Cats with curled whiskers may seem adorable, but curling whiskers can be a symptom of several serious health conditions.
Learn about why my cat is curling whiskers, and what you can do if your kitty’s whiskers are curling up.
Let’s start now.
Why Are My Cat’s Whiskers Curling?
Whiskers Will Curl When New Ones Are Growing
When a cat’s whiskers are curled, it means that they are in discomfort, scared, or in pain.
For example, if a cat’s whiskers are curled when it’s sleeping, it could mean that it’s feeling stressed or suffering.
On the other hand, if a cat’s whiskers are curled while it’s awake and looking around, it could mean that it’s scared or worried about something.
Whiskers Curl When Excessively Rubbed Against Hard Objects
Whisker curling is a reaction cats have when irritated or scared.
This reaction is most common in kittens since their whiskers are still growing. Whiskers curl away from an object when touched or rubbed.
This curl protects the cat’s whiskers from breaking or getting damaged.
Cats also exhibit other defensive behaviors when scared or irritated, such as hissing, growling, and snarling.
Rubbing the Face Against Things
Rubbing the face against things is a quick way to relieve tension or stress.
Many people rub their faces against objects when they’re angry or sad.
While rubbing the face against things might seem strange, it can actually help regain control over your emotions.
However, rubbing the face against objects can have negative consequences as well. For example, rubbing the face against door handles or shopping carts can cause skin damage.
Furthermore, rubbing the face against things can also spread germs and infections. As such, it’s best to avoid rubbing the face against objects.
Instead, consider talking to a trusted friend or family member.
Whiskers Can Curl Due to Old Age
As cats age, their whiskers become stiffer and curlier.
This is because as cats get older, their whisker follicles become shorter and thicker. Whiskers curlier and stiffer because older cats’ whiskers can no longer bend as much as they used to.
Therefore, older cats need their whiskers to be longer so they can navigate around obstacles more easily.
However, whiskers aren’t essential for cats; they can survive quite well without them.
Additionally, older cats’ whiskers sometimes curl upwards instead of down.
This is because older cats often experience bone loss in their jaws, so their whiskers tilt upwards to compensate.
Finally, some cats’ whiskers curl inwards instead of outwards. This can happen if a cat’s whiskers grow at a sharper angle than expected, causing the whiskers to curl inwards.
All in all, older cats’ whiskers are a result of old age and can be harmful to their health.
Your Cat Has Long Whiskers
Cats with longer whiskers than others are more social and friendly towards people and other pets.
In fact, studies have shown that people with long-haired cats are more sociable than people with short-haired ones.
Long-haired cats are naturally more affectionate because they spend more time grooming themselves, and therefore become more familiar with their bodies and their movements.
Longer hair also gives long-haired felines better insulation against the cold compared to short-haired ones.
Since long-hair cats tend to be healthier and live longer, it is safe to say that they are more intelligent than their short-hair counterparts.
Is It Normal For Cats To Have Curly Whiskers?
Because curly whiskers are uncommon in domestic felines, some people may mistake them for a problem that needs to be treated immediately.
In reality, curly cat whisker curls are caused by different factors and are not usually harmful.
They can sometimes indicate a serious condition such as hyperthyroidism.
It is best to consult a veterinarian if the condition persists for a long period of time.
But don’t be alarmed if your cat’s whiskers are curly.
Curly whiskers are normal in cats and even kittens have them.
When Curling May Indicate Certain Problems
Your Cat Is Less Aware or Confident in Its Movement
There are many factors that can lead to decreased mobility in cats.
For one, cats age more quickly than any other animal – the average lifespan in cats is only 13 years! This often results in problems with joints, which is a common factor in mobility issues.
In addition, cats are naturally more sedentary creatures, so they don’t move around as much as dogs or other pets. This lack of exercise can lead to obesity, which can affect mobility.
Finally, cats sometimes develop neurological conditions, which can impair their mobility or cause other health problems.
However, there are ways you can keep your cat healthy so it doesn’t suffer from mobility issues.
By watching your cat’s weight, keeping it active with play and exercise, and monitoring its health regularly, you can help your cat develop healthy habits that will prevent mobility issues in the future.
Your Cat Experiences “Whisker Fatigue”
Cats experience “whisker fatigue” when they’re overstimulated by their environment.
When a cat gets overstimulated, its whiskers will retract and the cat will rub its face against furniture to scratch itself.
Eventually, the cat will stop producing sweat on its paws, which signals that it is overstimulated.
Overstimulated cats sometimes display other signs such as drooling, pacing, and vomiting. To avoid overstimulation, you should keep your cat’s environment comfortable and clean.
What You Can Do About Curling Whiskers?
Although it might be frightening to see physical changes in your cats, curling of a cat’s whisker is not a sign of illness or disease.
Most commonly, curling of a cat’s whisker is a sign of old age; as the cat ages, the follicle that supplies the whisker shrinks and the follicle becomes thicker and less flexible.
The stiffer and more inflexible the follicle becomes, the more the whisker will curl up when stroked by the owner .
Some experts also believe that curling of the cat’s whisker can be an indication of stress.
As stress is experienced, the body produces more cortisol in the body.
This hormone causes the glands to secrete more oil into the hair follicle which results in a thicker and more oily follicle.
As a result, the whisker tends to curl up when stroked by the owner. In rare cases, curling of the whiskers can be a sign of hyperthyroidism in cats.
Never clip or straighten your cat’s whiskers since these are actually sensitive sensory organs that help the cat to navigate the world around him.
You should never remove their whiskers as this will cause them a lot of pain.
Unless you perceive a need to take your cat to the veterinarian for a check-up, never attempt to trim or cut its whiskers at home.
What Breed Of Cat Has Curly Whiskers?
Some cat breeds have curly hair while others have straight hair; however, there is no specific breed of cat that has curly hair on their body or on their face.
Even though there is no specific breed that has curly hair on their bodies or faces, there are indeed some breeds that have curly tails: Abyssinians have curled tails while Persians have wavy tails.
Other breeds with curled tails are Burmese and Siamese.
Laperm, Devon Rex, Cornish Rex, Cornish Pixie-Bob also have curly hair on their bodies and faces as well as on their tails.
However, these breeds are considered rare and not very common at all.
Also Read: What Does It Mean When A Stray Cat Follows You?
Conclusion
Whiskers are crucial for cats since these are used for communication between cats and humans as well as for hunting preys.
They also warn cats of any danger that might be coming their way.
Do not be alarmed if you see your cat losing its whiskers every now and then; it is a normal occurrence and it does not mean that your cat is sick or in pain.
Your cat may just like rubbing her face against something or scratching it to get rid of excess hair that has accumulated on its face; hence, the lost whiskers.
It might possibly be due to her shedding cycle when she starts to lose hair all over her body.