Cats Whiskers

**Mike** · 13-03-2006, 06:30 PM

How many whiskers do cats have :?:

Do some have more than others, or do they all have the same number :?:

Mike ...

13-03-2006, 07:23 PM

*grabs nearest kitty*

they have 24 whiskers.............12 on either side............

and some cats may have more...... :?:

**Mike** · 14-03-2006, 05:23 PM

Thanks for that

What are they for :?:

Mike ...

14-03-2006, 06:33 PM

well the one that everybody knows is the cat's ability to judge whether he'll fit through an opening or not.........

secondly the whiskers have navigational skills

<sensitive to vibrations> they help the cat to feel his way around........esp in the dark

and an interesting point is that their whiskers can indicate their mood!
When a cat is angry or feels defensive, the whiskers will be pulled back. When the cat is happy the whiskers will be more relaxed and pushed forward.

there's your useless info for the day :-P

**Mike** · 14-03-2006, 10:19 PM

Jack does Elvis impressions with his lip and whiskers

Have you read his diary :?: http://www.siliconhell.com/madcat/diaryindex.htm

Mike ...

**madcat** · 15-03-2006, 12:29 PM

jack definately has more than 12 on each side! He has far too many, I think he has another cats allocation as well!

If the whiskers are the width of the cat, what happens when it puts on weight, do they grow bigger and then shrink when it loses weight?

Also, if a nasty owner where to cut the whiskers short, would the cat get stuck? I've often wondered this, but am not that cruel and would not cut Jack's whiskers!

MadCat

**TheGuru** · 15-03-2006, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madcat

If the whiskers are the width of the cat, what happens when it puts on weight, do they grow bigger and then shrink when it loses weight?
MadCat

Good Point :!: I wonder :-k

TheGuru

**madcat** · 17-03-2006, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flixi

*grabs nearest kitty*

they have 24 whiskers.............12 on either side............

and some cats may have more...... :?:

Jack has 18 on each side, and a few little ones at the front which I couldn't count as he kept moving!

Are they like sharks teeth, where they keep growing and new ones replace the ones that fall out? I often find large whiskers on his bed. So he is either pulling them out, which is unlikely or they fall out.. he still has loads so they must be replaced!

MadCat

19-03-2006, 01:14 PM

Mine have fewer whiskers...
Only 4 or 7 on each side.
If a cat is chasing a mouse and the mouse runs into an old rabbit burrow then the cat will stick its head and whiskers into the burrow and if its whiskers get bent then it knows it can't fit in..
You see the cats body is the same fatness as its whiskers so if the cat gets thinner its whiskers will get shorter.
Thick whiskers mean a strong and healthy cat thin whiskers are a sign of weakness... So thats al from me..
Catz.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

13-03-2006, 07:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
flixi Guest Posts: n/a Credits: 0 [Check]	grabs nearest kitty they have 24 whiskers.............12 on either side............ and some cats may have more...... :?:

14-03-2006, 06:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
flixi Guest Posts: n/a Credits: 0 [Check]	well the one that everybody knows is the cat's ability to judge whether he'll fit through an opening or not......... secondly the whiskers have navigational skills <sensitive to vibrations> they help the cat to feel his way around........esp in the dark and an interesting point is that their whiskers can indicate their mood! When a cat is angry or feels defensive, the whiskers will be pulled back. When the cat is happy the whiskers will be more relaxed and pushed forward. there's your useless info for the day :-P

19-03-2006, 01:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
Catz Guest Posts: n/a Credits: 0 [Check]	Mine have fewer whiskers... Only 4 or 7 on each side. If a cat is chasing a mouse and the mouse runs into an old rabbit burrow then the cat will stick its head and whiskers into the burrow and if its whiskers get bent then it knows it can't fit in.. You see the cats body is the same fatness as its whiskers so if the cat gets thinner its whiskers will get shorter. Thick whiskers mean a strong and healthy cat thin whiskers are a sign of weakness... So thats al from me.. Catz.

Remove advertisements Sponsored links

Sponsored links