Why Do Cats Have Leg Whiskers?

We love cats for their adorable whiskers. Few people know that these do not have an aesthetic purpose but one that is so much more complex. Whiskers may appear similar to fur, but they are sensory organs that play an essential role in how cats interact with the environment. Cats have whiskers not only on their heads but also on the back of their front legs.

These are called carpal whiskers, and they provide the cat with crucial information about the objects within their grasp and are very important when the cat is hunting.

Here is everything you need to know about a cat’s leg whiskers.

What Are Whiskers and Why Are They Important?

At first glance, whiskers seem like a thicker version of the cat’s fur. However, cats have whiskers on both sides of the area, delimited by their mouths and noses. They also have whiskers above their eyes. These are known as vibrissae, sensory organs specialized in tactile sensing.

They are essential because they offer the cat information about the objects it is close to. To fully understand why this is crucial to the cat, remember that cats must be able to hunt and defend themselves, even at night or in dark places. Even if their sight is impaired, cats must be able to move and hunt, and their whiskers offer them the information they need. These small sensory organs act like a cat’s GPS or radar systems.

The whiskers on the cat’s face are much longer than the cat’s fur, even in cats with long coats. However, their length is not arbitrary. The whiskers on both sides of the cat’s mouth cover a distance almost equal to the cat’s width.

This is a significant characteristic because cats must be agile when hunting. To do this, they must be able to make fast decisions regarding their whereabouts and movements.

The principle is simple – any space at least as wide as the length of their whiskers, from one side to the other, is a space where the cat fits. This is handy when cats run and have to go into narrow spaces. By using their whiskers, they can quickly determine if a space is too small for them to fit into, and this way, they can prevent getting stuck. This is extremely important when cats hunt.

How Whiskers Work

Whiskers are filled with minute sensory nerve endings that provide information about distance and space. This is how the cat can better understand the elements in their surrounding environment. It can use its whiskers to determine if a space is too small or narrow to fit inside or how far it needs to jump up or down to reach a designated point.

Cats can move their whiskers to get more accurate information about objects. Each whisker has a set of muscles that support the individual movement of each whisker.

If you want to see whiskers in action, watch this video of how a cat’s whiskers move slowly. Filming this in slow motion was necessary because the movement was swift making it easy to miss with the naked eye.

Whiskers Complete the Cat’s Eyesight

Cats have incredibly acute eyesight, but this is mainly adapted for far-sight. In fact, cats are not able to see objects that are located closer than 12 inches to them in great detail.

This is where the whiskers come in. Since cats can’t rely on their keen eyesight for objects very close to them, like their prey, they use their whiskers to get more information. The vibrissae can move toward the object to collect detailed information about it.

Cats that can’t see anymore can only move around a room using their whiskers. This is possible because these sensory organs are adapted to provide the cat with information about the movement and the location of the objects around it, even when visibility is low or absent. This adaptation comes from large felines that hunt at night, and rely on very acute senses to catch their prey.

What Are the Cat’s Leg Whiskers For?

Now that you know the purpose and ability of whiskers, let’s go into the role of leg whiskers.

These are also known as carpal whiskers, even though some call them cat elbow whiskers because they are on the underside of the cat’s wrist. They give the cat information about objects within its grasp, like the cat’s prey.

This is how it happens – When a cat catches its prey, it uses its forelegs to hold it. As mentioned above, cats can’t see objects very close to them in great detail. This is why they have their leg whiskers.

These can determine very detailed information about the movement and location of the object that the cat is holding onto. The whiskers have a strong nervous component and send this information to the cat’s brain. If a cat holds its prey, it can determine detailed information about its position and movement via the leg whiskers.

This is extremely important because it helps the cat act very quickly as a response to the movement of its prey, which helps the cat be a better hunter.

While its forelegs are specialized in grasping the prey, its hind legs are specialized in another part of hunting – killing and disemboweling the prey. With the information from the carpal whiskers about the position of the prey it is grasping, the cat can use its hind legs to kick and scratch at its prey’s belly area. Cat owners are incredibly familiar with this type of movement of the hind legs, also known as pumping. They use their forelegs to immobilize the prey and their hind legs to pump and pump.

You may have seen your pet cat doing this with toys, pillows, or even your arm. This behavior we identify as playing comes from the cat’s hunting abilities.

As you can see, a cat’s whiskers are extremely important because they are sensory organs. A cat’s leg whiskers are essential for hunting and interacting with the environment. Whiskers act like a cat’s GPS system, allowing them to move around even when they can’t see.

Have you noticed your cat’s leg whiskers? What about the whiskers above its eyes? Have you ever seen your cat shed its whiskers? Have you ever seen your cat move its whiskers? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.