Never Trim Your Cat’s Whiskers

Your cat’s whiskers give them personality, but they’re much more than just wild hairs. These highly sensitive structures are essential to your cat’s everyday life, from exploring dark spaces to judging distance.

Unkempt whiskers might make well-intentioned pet parents tempted to give them a trim, but doing so will cause your cat a great deal of discomfort. Here’s why you should never trim your cat’s whiskers, and what makes them such an important part of a cat’s anatomy.

What Are Whiskers, Really?

Tactile hairs, also known as vibrissae, are an important sensory apparatus for domestic cats and other mammals, including tigers, foxes, and even manatees. They are most prominent above your cat’s eyes and on their cheeks and muzzle, but they can also be found on the backs of their front legs. 

While the colloquial term “whiskers” makes them seem comparable to human facial hair, they are deeply embedded in the skin and surrounded by a dense network of nerves and blood vessels. While the hairs themselves are not innervated and trimming them doesn’t cause pain, the surrounding nerve endings make them highly sensitive to even the slightest touch or vibration.

Why Whiskers Are So Important

Whiskers do a lot more than give your cat an expressive face — they’re crucial tools for exploring and interpreting their world. Vibrissae serve several essential functions, including: 

• Spatial Awareness: Whiskers help your cat gauge whether they can fit through tight spaces by acting like built-in measuring tools.
• Navigation in Low Light: Even in complete darkness, whiskers can pick up subtle air currents and nearby movement, helping cats “see” their surroundings.
• Hunting and Play: Whiskers are tuned into the tiniest vibrations, helping cats detect the movements of prey and toys.
• Emotional Expression: The position of your cat’s whiskers can communicate moods to other pets. Whiskers angled forward may signal curiosity or excitement, while flattened whiskers often mean fear or stress.

What Happens If You Trim a Cat’s Whiskers

Many pet parents make the mistake of trimming their cat’s whiskers because they assume they are like any other kind of hair. While the intention may not be harmful, the result can seriously affect your cat’s comfort and confidence.

Because whiskers are sensory tools, trimming them is like temporarily blinding or deafening your cat. Without them, your cat may:

• Lose balance easily
• Bump into objects or misjudge distances
• Seem withdrawn
• Avoid jumping or climbing
• Appear stressed or disoriented
  

Fortunately, cut whiskers do grow back over time. Expect your cat to feel a bit out of sorts for several weeks while they regrow their tactile hairs. 

What to Do If Whiskers Are Damaged

In addition to misguided home haircuts, whiskers can also get damaged during play with other pets or grooming accidents. While lost whiskers don’t generally constitute a medical emergency, your cat will need your help to navigate the world without all of their senses.

Ease their disorientation by adding as much comfort and predictability into their routine as possible. Provide your distressed cat with an easily accessible space they can retreat to if they become overwhelmed, avoid startling them, and add some nightlights to help them navigate your home in the dark. 

Be patient if your cat is unusually clingy or vocal during this time. If their stress level or behavior becomes a concern, reach out to your vet for more strategies on keeping them comfortable while their whiskers regrow.