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That's a frequently asked question and a very good one, in fact. Whiskers are a very delicate sense organ. The slightest contact, even a soft breeze will cause them to move. The base of each whisker is connected to very sensitive clump of nerves that detects these minute movements. In this way animals can often sense objects moving around them. They also help them move around in the dark without bumping into things. =)
See: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_purpose_of_whiskers ( Thanks, http://wiki.answers.com/Q/User:Crazycutie6167 )
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Are cat whiskers a vestigial structure?
A vestigial structure is a structure that an organism still has but no longer serves any real definite purpose. In this case, the whiskers on a cat serve a vital purpose, so they are not vestigial structures.
What is the purpose of the whiskers on squirrels?
Cats have whiskers because they use them to check if they can go through any spaces. Notice that if the cat does not go through some space it is because he/she cannot fit its whiskers, therefore whiskers are the length of a cats body width. Animals use their whiskers to detect how big or small a hole is and if they put their head through it will they be able to get there head back out. i would recommend never to cut an animals whiskers off. Animals with whiskers also use them to assist sight in the dark. That way they don't run head-first into things, indoors or out. It is okay to cut a cat's whiskers, as it will not harm the animal, but it is highly unrecommended. It will unbalance them, they could run into things more often, and it could quite possibly be painful, as there are nerves at the base of the whiskers, so they can definitely feel it. This is one of these "Do not try this home, EVER!" things.
Do zebra have whiskers?
No. Zebras do not have whiskers.
Do penguins have whiskers?
no they dont have whiskers
Why do jaguars have whiskers?
Jaguars are in the same family as domesticated cats. Both have whiskers in order to help them with balance. I do not know why that is but the answer to your question is because whiskers help the animal to balance. Hope this helps!
Is this how you spell whiskers?
Yes, that is how you spell whiskers.
Are a cat's whiskers always white?
A cat's whiskers can be any color, but in most cases, the whiskers do not retain melanin; therefore, the majority of cat whiskers are white.
Can you give me a sentence using the word whiskers?
whiskers
Can you clip the whiskers?
No you should not clip your pet's whiskers.
Does a mouse have whiskers?
Yes, squirrels do have whiskers, but they are very fine.
Does dolphins have whiskers?
Dolphins are born with whiskers which soon fall out due to water pressure.
How can whiskers help cats?
Cats use their whiskers as a guideline for the size of their head. Say a cat is trying to fit through a hole and his whiskers rub, then he knows that he will get stuck if he continues into the hole.
