Cat Whiskers Versatile Functions: Abyssinian Johnny’s Anatomy #1

Cat Whiskers Functions

Cat whiskers are more than a garnish on their cute faces. As Johnny takes really good care of his whiskers, cats’ whiskers are not just for showing off its gorgeous quality, but keeping it nice and clean is crucial to their hunting. It is like this. when you see cat taking care of their whiskers, which means they are tuning their hypersensitive radar to its finest. So next time you see Abyssinian Johnny’s proud whiskers are nice and clean, he’s ready to pounce on the prey.

POINT BREEZE KINGDOM – AFTERNOON

Johnny and Servant H are looking at a picture book at a coffee table.

I like some of his paintings. It makes you think other perspectives of so-called reality.

Fascinating. This man must have had an imaginative and bold mind.

They turn pages over.

This painting is a good example. Persistence of Memory aka Melting Clock, this melting clock image forces you to think “what is time?” and “who are you?” What’s good about seeing pictures, it is totally up to you to decide what’s it about.

Johnny listens to H and interprets the message in it his way.

I see. Its message is simple and destructive at the same time. It can change one’s perception of time. And you may start to cast a doubt about time and yourself…

Exactly.

They turn a page.

You get lucky if you find a new perspective on art. It is the same thing when you read. When you close the book, if you get a new perspective on anything, it’s worth of your time.

They turn another page.

He, Salvador Dali is a famous painter. He is a great example of being a genius and a strange is only a fine line. He said there is only one difference between a madman and him. The madman thinks he is sane. Dali knows he is mad.

I understand you can’t remain in anyone’s memory if one is ordinary.

True.

They look at paintings attentively.

It is interesting to look at those distorted images gives us a hint to see the essentials. That’s what I like about drawings and paintings. You can peek into some interesting people’s head.

I see. Interesting.

They find a photo in it.

There are several pictures of him and his pet ocelot, Babou.

This man looks very funny, but his cat is really cute.

Johnny can’t resist laughing.

I mean, look at his mustache! To me, it is like a camouflage. He is a handsome man and his mustache dazzles people’s perception. It might have been one of his art to show things are never like as it appears… Mine is natural and splendid, don’t you think so, H?

Actually, yours are whiskers to be exact. He might have wanted cat whiskers like yours. Anyway, it looks fantastic indeed, Your Majesty.

Johnny proudly scratches around his muzzle. One of his whiskers falls off on the floor. Johnny doesn’t notice it.

Dali and his ocelot, Babou traveled together a lot, too. Just like us.

Is that right? I think we can have some chat with him. We may be able to find a lot in common on our experiences on travels.

Sure, your majesty. Oh, we didn’t realize we’re already in the late afternoon! It’s high time for you to take a nap, your majesty.

He distorted our sense of time, H! We enjoyed his paintings so much! Ok, I’m off to take a nap. You can’t miss that!

No, you can’t. It is an important part of your regimen.

Sure. You can go now, H.

Johnny starts to curl up himself. He looks like an ammonite or a snail now.
Servant H watches Johnny dozes off.
H is at the door, looking at Johnny one more time to be sure he is asleep.

zzZ…zzZ…

Servant H closes the door behind her. Climbs down to the first floor with Johnny’s whisker in her hand.

Research Lab in Point Breeze – Early Evening

Servant Y is at the lab. A lot of books scattered around. Y is taking one of the books out of them.

How’s our king?

Servant Y says with turning over pages.

He just fell into a doze. He won’t wake up anytime soon.

That’s perfect. Let’s begin our investigation…

Servant Y sorts out some books and papers.

Look at those questions we have for our King. He is the embodiment of mysteries.

Indeed.

Servant Y and H are looking at a huge list of unsolved mysteries of cats.

We need more evidence to prove our proposition…

Servant Y puts his hand on his chin, pondering.

Simply put, they are fabulous and beautiful. We wanna know what makes them that way…

Hmm, these questions have to be answered…But where do we start?

Servant Y looks he is at a loss what he has to do.

Look, Y. This is freshly fell out whisker. Could it be some help, you think?

Servant H opens her hand and shows Y Johnny’s whisker.

Absolutely!

Servant Y takes Johnny’s whisker and watches it closely.

It can be a huge help…

Cat Whiskers: More than tickle your face

General information about cat whiskers

Cat whiskers are touch receptors which are called vibrissae. These longer hairs are embedded more deeply in the cat’s body than the shorter top-fur coat [1]. At the root of each of these long, stiff hairs is a follicle loaded with nerves. They send information about surroundings directly to the cat’s sensory nerves which give a heightened sense of feelings. They are very sensitive they can detect the changes in air currents [2]. Therefore cats can move around in the darkness. Their nocturnal behaviors are made possible by these whiskers.

Unlike some beliefs, their whiskers don’t play a role in balancing. Just like us humans, they take balance with the structure of inner ear [3].

I see. I find his whisker on the floor or on the table from time to time. I’m sure they fall off on its own. But we never ever think about trimming his whiskers.

Never. It’ll destroy their sense of feeling, it is like we lose our eyes to see the world.

Ah, that’s why!

Now we understand why he can walk at night without light and check if there’s any leftover in the kitchen.

A few days ago, he found out eaten chicken leg in the garbage can and ate it at night. Which shows his smooth move in the darkness and capacity to open the drawer, find out the bone of chicken leg with no problem. Boo-hoo.

Servant Y nods vigorously.

Oh, and cat whiskers are not only around muzzles but above their eyes and back of their front legs, too. Whiskers above the eyes are to protect their eyes from grass or other objects [4].

Whiskers on the back of their front legs are to let them know if the prey is alive, they can feel it with these whiskers when they hunt.

Also they provide us some insight into the state of their mind. Kind of like a feeling indicator. When he is relaxed, his whiskers are pointing away from his face. When he is angry or threatened, his whiskers are pulled back across the face [5].

It’s a good indicator to detect his mood.

Now how about we experiment something on our king? In order to see how sensitive his whiskers are.

Right. It is the process of the investigation.

Servant Y and H climb up the stairs silently and opens the door to a room where Johnny is taking a nap.
They get closer to Johnny by walking tiptoes.

Johnny’s stomach gets up and down as he breathes. His muzzle moves slightly as he breathes too.

Slightly, just slightly touch the top of his whiskers, will you?

Servant H talks to Servant Y in a very small voice with pointing out her finger to Johnny’s whiskers.
Servant Y make OK sign with his hand. He holds his breath for seconds and touches Johnny’s whiskers.
…

He must be in deep sleep. Let me do it.

Servant H gently and silently touches his muzzle.
Johnny stopped breathing for a second.

He’s up?!

Servant Y and H’s eyes grow wide.

Achoo!

Servant Y and H hold their breath for a good long moment.
Then Y and H see Johnny’s stomach goes up and down again. He keeps on sleeping peacefully.

No, he’s still in the dreamland.

Servant Y and H leave the room.

He must be dreaming something really good. Don’t you think so?

Yeah. Must be surrounded by beautiful girls or delicious lamb snacks… Even those sensitive whiskers are on deep sleep.

Servant Y and H come and look at Johnny again.

Must be. Look at his half-open mouth. He’s drooling…

Yeah. He needs a bib, his saliva is glittering around his mouth…

Johnny mumbles and changes his sleeping position. His eyes slightly open.

Mmm? You two are there?

Johnny mumbles.

You must have had a great nap, your majesty.

Oh… Right, I was taking a nap. Hmm, I feel cool around my nose. Did you see my whiskers?

Whiskers…?

Yes, cat whiskers. Mine. Did you see that? It must have been fallen off some, I feel something different around my nose.

No, we didn’t tickle your nose with your whiskers, your majesty.

You didn’t? Ok. Cat whiskers are so sensitive, be careful with mine, H. Anyway, I think I saw beautiful girls around me and some of them tickle my whiskers in my dream. That felt good, heavenly good.

It must have been a wonderful dream you have had, your majesty.

Sure. It felt so real I didn’t realize it was a dream. Sorry, I woke up.

Johnny begins to groom himself.

What you two are doing, anyway? Oh, time to eat?!

We have a little more time to have dinner.

In that case, I could have used more time on my nap…

We were talking about how fabulous you are, your majesty. We have lined up items.

Is that? That’s fair. Keep at it. I’ll check the list later. Wake me up when it’s time for dinner..

Johnny goes back to a nap.
Servant Y and H exchange a look of amazement.
Johnny’s sleeping face is heavenly lovely with his swinging whiskers.

References

[1] Why Do Cats Have Whiskers? (PetMD)

[2] Your Cat’s Whiskers (Pam Johnson-Bennett)

[3] Why Do Cats Need Their Whiskers to Balance? (The Nest)

[4] What’s the Deal With… Whiskers? (vetSTREET)

[5] Why Do Cats Have Whiskers? (Livescience)

Related Articles

Cat Eyes Secrets and Functions – Johnny’s Anatomy #2
Cat Paw Secrets and Functions: Abyssinian Johnny’s Anatomy #3
Body Language of Cats Decoded: Better Communication
Leopard: Wild Cats’ Ecology, Habitat, and Behavior

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Also published on Medium.