The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [12]
To ensure Kai’s safety, I recommend you train him to wear a harness and walk on a leash, rather than relying on a carrier. He will definitely win admiration if he can strut into a hospital room on a leash. Cats able to perform tricks such as paw waving, sitting up on their hind legs, and jumping into open arms on cue will make a great impression as well. Of course, possessing a strong, steady purr only enhances his popularity among people in need of a little TLC (tender loving cat).
Why Whiskers?
Q My young daughter recently took her kindergarten scissors and trimmed all the whiskers off our cat. Of course I was very upset with her, because I know cats need their whiskers to find their way around, but I realize that I don’t really know how they work. What happens when a cat loses his whiskers?
A Most people realize that whiskers serve as measuring tools for most breeds of cats. The width of the whiskers along the sides of the face sizes up small openings to alert them if their bodies can fit through without getting stuck. Perhaps that explains why my chubbiest cat, Murphy, sports the longest whiskers among my three cats. But as mentioned in Five Feline Senses, page 9, not all breeds rely on whiskers to help them navigate.
Whiskers serve other vital purposes. A cat uses the long, protruding whiskers along his muzzle to rotate and scan for signs of possible prey. What is amazing is that the whiskers don’t have to actually touch an object for a cat to realize it is there. Bundles of nerves in the whiskers supply oodles of information to the cat’s brain, delivering almost supersensory abilities. I often equate this feline “Spidey sense” to that of superhero Spiderman.
Cats also have delicate whiskers above their eyes. Like our eyelashes, these whiskers activate a blinking reflex that automatically shields their eyes from flying debris. Wispy whiskers under the chin sense objects from below. Whiskers on the front legs assist in safe landings and to sense the presence of prey.
Whiskers also signal feline moods. Pay attention to your cat’s whiskers when he goes on the alert or appears content. When relaxed, a cat’s whiskers are held slightly to the side. But when a cat is intrigued or feels threatened, the whiskers automatically tense up and point forward.
Without his whiskers, your cat’s sense of balance, depth perception, and warning systems can be altered slightly. Veterinarians recommend keeping a whiskerless cat inside until the whiskers grow back, which can take two or three months.
WHISKERY FACTS
Whiskers are technically known as “vibrissae.” Grab a magnifying glass and take a close-up look. A cat’s whiskers are about twice as thick as the hair on their coat, and the roots of the whiskers are about three times deeper than hair roots. Cats sport from 8 to 12 long whiskers on each side of their upper lip. They lose a few whiskers at a time as part of the normal shedding process, never losing them all at once.
Insights into Cat Shows
Q A friend of mine has three Havana Brown cats that she enters in cat shows. She has invited me to attend a show. I often watch dog shows on television, but I’m not at all sure how a cat show works. Can you give me some insight on what to expect and how to behave at a cat show?
A Dogs aren’t the only animals who like to mug for a camera or strike a pose for a judge, and dog owners aren’t the only people who like to show off their sleek, well-groomed, and highly pedigreed pets. You can learn a lot about cats by taking the time to attend a cat show.
The Cat Fanciers’ Association Championship International show I attended drew more than 800 felines representing 41 breeds. It was a marvelous opportunity to see so many different cat breeds under one roof. True, cats do not vary as much in size or looks as their canine counterparts, but there is a great distinction between a Sphynx and a Maine Coon or between an Ocicat and