Many people think that the cat’s whiskers are useless, so they think about cutting them off. However, is it okay to cut a cat’s whiskers ? Does it have any effect on the cat’s health, spirit or behavior?
1. The role of cat whiskers
Cat whiskers are not as ineffective as many people think. It even has many uses and importance for cats, but losing it will significantly affect the cat’s functions.
Cat whiskers are not like human whiskers. If you cut them, it’s okay, it’s still normal. Cat whiskers are embedded deep under the surface of the skin, closely connected to the nervous system. They are long, thin, and move continuously according to the cat’s actions. Beards grow in many locations such as the sides of the mouth, under the jaw, the area around the eyes, and the back of the front legs.
Cat whiskers are really sensitive, they help cats orient and identify everything around them accurately, so they are likened to a cat’s second pair of eyes. Whiskers constantly change direction and position to quickly sense changes in their surroundings, helping cats identify things and move safely.
Especially at night when it’s dark, the cat’s whiskers help the cat orient, run, jump, hunt in the right direction, and pounce at the right location. Cats can also sense objects in the house to avoid getting hurt when running or jumping up and down thanks to their identifying whiskers.
Cat whiskers help cats navigate and find their way
2. Is it okay to cut a cat’s whiskers?
Should not. Many people cut their cat’s whiskers without knowing that this is not good. Therefore, do not cut your cat’s whiskers as it will seriously affect the cat. This part plays a more important role than we think. Actually, cat whiskers also fall out and grow back on their own, but that’s because they’re old, but if they naturally cut them, the problem will be different.
When cutting off a cat’s whiskers, it makes it difficult for the cat to determine its position, become disoriented, and difficult to identify surrounding objects. When cats run and jump, they will bump into objects and get injured. They even slip and fall and get stuck somewhere.
At relatively low heights, cats still cannot feel it and land unsafely. At night, a cat without whiskers determines the wrong direction and hunts mice ineffectively. At the same time, cats also see things wrongly, which can put them in danger.
Not to mention having their whiskers cut off also affects the cat’s psychology. Causes cats to become withdrawn, less involved in activities, and no longer active. They are even lazy, lazy to eat, and want to sleep more than usual. A cat’s whiskers are considered the windows to a cat’s soul, so don’t cut them arbitrarily just because they seem to be in the way.
3. Will cutting a cat’s whiskers grow back?
Will cutting a cat’s whiskers grow back ? Have. Cut cat whiskers can grow back, but it takes longer than if they fall out and grow back normally. Cat whiskers will grow back periodically. After about 2-3 months, the whiskers will grow back in the same place where they were cut. But there are some problems like:
- The newly grown whiskers are not as sensitive as before, it takes time for the cat to adapt to it
- When cats cut their whiskers, you should give them time to calm down, avoid the time that makes them mentally confused and wander into danger.
- While waiting for the cat’s whiskers to grow back, the cat has many unusual symptoms such as loss of appetite, unstable mood…
4. Once the cat’s whiskers have been cut, how should it be handled?
When you accidentally cut your cat’s whiskers and learn about the dangers later, all you have to do is think about how to fix this. Below are instructions on how to overcome dangers with cats:
- Place your cat’s food in a larger tray or bowl, so that the cat’s whiskers don’t touch the food
- If your cat has many abnormalities such as loss of appetite or sadness, find food they like. Take the trouble to caress, care, and pay attention to comfort and stimulate your cat to become happier.
- Take care of your cat’s body to make it healthier, don’t let it get sick
- Prevent them from going wild, leading to them getting lost and in danger…