FAQ #4: Why Do Cats Have Whiskers?

Posted 07.29.15 by Christine Taylor, DVM

Whiskers are specialized sensory hairs equipped with touch receptors. Compared to the hairs that make up the fur coat, whiskers are longer, thicker and more rigid. These specialized hairs are also embedded more deeply into the cat’s body than the hairs of the fur coat. The area around each whisker, called a follicle, has a generous supply of nerves and...Read More