So your cat is losing its whiskers, but don’t fear. It is normal for cats to lose whiskers as they lose fur. However, if there are more missing whiskers than usual, it could be a problem.
Reasons your cat is losing whiskers
Allergies
Just like us, cats can develop allergies from their environment or from the food they eat. However, the symptoms look different on them. For example, instead of hay fever, they might get red itchy skin or lose hair. This is especially true if the flare-up is around their whiskers.
Infections
Bacterial and fungal infections can also make the skin weak like an allergy flare-up. If your vet believes that your cat is losing her whiskers because of a skin infection, they will want to prescribe medications. Although it is more typical for kittens, adult cats can get ringworm, which is not actually a worm but a fungal infection.
Trauma
Whisker loss happens when a cat’s whiskers are pulled out or broken. This can happen when the cat goes outside and meets other animals, or even when living with other animals at home. To prevent this, it is best to not let your cat go outside unsupervised and to try to reduce stress between pets at home.
By giving your cat enough resources, such as water bowls, litter boxes, sleeping areas, toys and scratching surfaces or cat furniture, you can stop them from fighting with other cats. Additionally, if you place scratch pads and more vertical climbing surfaces or cat shelves in high traffic areas like hallways, your cat will be able to relieve stress by scratching the pad instead of their housemate. This also increases the walking area of a small space which will make a tight hallway less stressful.
Acne
Acne often affects your cat’s chin. If it gets bad, the acne will spread to your cat’s whiskers. This can make the whiskers fall out. The best way to prevent feline acne is by using ceramic or stainless steel bowls for food and water instead of plastic ones. Additionally, make sure to clean these bowls often.
Whiskers are important for your cat. They do different things. If your cat loses a whisker once in a while, it is normal. But if your cat is losing more than one whisker at a time, there might be a medical problem and you should take her to the vet.
Why Do Cats Have Whiskers?
Whiskers or ‘vibrissae’ are a highly specialized type of fur. Cats have whiskers for several reasons:
- They aid in balance: Everyone knows the old saying that a cat always lands on her feet. That is thanks, in part, to their whiskers! Whiskers aid in proprioception, that is, letting your cat know where her body and her limbs are in space and in relation to one another.
- Your cat’s whiskers help her understand how much space she has. They also help her figure out if something is too tight for her to fit through.
- Sensory whiskers close to your cat’s face provide information about touch. They are very sensitive and can help your cat ‘see’ even in low light or no light! It is normal for new whiskers to grow as old ones drop off. This is why you may find a stray whisker while cleaning the house. However, there may be reasons your cat sheds whiskers more frequently than usual.
