The cat’s
whiskers
Jellicoe
The
origins of this expression are uncertain. It may have arisen in 19th
century girls’ boarding schools. Another source suggests that the cartoonist
Thomas Dorgan was responsible for the term in the early 20th century.What is certain
is that it carries the same meaning as ‘the bees’ knees’ which I wrote about here and here.
It is not an expression commonly heard in the 21st century.
Last night
we were commenting on our cats’ splendid whiskers and started discussing their purpose.
We knew they were a means for cats to determine whether a space was big enough
for them to pass through, a sort of inbuilt tape measure, but when we investigated
further, we discovered some interesting facts.
The formal
name for whiskers is vibrissae, from the Latin vibrio, to vibrate. They are
much thicker than normal cat fur and have roots three times deeper. The tips
have sensory organs that send information to the brain. They enable the cat to judge
distance and direction and even texture. They can sense air movements and
changes, sometimes alerting them to danger.
Cats are
symmetrical, at least, their cheek or mystacial whiskers are. Every cat has at
least 24 tactile facial whiskers, arranged symmetrically in four horizontal rows
of three on each side of their muzzle. Some cats may have more than 24, but there
will always be an even number on each side in symmetrical formation, so that
they can accurately assess their surroundings.
I think Herschel has 30 muzzle whiskers
Whiskers can
indicate the mood of a cat. Pinned back whiskers signify a scared animal. Whiskers
pointing forward, particularly if the ears are also erect, show alertness, as
when a cat is hunting or curious. If the ears are flattened and the whiskers
are forward, the cat is showing signs of aggression. When relaxed and happy,
the whiskers droop.The length
of the whiskers is dependant on the size of the cat. A larger, fatter or fluffier
cat will have longer whiskers than a hairless cat. A large Maine Coon may have
whiskers that are six inches long. Conversely, a little Cornish Rex will have very
short, curly whiskers.
Cats
cannot easily see things less than about eleven inches in front of them. By
touching an object with their whiskers they know where and how big it is. At night,
their whiskers detect air currents, alerting them to objects they may need to
avoid. Outside, whiskers can sense sharp objects, thus protecting their eyes
and faces from injury.
Whiskers,
like fur, go through a natural sequence of growth and shedding. It is not
unusual to find a mystacial whisker on a cushion or chair. If a number are found
it could indicate something amiss, like an infection, or an allergy.
Most cats
have white whiskers though they sometimes change colour with age, looking grey
or black. A colour change may indicate that that whisker is about to be shed.
Cats’
whiskers should never be trimmed – they are essential to a cat’s well-being.
Herschel
Cats have
whiskers on other parts of their bodies. Leg whiskers grow at the back of the
front legs. They are quite difficult to photograph but are easily seen in 'real life.' These carpal whiskers help when the cat is climbing, sensing the texture of the tree or fence. As cats
cannot see detail well close up, their carpal whiskers are used when hunting to indicate whether the prey they have
caught is still moving.
The whiskers above their eyes, their eyebrows, are sensitive
to the lightest touch, warning them to blink or move, though I have sometimes seen Jellicoe with wispy cobwebs on his eyebrows. He's not providing board and lodging to a spider, just using his whiskers as brooms. The word whisker comes from the Middle English 'wisker' for anything that whisks or sweeps.
Now, go and find a cat and count its mystacial whiskers!
