{"id":161,"date":"2020-08-03T17:39:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T17:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/?p=161"},"modified":"2020-08-03T17:39:00","modified_gmt":"2020-08-03T17:39:00","slug":"do-cats-like-it-when-you-touch-their-whiskers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-cats-like-it-when-you-touch-their-whiskers\/","title":{"rendered":"Do cats like it when you touch their whiskers?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ah, petting cats are equal parts satisfying and tricky.&nbsp; Touch them one way and they love it, touch them another way, and boom, it\u2019s a scratch fest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>While all cats are different, with some welcoming and even loving receiving belly rubs \u2013 something most cats will agree is an unforgivable sin, there are spots where it\u2019s completely fine to pet your cat there, and some, where it\u2019s recommended you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Some cats like it when you touch their whiskers, and some cats don&#8217;t like it when you touch their whiskers. In many cases, cats love when you scratch right behind their whiskers. As long as you don&#8217;t pull in the whiskers or in any way break them, you shouldn&#8217;t be afraid of touching the whiskers or right behind them. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-cats-like-it-when-you-touch-their-whiskers\/#How_well_do_you_know_the_cat\" title=\"How well do you know the cat\">How well do you know the cat<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-cats-like-it-when-you-touch-their-whiskers\/#Why_are_cats_whiskers_important\" title=\"Why are cats\u2019 whiskers important?\">Why are cats\u2019 whiskers important?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-cats-like-it-when-you-touch-their-whiskers\/#What_happens_when_a_cat_loses_their_whiskers\" title=\"What happens when a cat loses their whiskers?\">What happens when a cat loses their whiskers?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-cats-like-it-when-you-touch-their-whiskers\/#What_to_do_if_my_cat_loses_their_whiskers\" title=\"What to do if my cat loses their whiskers?\">What to do if my cat loses their whiskers?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_well_do_you_know_the_cat\"><\/span>How well do you know the cat<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First things first: do you know the cat you\u2019re petting?&nbsp; Better yet, does this cat KNOW YOU?&nbsp; If you haven\u2019t yet, introduce yourself to this cat.&nbsp; Extend your fingers to them low so they can give you a good sniff, the cat\u2019s preferred way of meeting new people.&nbsp; This is when they\u2019ll decide whether you\u2019re a threat or not.&nbsp; We all hope they think the latter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you are formally introduced, you\u2019re welcome to start the petting session.&nbsp; There are a couple of tried and true spots where it\u2019s universally acceptable: like down their backs (pay extra attention at the end of the back, right before the tail), and at the base of their ears where they have a concentration of scent glands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>What about at their whiskers?&nbsp; It\u2019s a yes and no.&nbsp; Some <a href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/why-do-cats-like-being-scratched-under-the-chin\/\">cats will welcome the light scratch<\/a> behind their whiskers, but under no circumstances should you ever, EVER pull on them.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>All 24 (this is the average number of) whiskers on your cat\u2019s face is more than just hair.&nbsp; Sure, they\u2019re made of the same stuff: keratin, just like your nails and hair \u2013 but they\u2019re also connected to the muscles under their skin that will help them navigate, maintain their balance, enhance their sense of touch, let them know if they can fit a certain opening or not, and even help them react to the changes in the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You cat can actually control their whiskers at will.&nbsp; When they are hunting, they will point their whisker forward to sense the movement of their prey.&nbsp; They\u2019re also an easy tell on what your cat\u2019s mood is: if they\u2019re perky and forward, they\u2019re happy, if it\u2019s flat against their face, they\u2019re probably not in the right mood and should be left alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t believe in how cool your cat\u2019s whiskers are?&nbsp; Here\u2019s a way to conduct a simple test that will be safe for you and your cat: touch their whiskers one side of their cute little face, and they\u2019ll wink.&nbsp; While it is cute when they do that, they\u2019re not doing that to be cute.&nbsp; Their whiskers just sent a signal to their brain telling it to protect them by closing their eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While your cat will surely appreciate it when you pet them, take special care to not break or pull out their whiskers.&nbsp; But don\u2019t get stressed if they break, because after a few months, they will start growing back \u2013 they\u2019re hair, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[crp]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_are_cats_whiskers_important\"><\/span><strong>Why are cats\u2019 whiskers important?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your cat\u2019s whiskers benefit them in several different ways.&nbsp; It helps them get a sense of their environment, keep them balanced and more than ready to go on their hunting sessions.&nbsp;&nbsp; On top of that, your cat can also move their whiskers to match their mood.&nbsp; When they\u2019re sad they droop, or get flush flat against their face, but when their whiskers are perky, they\u2019re happy and contented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_when_a_cat_loses_their_whiskers\"><\/span><strong>What happens when a cat loses their whiskers?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When your cat loses their whiskers, it can cause a few problems for them.&nbsp; They will be a bit disoriented and more prone to panic and even aggressive as a form of self-defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without their whiskers, it would be as if they\u2019re in a world of darkness, without even their sense of touch to feel around to help them find their way.&nbsp; While it won\u2019t really physically hurt them when their whiskers fall off, get damaged, or get cut, it will take a toll on them until they have grown out enough whiskers back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_do_if_my_cat_loses_their_whiskers\"><\/span><strong>What to do if my cat loses their whiskers?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s absolutely normal for cats to lose their whiskers.&nbsp; Just like the rest of their fur, or even human hair, their whiskers will shed.&nbsp; Their whiskers will usually shed in a pattern so your cat will not lose any of their amazing benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For most cats, as long as their hair follicle is not damaged repair, it will eventually grow back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Around the 11<sup>th<\/sup> week of your kitten\u2019s life, they will break off their whiskers for playing too rough.&nbsp; They may even shed it so fast, it would seem they lost them all overnight, but you shouldn\u2019t panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you should be concerned is if your senior cat is losing their whiskers so much, even when they\u2019re not as active as they used to be.&nbsp; Consult your local vet as it could be a sign of sickness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pet your cats with care.&nbsp; When you do touch their whiskers, take that time to check whether they have a healthy amount of them to live a normal, happy, active life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Do-cats-like-it-when-you-touch-their-whiskers_-pinterest-cover-01-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Do cats like it when you touch their whiskers\" class=\"wp-image-165\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ah, petting cats are equal parts satisfying and tricky.&nbsp; Touch them one way and they love it, touch them another way, and boom, it\u2019s a scratch fest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Do cats like it when you touch their whiskers? 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