Cat's mustache: what are they called, what are their functions, can they be trimmed?

The structure of cats often raises many questions among their breeders. In particular, cat owners are interested in cat whiskers. They are interested in why they are needed and whether they need to be trimmed. It's time to sort this out.

Feline mustache is scientifically called vibrissa (they got the name from the Latin word “vibrissae”, which means “vibrate”, “wriggle”, “hesitate”). These are the pet's sense organs that constantly move and vibrate. In fact, this is the tactile hair of a cat, which differs from the rest of the coat in greater stiffness, thickness, length and rooting.

The structure of vibrissae has its own characteristics. Each hairline is placed in its own capsule called a follicle. It is connected to nerve endings, vessels and muscles. It is due to the connection with the animal’s brain that the cat reacts to any changes in the environment, from air fluctuations to the movement of any objects.

At the same time, some rows of mustaches on the face of the pet (3 mustaches on each side of the nose) can move separately. Vibrissas are placed deeply, their damage is fraught with a loss of orientation in the direction for which a particular hair is responsible. The root of the hair is under the epidermis layer, it is surrounded by skin glands, venous sinuses and nerve endings.

Thick and stiff vibrissae have an average length of 6-7 cm.In representatives of large breeds (for example, Maine Coons), it is larger and can reach 18-19 cm. The length of the vibrissae on the cheeks and other places can differ. At the same time, it does not affect the functions of the tactile organs: both those and other hairs do an excellent job.

For example, short vibrissa on the paws help the animal feel the vibration of the floor. Those whiskers that seem to the breeder with eyebrows are eye protection and contribute to a better sense of space. Noteworthy is the fact that the length of the mustache is directly related not only to the size of the breed, but also to the thickness of the animal. For example, mustaches are often longer in thick cats.

Typically, the tactile sensory organs consist of 24 hairs, which are located in 4 rows on both sides above the upper lip of the animal. That is, 12 hairs are located on each side of the nose (sometimes there are much more). In addition, they can be located in the eye area, on the chin and lower parts of the body - on the pillows of the paws. The amount of the main mass of vibrissae can vary.

Each mustache connects to a specific area of ​​the brain. Whatever they touch, it gives certain information from the outside world. Vibrissae having nerve endings associated with brain receptors grow separately from each other. Some of them bend poorly, but they function equally in individuals of different sexes. They are located up or to the sides, and therefore do not interfere with animals.

Vibrissas may vary in thickness depending on the breed of the cat. The thickness of the organs of touch is 2 or even 3 times thicker than the coat of the animal. It may vary depending on the location. For example, to be different on the lower jaw and on the back of the forepaws, on the cheeks they are thicker than above the eyes. Despite this, they are extremely sensitive, and therefore the cat tries not to expose them to excessive pressure. For example, sometimes eating from a narrow bowl can provoke vibrissa stress.

Feline mustache perform a lot of functions. Thanks to them, cats are able to accurately navigate in space even at night. Vibrisses help animals to carry out maneuvering jumps over long distances, to distinguish between high-quality and poor food, to hunt and evaluate the enemy during a fight or during games.

In order for an animal to be able to freely navigate in space, it does not at all need to touch any objects with vibrissae. For a full and clear picture, air fluctuations are quite enough. It can also be created during the movement of the cat, reflected from walls or objects. Vibrissas are able to capture reflected waves and “draw” a virtual image.

The parameters of the mustache help the cat understand if it can crawl into a narrow space. That is why he crawls into boxes, bags and narrow manholes without fear. The hairs on the backs of the front legs can be called the second eyes of cats: with their help, the animal not only scrambles and gets food, but can also strike when hunting. The hairs on the cheeks located on both sides of the nose are connected to the muscles. By moving them and touching various objects, the cat receives valuable information about the surrounding space.

Surely the cat breeder noticed that the cat leans toward the ground when hunting. However, at the same time, he hardly thought that it was necessary for tactile contact of the vibrissa with the ground. Even the slightest vibration from mouse paws cannot escape sensitive vibrissae. Just touch them to the floor and the necessary information will be received.

It is due to vibrissa that the cat understands which direction the mouse ran away. However, the functions of the hairs are not limited to this. When the cat catches the victim, it is the mustache that will tell him whether she is alive or dead. At the same time, the pet will not eat live prey, because a mouse in a fit of deadly fear can bite a cat.

After the prey is strangled, the cat begins a meal. You may notice that he also checks the food from the bowl for “liveliness”. Touching it with vibrissa, he assesses whether the food is alive, and only after that proceeds to food.

It is unlikely that the owner of the cat thought about the fact that his pet communicates with other animals using vibrissa. Through their cat gives signals to other brothers about his mood. For example, a mustache helps him even when fighting for a female or in a duel for territory. An elongated mustache suggests that the cat is not against meeting a fellow. When they are spread apart, this indicates unfriendliness, and if the hairs are pressed tightly to the muzzle, then the animal is scared.

Despite the fact that the mustache grows faster than the main coat, it is impossible to cut them. This causes a serious damage to the health of the pet. The loss of a mustache deprives the animal of additional information that it needs for proper growth and development. This will affect appetite, activity and health. Of course, over time, the vibrissae grow back, but during this period of time, the pets will be deprived of much. In fact, this can be compared with a person whose hearing, vision and touch are impaired.

Vibrissa change in cats occurs by itself in the process of a lifetime. You do not need any auxiliary manipulations, because nature has not come up with anything more for the cat. Partial trimming of vibrissae on the face is allowed only in the case of radical treatment of fungal infection. However, this measure is extreme. It is possible only when the health benefits of a cat from manipulation exceed the possible risks.

An attentive owner, caring for his pet, knows: vibrissa are sensors that signal feline health problems. The worse their condition, the worse the quality of life of the pet.

For example, cat mustache problems may occur due to hormonal disruption. It can lead to stress, adolescence, or the state of pregnancy in females. In such cases, you must show the pet to a professional veterinarian. Vibrissa can become thinner, become fragile and inelastic.

There are times when cats themselves singe vibrissa, being near a fireplace or gas stove. Not each of them has an instinct of fear of fire, and therefore the owner has to ensure that the animal does not get too close to the dangerous place.

The increased fragility of the mustache speaks of 2 factors: lack of moisture and improper washing of the cat. For example, an animal’s mustache can suffer if the room has dry air. In addition, the cat, regardless of the time of feeding, should have a bowl of fresh water. If it is limited in fluid intake, vibrissae become brittle.

As for the washing procedure, here are 2 reasons. This may be due to the choice of low-quality bathing products. In addition, few people pay attention to the fact that washing a cat with detergents is not always necessary. Sometimes enough warm water.

Mustache loss is a more serious problem. Unlike breaking, it does not depend on environmental conditions. It indicates health problems and is often accompanied by an allergic reaction. As a rule, concomitant symptoms may include hair loss, lacrimation and stool disturbance.

Faced with this problem, it is necessary to review the nutritional value of the animal's diet. It is likely that the cause of the loss is vitamin deficiency, as a result of which the loss of mustache takes on a larger scale. This may be due to the uniformity of nutrition, causing a deficiency of vitamins and minerals necessary for the body.

Loss may result from infection of the cat with parasites. Their waste products are extremely toxic, can lead to intoxication of the body. Due to poor supply, the hair follicles receive less nutrients, due to which the vibrissa weakens and falls out. In addition, a mustache can fall out due to an animal allergy to flea saliva or fungal skin lesions.

If the cat’s vibrissa grows slowly, not differing in strength and sufficient thickness, it is necessary to review not only the nutrition, but also the conditions of detention. The reasons for poor growth can be poor food quality, lack of vitamins and minerals, poor metabolism or problems with the endocrine system. In order to improve the growth of vibrissae, it is necessary to improve the quality of the animal.

It happens that poor growth is a consequence of the disease. For example, this may be the result after prolapse caused by a benign tumor in the ear. Unfortunately, our medicine does not always detect such cases on time.

A cat without a mustache is like a patient who has impaired vision, hearing and taste. Depending on the nature of the cat, its behavior when breaking off or losing a mustache may vary. For example, if vibrissae fall out almost everything, it not only weakens, but becomes unable to move in the dark. The animal can stumble on various objects due to poor orientation in the dark, it will not be able to assess the size of the holes, and therefore gets stuck inside them.

The accuracy of cat jumps is also reduced. The cat cannot estimate the distance and often cannot jump to the desired object. If the degree of loss is not so dangerous for a pet, then a street cat will not be easy.

In order for an elastic and thick mustache to grow in an animal, it is necessary to include natural food in the diet. It must be balanced, matched to the age of the pet. As for cheap feed, they are made from legumes, they are useless for animals and contain a lot of chemicals. The quality of the growing mustache from them will not increase.

However, cats are also characterized by a change of mustache, which is a natural process. As a rule, one hair falls out, and in its place a new one immediately grows. If the loss is plentiful, the consequences in behavior can be deplorable. For example, the loss of a navigation system can cause the animal to scratch itself or stop hunting.

It is undesirable to let out a domestic cat at this time. It is also noteworthy that some cat mothers bite their tendrils on little kittens themselves. They do this so that the kids are around as long as possible. However, in this case, you should not be afraid: kittens vibrissa grow naturally. However, if the number of mustaches is reduced, this is an occasion to consult a doctor.

About the reasons for the loss of a mustache in a cat, see below.