Hello, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to study extra about me and meet my 5 hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
When taking a look at my ginger cat, Alex, it’s exhausting to not discover that he has remarkably lengthy whiskers, significantly for a short-haired cat, and it made me marvel about among the so-called ‘guidelines’ about whiskers. These are among the claims made about whiskers, or as they’re technically known as, vibrissae:
- Cats use whiskers to gauge the width of a spot to see if they’ll match by way of it
- Fatter cats have longer whiskers
- A cat’s whiskers are proportionate to the width of their physique
However after I have a look at the assorted sizes of my cats in contrast with their whisker size, these theories don’t fairly appear so as to add up.
Whiskers As A Measuring Software
Have you ever ever watched a cat squeeze, leap, or run by way of a slender hole? How usually do they cease to check the width with their whiskers? And, judging by the contortions they’re able to to navigate such slender openings, how a lot consideration are they paying to this ‘whisker suggestions’ anyway?
Fatter Cats Have Longer Whiskers
One have a look at Cyril will let you know that that is merely not the case. As my squishy, huggable, resident fatty, Cyril is nearly twice the dimensions of our smallest feline, Zazzles. Even at a lean physique weight, he’s a big cat, however his whiskers are of fairly a modest size.
Though whiskers fall out and are changed like regular hair, they don’t develop longer if a cat places on weight, so maybe it’s a great factor that they’re not counting on them to suss out the accessibility of small areas, or we’d be seeing much more tubby tabbies trapped in tiny openings!
Whiskers Are Proportionate to Physique Width
I took it upon myself to measure the width of every of my cats on the shoulders, which, excluding Cyril (who’s going on a eating regimen), is the widest a part of a cat’s physique. I then measured the general width of their whiskers on the longest whisker to see how they in contrast.
To take a look at, Clutch’s whiskers gave the impression to be most proportionate to his physique, whereas Zazzles’ appeared fairly quick, even when accounting for her petite body. After I appeared on the ratios of whisker size to physique width, I observed one thing significantly fascinating – the ratio of Clutch’s whiskers to physique is 1.6 : 1.
And that, my pals, is named The Golden Ratio.
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| Whisker width | 23 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 22 |
| Shoulder width | 14 | 11.5 | 16 | 12 | 15 |
| Ratio | 1.7 : 1 | 1.6 : 1 | 1.1 : 1 | 1.3 : 1 | 1.4 : 1 |
The Golden Ratio
Also referred to as ‘Phi’ and ‘The Divine Proportion’, it is a ratio that’s seen in nature time and time once more. Though physics students are fast to dismiss the importance of this ratio when seen in organic organisms, the concept options displaying these proportions are thought of to be examples of ‘excellent magnificence’ is one which visionaries like Leonardo DaVinci subscribed to, as proven in his well-known Vitruvian Man. Though it may possibly simply be dismissed as coincidence or likelihood, there are lots of situations in nature and structure the place this divine ratio may be noticed, from the spirals of a nautilus shell, the design of the pyramids, to the proportions of the human face. And now, in Clutch’s whiskers.
As I discussed, when trying on the numerous options of my 5 cats, it was Clutch’s whiskers that appeared to be most in proportion together with his face and physique, so it’s fascinating that his whisker-to-body width ratio is arguably divine!
The long-whiskered Alex’s ratio is a powerful 1.7 to 1, whereas Cyril’s is a considerably embarrassing 1.1 to 1.
What Is The Goal of Whiskers?
Many individuals will nonetheless declare that as a result of they’re far-sighted, cats use their whiskers to help navigate their surroundings. Nonetheless, this appears neither logical nor sensible. Ready for these delicate hairs to come back into contact with one thing earlier than making their transfer doesn’t precisely match with clean and stealthy feline movement.
Given the extent of sensitivity of feline vibrissae, it’s much more doubtless that they’ve advanced to detect modifications in airflow created by the slightest actions of animals, permitting them to find prey within the low gentle situations of nightfall and daybreak, the preferred time for feline searching. It could additionally clarify why our cats are likely to get fairly agitated when windy climate wreaks havoc with their navigational devices!
Does Whisker Size Matter?
Is Clutch better equipped for hunting as a result of his whiskers comply with the golden ratio? Or does Alex’s far-reaching vibrissae give him a strategic benefit?
Being that my cats stay indoors and will not be required to catch their dinner, I can’t actually decide them on their relative searching expertise, however my instincts inform me ‘no’. I feel Cyril’s desire for lazing on his again over elevating his coronary heart charge would affect his prey depend way over his short whiskers.
Has domestication and selective breeding altered the divine whisker proportions past what’s ‘optimum’? Judging by the stubbly vibrissae of the Sphynx, or the Rapunzelesque whiskers of some long-haired breeds, I must say: sure. Extraordinarily lengthy whiskers are going to be extra hindrance than assist, whereas non-existent whiskers might be no assist in any respect!
The enticing size of Alex’s whiskers could give him a slight edge over the likes of Zazzles or Cyril, however as soon as that ratio will get a lot increased than 1.7, you’re coping with hairs which might be extra more likely to get tangled than supply tactical benefit.
It could definitely be fascinating, albeit difficult, to review the whisker:physique width figures of feral cats and their bigger kinfolk to search out out if the golden ratio does dominate in nature – I’m taking a look at you, potential PhD candidates!
This text is part of Dr. Karyn’s collection along with her 5 hilarious cats.
