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Cat WhiskersCat whiskers do more than you ever imagined. As humans we have a tendency to think that we are superior to all animals. Yet many other animals have sensory devices that far exceed the ability of those on a human. They provide a form of sight to a cat, which is particularly useful in the dark when eyes are less useful. Whiskers are able to sense air currents around objects. This highlights the amazing sensitivity of the whiskers. So as the cat approaches an object that he can't see clearly or at all he can sense the object is there and avoid it. The whiskers are embedded as we know in the upper lip of the cat to a far greater depth than the other hairs. At the base of the hair their are a mass of nerve endings, which transmit to the brain any minute impact on the end of the whisker be it actual contact with an object or an air current. On average their are 12 on each side of the face. They can also be found on other areas of the cat:
HuntingWhiskers are vital for hunting particularly at night. A cat with whiskers in good condition is able to kill his prey cleanly at night. Their amazing sensitivity directs the cat to strike at the exactly correct area (the neck) of the prey. For a cat with damaged whiskers this is not possible and a clean kill can only take place during the day when eyesight alone can be relied upon.
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