The first time I saw my cat Sophie’s whisker on the couch I was surprised but it was no big deal to me, so I let it slide. I even showed my cat her own whisker and she kind of wanted to eat it lol (see the video below). After a few days, I came across another one in the living room! It suddenly escalated from a no-bother to a hair-raising experience pretty fast.
My cat’s reaction to one of her whiskers
If you’re like me who’s so concerned about my cat’s health, take a seat as I tell you what I discovered on why my cat (and yours) may be losing her whiskers! Ready? Yes! Let’s go!
Is It Normal for A Cat to Lose Whiskers?
Why does Kitty lose her whiskers anyway? Is it normal feline behavior? Well, it depends. Losing whiskers is natural to cats the same way we might notice locks of hair sometimes on our pillow. Many mammals, including cats, shed their whiskers and even furs as a natural biological process. We should be thankful if our cat loses its whiskers from time to time. It’s a sign she’s healthy.
How Many Whiskers is Considered Normal For a Cat to Lose?
If your cat loses one or two whiskers within 2 or 3 days, it’s perfectly normal. But, hold on! There’s a caveat; if it were pathological, you would notice a complete or significant loss of whiskers. And, that should be enough to frighten you. If that occurs, you’d have to consult a qualified vet immediately. Another point of interest is if it were pathological, the loss of whiskers in combination with some of the symptoms described above could be a horrible experience for our cats. For example, feline acne manifests as small bumps commonly occurring on her chin or around the mouth, and sometimes spreads fast to her whiskers. This may lead to a significant loss of whiskers.
Causes of Pathological Whisker Loss in Cats
On the other side of the whisker-losing spectrum is a blend of pathological factors ranging from bacterial and fungal infections to allergies. If you notice skin infections or common allergic reactions such as diarrhea, loud snoring, itchy eyes and back, watery eyes, feline acne, etc., it may be time to take your cat to the vet.
What Happens When A Cat Loses Its Whiskers Naturally?
Nothing much happens when a cat loses its whiskers naturally, it only means your cat is shedding that one whisker that will be replaced with a new one over time. When the whiskers fall off your cat’s mouth it doesn’t hurt one bit, except if it was forcefully clipped by someone. But, even at that, the pain is minimal. Quite minimal. To me, the pain equivalent is like having our chin hair plucked out. However, you should never pull or pluck your cat’s whiskers. It’s beyond cruel to do that.
Will the Whiskers Grow Back?
Hell yes! Like humans, when we lose our hair, it gets replaced after some time, right? The same applies to cats. Besides cats, other mammals such as dogs also lose their whiskers naturally from time to time.
What is the function of the cat’s whiskers?
Whiskers are vital biological sensory structures that help our cats navigate through their environment, determine object distances, sense vibrations in the air, assist in night vision, help in hunting, and make them incredibly cute and adorable! That explains why your cat would not forgive you if you ever had her whiskers trimmed! It will completely disorient her. It’s like the human equivalent of having your toes amputated.
Final Thoughts
As stated earlier, losing whiskers is a natural biological process that occurs in cats. However, we may require a vet visit if we notice a significant or complete loss of whiskers coupled with other symptoms of illness.
Thank you for reading. If you have any questions about your cat’s health or need to share your feline story with me, feel free to leave a comment.
Citations
https: //iheartcats.com/ask-a-vet-why-do-my-cats-whiskers-fall-out/
https: //petsoverload.com/why-do-cats-lose-their-whiskers/
https://www.purina.co.uk/cats/health-and-nutrition/symptoms-to-watch-out-for/cat-acne/
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