(ORDO NEWS) — Do not be afraid if you see a cat’s whisker on the floor of the house. This is normal, but it is better to follow the pet.
If a cat’s whiskers begin to fall out, this does not necessarily mean that she is sick. However, this may be a reason to take her to the vet.
“Vibrissa” is the official name for your cat’s whiskers. It comes from the Latin word “vibrio” which means “to vibrate”.
Mustaches are a special type of hair – they are long, thick and coarse. Cat whiskers grow into the skin 3 times deeper than normal hair, and their follicles are filled with nerve endings.
The hairs of these mustaches are made of keratin, just like in humans, and that is why they are not sensitive.
Moreover, each follicle of a cat’s whiskers can be associated with 100-200 neurons. Whiskers help cats interact with the outside world and perform important functions. Whiskers help cats:
- Assess the environment.
- Avoid potential eye and muzzle threats such as branches or insects
- Better to hunt at night
- See if they can fit into tight spaces
Why mustaches fall out to cats and what to do in this case
If a cat accidentally breaks its whiskers, they will grow back if the follicle is not damaged. Just like other hair, mustaches fall out and this is absolutely normal. No more than 2 mustaches should fall out at a time. It may take 6 weeks to 3 months for the new whiskers to grow to the required length and begin to perform their functions. In some cats, white whiskers may darken or become light. This is also normal – changing the color does not affect the function of the mustache.
A cat can lose its whiskers for other reasons:
– Allergy, which can provoke severe itching. Trying to relieve irritation, the cat will sometimes rub its muzzle against various objects or scratch it with its paws. This can lead to mustache falling out. Hair lost in this way will grow back once the problem is resolved.
– Some medications can cause mustache to fall out. On this issue, you should consult with a specialist.
– Bacterial, fungal, or parasitic skin infections can cause hair loss in cats. If the infection develops in the area where the mustache is growing, it may fall out along with other hair. These diseases can also cause severe itching, and, as with allergies, whiskers sometimes fall out due to friction. With skin infections, hair loss is accompanied by peeling and inflammation of the skin, as well as the formation of a crust. Lost hair should grow back once the infection has been treated.
– “Whisker fatigue” can cause constant discomfort at the attachment points of the vibrissae, firing neurons that make the cat feel overstimulated. The cause of this condition may be bowls that are the wrong size. gender, check with your veterinarian You may need to buy another bowl to protect your pet’s sensitive whiskers.
– Cat acne is caused by overactive sebaceous glands, most of which are associated with hair follicles. These glands are responsible for the production of sebum, which makes the fur waterproof, maintains the elasticity of the skin and plays a role in the production of specific odors. There are a lot of sebaceous glands on the chin and lips of a cat, which is why animals so often rub their faces against various objects, marking them with their smell. Excessive sebum production can lead to clogged sebaceous glands. And this, in turn, will lead to acne. The mustache and hair that has fallen out due to acne will grow back as soon as the problem is solved.
– A cat can lose its whiskers as a result of various injuries.
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