Whiskers of a cat or cat are called vibrissa (from the Latin word vibro - "I coil", "hesitate"). Vibrissa are long tactile hair which act over a wool cover of an animal.
Functions and structure of vibriss
By means of vibriss the animal receives data on barriers on the way, about changes in air flows, and thus is guided in space. Nervous impulses from vibriss come to a brain together with information from other bodies. Therefore even minor changes in surrounding space will not remain unnoticed for a cat.
Cat's mustache are thicker and longer than usual hair several times. Longer and sensitive vibrissa are located on four rows on both sides from a nose, over an upper lip. Two top rows of mustache can move irrespective of lower. Shorter vibrissa are located over eyes, on cheeks, on a chin, on ankles of forepaws, between small pillows of forepaws and even on a tail.
The basis of whiskers of a cat is located in a skin blanket. The root of each of them is in a hair bag, the nervous terminations which transfer information on the environment to a brain approach it.
Need of mustache for cat's
Cats use mustache for measurement of the sizes of objects. For example, having touched with vibrissa opening walls, the cat can define at once whether he will get through through this manhole. Mustache allow cats to define arrangement of objects, to avoid obstacles in complete darkness. Vibrissa are irreplaceable for a cat when hunting, by means of them he defines the direction and speed of wind for commission of the most exact jump. By means of mustache the animal controls the victim when holds it in teeth.
The injured mustache at a cat grow for several weeks.
Vibrissa on paws help a cat to feel fluctuations of a floor. Vibrissy-brovi protect eyes, allowing to close eyelids in due time. Cat's mustache are indicators of mood of an animal. At excited or something the interested cat they are directed forward and widely placed.
If the cat was frightened or became angry, he presses mustache to a muzzle.
Average length of mustache at a cat is 6-7 cm. The longest vibrissa have cats of breed a Maine Coon. Length of whiskers of a Maine Coon by nickname Missie (Finland) which made 19 centimeters was entered in the Guinness Book of Records. Vibrissa of cats are very sensitive therefore animals do not love when they touch them. It is impossible to cut vibrissa, cats without them become confused, their movements become uncertain. Frequent loss of a large number of mustache can be caused by improper feeding, deficiency of vitamins and minerals or to be a disease symptom. In such cases it is desirable to consult with the veterinarian.