Why do cats have whiskers?
Whiskers help cats feel what's around them, even in the dark.
Pip’s answer
- Whiskers help cats feel what's around them, even in the dark.
- They can feel tiny wiggles in the air when something moves nearby.
- Whiskers are about as wide as the cat, so they show if a gap fits.
- Wow-ee, buddy, cats even have whiskers on the backs of their front legs!
For grown-ups
Whiskers are thick, stiff hairs rooted deep in the skin and packed with nerves. They detect tiny changes in air movement and touch, helping cats sense nearby objects in the dark and judge whether they can fit through a gap. Cats also move their whiskers to show how they feel.
Ask your child: Why do you think we should never trim a cat's whiskers?
More questions kids ask
- 🐱Why do cats purr?
- 🐶Why do dogs sniff everything?
- 🦉Why do owls stay awake at night?
- 🐝Why do bees visit flowers?
- 🐦How do birds fly?
- 🦒Why do giraffes have long necks?
Got your own why?
Hold Pip, ask anything out loud, and watch the answer come to life.
Ask Pip your own question