers catch any little particle that could potentially fall into a cats eye from above. Cats whiskers can show how they are feeling. They act as a second set of eyes and can cause a cat to close their eyes which helps to protect them.
Unlike us and our hay fever though cats manifest their allergic flare ups with skin ailments. Whilst whiskers dont have nerve supply within them like a tooth does they do have sensitive nerve receptors at the base. Their placement all over a cats head helps protect a cat from the little things that can do serious damage to its eyes and face.
When an object brushes or air flows up against a whisker the sensitive hair. Cats rarely shed their whiskers hence finding one is seen as good luck. For example cats have superciliary whiskers or eyebrows for kitties These whiskers catch any little particle that could potentially fall into a cats eye from above.