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Whiskers are a special kind of fur which has been very stylized to fit certain needs a cat has. But, do cats shed whiskers?
Whiskers help your cat to judge spaces, aid its balance, and also offer it information about the world, as they are extremely touch-sensitive.
Whiskers are considered “tactile hairs” – these are hair-like structures that are highly sensitive to pressure and touch. They are mostly found in insects as antennae but can also be found in many mammals; especially as whiskers.
Although considered tactile hairs; in mammals, they don’t actually feel anything.
Let’s now get to the fundamental question.
Do Cats Shed Whiskers?
Cats do shed whiskers. It’s perfectly normal for them to shed their whiskers. There are, however, a number of reasons why cats may shed their whiskers. The reasons why cat shed whiskers vary and could range from medical conditions (such as an infection or hormonal disorder), injuries from catfights, Alopecia in cats, or just from poor grooming to some extent.
If you’ve ever come across a long, white, stiff, hair-like thing on your couch or carpet, it might take you a little while to identify it – after all, we aren’t used to seeing cat whiskers not attached to a cat.
Why Do Cats Shed Whiskers?
Just like the rest of a cat’s fur, cat whiskers go through different phases of growth. If you see the odd whisker around, the chances are that your cat has simply shed an old one, and it will soon grow a new one – or may even already have grown one – to replace it.
There’s no need to worry if you find the occasional whisker lying around your home.
There are a number of reasons that could lead to your cat shedding whiskers. The most important thing to know is that this is perfectly normal and shouldn’t worry you at all. It’s however, very critical to keep a close eye on this and in case it worsens; you should get it checked.
Does More Major Shedding Indicate A Problem?
If your cat starts shedding a lot of whiskers, however, you might start to feel concerned, and it can indicate there are issues.
If you notice this from your fur friend, it’s important that you get it checked with your local vet. There are a number of reasons that could be leading to your cat experiencing major shedding.
Some of these reasons could include:
Infection
Cats are sensitive to bacterial and fungal infections just like people, and some of these can cause fur loss, including whisker loss. If you notice your cat’s fur looking patchy or feel your cat is losing a lot, get him to a vet to get checked over.
Pay close attention to how often your cat is shedding its whiskers. A bacterial infection could lead him to experience major shedding.
Shedding could also be a result of skin infection; if this is the case, your vet should be able to detect this and prescribe the correct medication.
Alopecia in Cats
This can affect many species, and you may even know people who suffer from it. It causes loss of hair on a large scale, and this includes whiskers. This is again something you will need to speak to a vet about; they will be able to determine the cause and find treatments that may mitigate the condition.
Alopecia in cats is mostly caused by an existing underlying condition. The most identified cause is flea allergy dermatitis. Just one bite from a flea could lead to an itching sensation that could really irritate your cat for days. This could lead to him being very irritable and losing his whiskers especially if the bite was closer to the cat’s mouth.
Hormonal Disorders
There are quite a few hormonal disorders that could cause hair loss. Hormones can also affect the texture and feel of your pet’s fur, so if you’ve noticed a recent change, consider speaking to your vet, especially if it is accompanied by other hormone imbalance indicators.
Acne
Did you know cats could suffer from acne? It often breaks out on their chins, meaning it can spread quickly to affect the whiskers. The best way to avoid acne in your pet is to use stainless steel or ceramic food and water bowls. (As opposed to plastic)
Make sure you clean the bowls thoroughly, especially if your cat already has acne, and speak to a vet if necessary.
Other potential causes of acne in cats could range from stress, poor grooming, contact sensitivity, or suppressed immune system. It’s, therefore, crucial to get your feline friend checked by your local vet when you start experiencing ance on your cat.
Injury
If your cat has been fighting, you may notice whisker loss due to scratches or bites to the head. Make sure all cuts are clean and healing, and try to deter strange cats from entering your garden, or keep your cat indoors more often.
Taking good care of the injury will also help the re-growth of the whiskers, especially if the injury was around the cat’s chin.
Injuries are known to drive some itching sensation. It is important to try and prevent your cat from scratching an already healing injury. If not taken good care of, this could lead to repetitive whiskers shedding on the affected area.
Cats are also able to clean their own injuries by licking them and this can help with ensuring the injuries don’t get any infections or further injuries.
Do Cats Whiskers Grow Back?
Cat’s whiskers are able to grow back to their full length in just a matter of time. If they are damaged or naturally shed off, cat whiskers will grow within a period of two to three months. For senior cats, this may take longer than three months. For sick cats, their whiskers may not regrow completely until they are completely cured.
Cats use their whiskers to judge areas around them. They also use them to aid their balance and are extremely sensitive. You should never trim your cat’s whiskers at any point in time.
A cat with trimmed whiskers can easily become disoriented and scared. Trimming a cat’s whisker is not only painful but also affects the cats in so many ways. This may affect the cat’s spatial awareness, causing them to knock on things as well as not being able to protect themselves from any danger.
Conclusion
Whiskers are a key part of a cat’s toolkit and they depend on them heavily to get by in the world. If your cat has started losing its whiskers, you need to find the cause and then work on a solution.
Your vet should be able to help determine what has gone wrong, and then prescribe a treatment that will help your furry friend regrow a full face of whiskers.
It’s normal for cats to lose whiskers and there are a number of reasons ranging from infection, acne, hormonal disorder, or an injury. Cats shed their whiskers every now and then and once shed fresh ones will always grow back.
This, however, doesn’t mean you should trim them. Cat whiskers are very vital and offer multiple functions to the cat. If trimmed, this could lead to disorientation and could scare your feline friend as they won’t be able to comfortably gauge or sense their environment.