What are cat whiskers?
A cat's whiskers, also known as whiskers, are tactile hairs that help cats sense their surroundings. They use them to sense and detect objects nearby, and to detect changes in the surrounding air flow that can alert them to nearby predators. They serve as an important sensory tool for cats.
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Why do cats have whiskers?
A cat's whiskers act as an important sensory tool for cats, which they use for a variety of purposes.
All cats have excellent night vision, but they have difficulty seeing nearby objects. Their whiskers serve as a tool for detecting nearby objects that are too close to be seen well. Second, a cat's whiskers are so sensitive that they can detect small changes in air flow that may indicate nearby animals or predators.
The whisker has several other functions, such as triggering reflexes, a navigation tool in the dark, or measuring the width of a narrow space or entrance. They also help them climb and determine the distance to their prey. You see, whiskers are truly a cat's sixth sense.
An effective method to immobilize a cat
The process of immobilizing young healthy cats includes the following steps:
- Attaching the clip to the cat's scruff. You need to select a clothespin or clip approximately 5 cm in size and place the device on the withers directly behind the ears. Each owner can choose what exactly to pinch the scruff of the neck on their own. You need to look at the cat’s reaction to see what suits him best. If a paper clip puts too much pressure on the skin, the cat will not tolerate the pain.
- It is necessary to place the pet on its side. Since the cat relaxes too much after the clamp, he may involuntarily fall on his own. If this does not happen, you can gently press on the hind legs to remove resistance. You can tell that the cat is completely relaxed by his behavior. He tends to pull the lamps towards his muzzle, curls up into a ball, and places his tail between his paws. If the cat cannot be laid on its side, it continues to stubbornly stand on its feet and tucks its tail, which means it is not calm and is very scared.
- Using additional clothespins. The reception will help to completely relax the animal. To do this, several clamps must be placed a little further than the first one on the back of the neck along the spine. If the cat starts to get violent, then all the clamps need to be removed.
- Also, the method of placing a clothespin anywhere along the back along the spine may work for some cats, but greater effect can only be achieved when placed on the neck.
- After a few minutes, the clothespins need to be removed. However, the duration of the resulting peace of mind is sometimes completely unpredictable and is determined on an individual basis. Some cats are immobilized during the entire grooming and nail trimming procedure, while in other cases the animal can be deactivated for a short period of time.
According to veterinarians, clothespins cannot cause harm to the skin. But after some time, the cat may begin to show dissatisfaction; there is no need to shock the cat for a long time.
When keeping pets, there is often a need to perform certain procedures that require their immobility. If this is a cat, then he needs to trim his claws, get a haircut, perform medical procedures, for example, give injections
With all these procedures, it is important to know how to immobilize a cat correctly. After all, they are all stressful for the animal, which means it can behave completely unpredictably, injuring both itself and those around it.
To keep the cat from moving, it is not necessary to use sedatives or other tranquilizers; you can get by with another working method.
Why do cats lose their whiskers?
Just like regular hair, a cat's whiskers need to be updated from time to time. It is the body's way of healing itself. Lost mustaches will automatically grow back within a few weeks. If your cat is losing too much fur or whiskers, it could be a sign of stress. In this case, it is better to consult a veterinarian.
Do whiskers help cats see at night?
Cats have excellent night vision, but a cat's whiskers also play a vital role in finding their way in the dark. Because of their sensitivity, whiskers can detect subtle air currents in a room and allow cats to detect obstacles from a distance, even in complete darkness.
A battered Soviet briefcase
Well, who needs an old, battered travel bag with the handle almost torn off? At best, he will face the fate of a “country chest” in which the same rubbish is stored. But collectors will not agree with this message. There are more than enough advertisements for the sale of portfolios that remember Brezhnev, and maybe even Khrushchev. In Kamensk-Uralsk, for example, they offer it for only 1000 rubles. purchase the portfolio of a certain assistant professor from the 70s. “The condition is good, clean, without scuffs, perfect for photo shoots,” the owner describes his treasure.
There are economy options for 350 rubles. For this amount, a resident of Yaroslavl is ready to tear from her heart a large travel bag with paint stains, rust on the metal and the lining torn off in places.
But a Muscovite sells a briefcase made of Soviet leatherette for 4,000 rubles. “The housing and all accessories are in excellent perfect condition. The inside is uncritically dusty. The locks work, the keys are there,” the ad says.
Whiskers help cats determine if they're passing
Have you ever seen how a cat can fit into the narrowest of spaces? How do they know in advance whether they will fit inside or not? It turns out their mustaches act like measuring tapes.
Before the cat squeezes into the small, narrow space, they carefully poke their head into the hole. It may seem like they are trying to feel something when they do this because you will notice their nose and upper lips moving as they do this.
They actually measure the width of the hole by moving their whiskers and touching the edges. The ends of the whiskers on each side are positioned the width of your cat's body. They know that if their whiskers come through, so does the rest of their body.
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Old frying pans and pots
You never know what circumstances there are! I remember about 25 years ago, my friend and I were driving through Moscow to the Grushinsky festival. We had to spend more than a day in the capital, there was no money for a hotel, and therefore it was decided to pitch a tent in the nearest Moscow region. At the station square it dawned on us: there was no pot. “Now we’ll buy an inexpensive saucepan somewhere nearby,” the friend reassured. But “nearby” it turned out to be a not at all cheap Moscow department store, where the aluminum saucepan was bought for a lot of money. It was a pity - not the right word, but what to do?
Now it’s easy to buy a saucepan for camping on a free classifieds site - you save money and don’t mind throwing it away later. There are dozens of proposals. Mikhail from Yekaterinburg is the owner of a whole collection of such “aluminum scrap”. There are miniature ones, as well as 8 liters for a respectable company. Price - from 50 to 200 rubles per piece.
Source of the article: https://www.wday.ru/dom-eda/interer/kto-eto-pokupaet-usy-kota-i-drugoi-khlam-kotoryi-prodayut-v-seti/
What do whiskers say about your cat's mood?
If you observe your cat closely, you may have noticed that she can move her whiskers, unlike other hairs on her body. This is because the whiskers are deeply rooted in the skin and connected to the muscles.
A cat's whiskers can give you an idea of your cat's emotions at a certain moment. If their whiskers are pushed forward, it indicates that they are curious. If they are being held harshly in the face, it usually means they feel threatened. A relaxed mustache is a sign of happiness and contentment.
Does a mustache grow?
Whiskers that are lost, trimmed, or otherwise damaged will grow back in their original location. A completely lost mustache usually grows back within a few weeks. If your cat has had severe hair follicle trauma, the lost whiskers may never grow back, but this is quite rare.
Whiskers do not grow slower or faster depending on the cat's age, but at approximately the same rate throughout the cat's life.
The length of the whiskers is determined genetically, and once they reach a certain length, they will stop growing and will remain approximately the same length throughout your cat's life. The mustache does not grow indefinitely, so it does not need to be trimmed or trimmed.
General rules
You can work with the hair of some animal breeds with scissors.
To be safe, new haircuts for cats are done according to certain standards and recommendations. you should know who and how you can groom. It is allowed to cut a Persian cat and a pet with another long-haired breed using scissors, a mechanical hand or an electric machine. A Scotsman or a Briton can only be groomed with a machine, and scissors cannot be used to work with the hair of a Siamese cat. At the end of the process, the animal is bathed in warm water to remove small clipped hairs.
After the haircut, the cat should receive positive emotions in the form of a soothing, gentle stroking and tasty treats - this way the fright will go away faster. If the pet is shaved bald, the discomfort and anxiety will subside when the cat grows new fur 3-5 mm long, so that the animal does not attack its own tail, not perceiving it as its own, a brush is always left at the end.
Safety of the procedure
The absence of injuries is one of the main criteria for professional work. The fur is usually removed against the grain, but shaving the pet’s coat in the opposite direction is also acceptable, especially if these are small kittens or nervous adult purrs. Cutting hair according to hair growth makes it possible not to cause additional discomfort and stress to the animal.
Before treatment with a machine, the tummy is carefully trimmed with scissors, paying special attention to the area of the nipples so as not to damage them.
A special collar is necessary for animals that are prone to nervousness and aggression during grooming.
If the animal is nervous, put on a collar and groom without anesthesia. A pet wearing a collar does not see what is happening and is less nervous; besides, this way it will not be able to bite the hairdresser. Particularly aggressive patients are groomed with immobilization - the master's assistant firmly holds the cat by the paws and head, not allowing him to twitch and interfere with the process. If there are a large number of mats and it is necessary to completely cut off the fur, the “aggressor” must be groomed under anesthesia.
