Have you ever wondered, "What is the purpose of cat whiskers?" In fact, there's a secret behind cat whiskers! Surprisingly little known is that cats have whiskers in addition to their trademark "upper lip hair." There are a total of five types of cat whiskers! In this article, we'll introduce the "five types of cat whiskers" and the "difference between whiskers and body hair," and then answer the question that worries many cat owners: "Is it okay if my whiskers fall out?"
What is the role of a cat's whiskers?
Why do cats have whiskers in the first place? To humans, cat whiskers are a trademark, but they actually play an important role. Cats use their whiskers to maintain their sense of balance and to sense subtle air currents and detect objects around them. To put it in perspective, cat whiskers act like a "radar." Their whiskers help them sense their presence. If a predator is nearby, they become alert. Cats are nocturnal animals. Their whiskers allow them to move around in the dark. Cats also use their whiskers to express their emotions. When they're interested, their whiskers extend in front of their face; when they're relaxed, they move to the sides; and when they're alert, their whiskers droop. It's often said that cats are cooler than dogs, but they actually use their whiskers to express their emotions. Many people are probably surprised to learn that cat whiskers have so much meaning.
There are five types of beards! Each has a different role.
In fact, cats have five types of whiskers, including their trademark "upper lip hair"! Let's learn about the locations and roles of these five types of whiskers, which are very important to cats.
Cat whisker type 1. Eyebrow hair
Eyebrow hair is the "long whiskers that grow above the eyes." Its role is to "sensor the eyes or above the head to detect danger." When a cat's eyebrow hair is touched, it instinctively closes its eyes. Touching the eyebrow hair and closing its eyes is a sign that it senses danger, so try not to touch it.
Cat whisker type 2. Cheekbone hair
Cheekbone hairs are "the little whiskers that grow on the sides of the eyes." Some cats have these whiskers, while others don't. Cheekbone hairs are used to detect danger on the sides of the face, but they are said not to play a very important role. Therefore, there is no need to worry if your cat doesn't have cheekbone hairs.
Cat whisker type 3. Upper lip hair
The hair on the upper lip is what is commonly known as a cat's trademark whiskers. Thanks to the hair on the upper lip, cats can sense danger before their bodies can. It also acts as a ruler to gauge whether or not a cat can enter a narrow space. It also plays a role in checking whether or not a foreign object can get in when the cat closes its eyes, and in expressing emotions. As a trademark, the hair on the upper lip has many functions.
Cat whisker type 4. Lower lip hair
The lower lip hair is "the whiskers that grow on the chin." You won't notice it unless you look closely, but the lower lip hair grows on the chin. The lower lip hair is very short and hard to see, but it plays a very important role. The lower lip hair acts as a "sensor that detects dangers and obstacles under the chin that cats cannot see with their eyes, preventing injury to the throat or chin."
Cat whisker type 5. Hair at the corners of the mouth
The corner hairs of the mouth are "small whiskers that grow above the upper lip hair." These are also difficult to see, but they grow just a little above the trademark upper lip hair. The one or two short whiskers that grow above the upper lip hair are the corner hairs of the mouth. Like the upper lip hair, the corner hairs of the mouth also act as "radars that detect danger on the sides of the face." Because they are the most likely to fall out of all cat whiskers, some cats do not have these corner hairs.
The difference between beards and body hair
What is the difference between a cat's whiskers and its fur?
Now that we've explained the different types of cat whiskers, some of you may have questions. Cats naturally shed their fur in response to the seasons, time of year, and temperature changes. While this varies from cat to cat, most people have the impression that cats shed their fur frequently. Many of you may have experienced the experience of going to a cat cafe only to find your clothes covered in cat hair. Meanwhile, cat whiskers are buried nearly three times deeper than body hair, and their bases are packed with nerves. Cat whiskers are also known as "sensory hairs," allowing them to sense the presence and distance of objects around them, temperature changes, and more. Because they play such an important role, they don't fall out as easily as body hair. However, if you notice your cat's whiskers falling out, it means that it's time for them to change their hair, so there's no need to worry too much.
My beard is falling out, but is that okay?
When cats are born, they don't have much hair, but they do have a full set of whiskers. This is because, "Even though they're newborns and blind, whiskers are their only radar." For this reason, you should never trim a cat's whiskers as if you were trimming them. If you were to trim them, they would be more likely to bump into obstacles, lose their sense of wind, be unable to make big jumps or hunt, and have difficulty moving in the dark, all of which would be extremely distressing for the cat. It's like "taking away a cat's third eye." In sensitive cats, this can even lead to depression. You should never intentionally pluck your cat's whiskers. However, sometimes cats' whiskers fall out on their own. Some people may wonder, "Huh? Is that okay?", but in most cases, it's not a problem.
Cat whiskers regrow
Whiskers do not fall out as frequently as body hair. However, when new whiskers grow, the old whiskers fall out at the same time. Owners may sometimes feel that their pet's whiskers have grown quite well. When this happens, it's time to pluck them out. Of course, there's no need to worry.
However, they can also fall out due to illness or stress!
Cat whiskers naturally fall out, so there's no need to worry. However, there are cases where care is needed. This is because whiskers can fall out due to illness or stress. Just as humans lose their hair due to stress, cats can also lose their whiskers when stressed. Cats may have a cool and tough image, but they are also animals that are easily stressed. They are especially susceptible to stress when a new cat arrives in the home or when a cat gives birth. Owners who recognize stress and deal with it as quickly as possible can contribute to their cat's health. Falling whiskers can also be caused by illnesses such as demodex mites and feline AIDS. Therefore, regularly checking your cat's whiskers and their condition can help you detect illness or stress early on.
summary
This time we introduced cat whiskers and their roles. There are five types of whiskers in total:
- Eyebrow hair
- cheekbone hair
- upper lip hair
- lower lip hair
- mouth corner hair
I also learned that most of these are essential for cats to live comfortably, and that humans should not pluck them out as if they were being groomed. Whiskers do not shed as frequently as body hair, but they do fall out naturally during the shedding period. However, illness or stress can make them fall out more easily, so it's important for owners to keep an eye on their cat's whiskers on a daily basis.
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