What is whisker fatigue and what can you do about it?

Updated 25/09/2024

Has the topic of cat whiskers tickled your fancy? We’re not surprised! Cat whiskers are extremely useful for our feline friends – they contain sensory organs that send signals to the cat’s brain and nervous system, helping them to navigate the world around them. These super-sensitive sensors help our furry acrobats balance, detect changes in air movement, and decide if they can squeeze through tight spaces.

But what happens when their wonderful whiskers get overloaded with too much information? Let’s investigate “What is whisker fatigue in cats?” and find out what you can do to keep your furry family member’s whiskers healthy.

What is whisker fatigue?

Whisker fatigue, sometimes called whisker stress, happens when a cat’s whiskers touch too many things at once, sending a flurry of messages to their brain. 

Being bombarded with nonstop notifications can be stressful, and this constant sensory overload can make furry friends feel overwhelmed every time their whiskers are touched.

What causes whisker fatigue in cats?

Whisker fatigue isn’t caused by an illness or disease, so it’s pretty easy to manage.

It’s thought those whiskers get tired when constantly coming into contact with things like food and water bowls, cat flaps, and covered litterboxes. If a cat’s bowls are too deep and narrow, their sensitive whiskers can get overwhelmed with stimulation every time they eat or drink. Similarly, some cats are reluctant to go through their kitty door because it’s a squeeze for their whiskers.

However, there’s not much evidence to back up this theory, and not every vet agrees that whisker fatigue in cats is really a problem.

A 2020 study tried to get to the bottom of whisker stress by comparing cats eating from whisker-friendly bowls and regular bowls. The results showed no significant difference in how long cats took to eat, how much they ate, or how much food they dropped. However, some cats did seem to like the whisker-friendly bowls better.

So, while the jury is out on whether whisker fatigue is truly a thing, it’s still worth keeping an eye on your kitty’s mealtime behavior.

Whisker fatigue symptoms

Whisker fatigue is quite easy to spot if you keep an eye on your furry friend when they’re eating or drinking, or contemplating going out through the catflap. Watch out for the following signs of whisker fatigue:

• Getting the food out of the bowl to eat on the ground
• Pawing at their food and water bowls
• Acting hungry but refusing to eat from their bowl
• Leaving food at the bottom of the bowl
• Meowing excessively near their bowls
• Acting nervous or pacing back and forth near food and water bowls
• Acting aggressive or irritated when eating
• Hesitating or having a few attempts at going through the catflap
• Flinching excessively when they put their face toward the catflap
  

Problematic behavior around food can also be a sign of other health problems. If you spot any of the symptoms above, it’s important to take your purr pal to the vet to rule out anything more serious. 

Thankfully, your in-home cat sitter will also be there to keep a close eye on your kitty’s eating habits whenever you’re away. They’ll be ready to alert you if they notice anything unusual, so you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your time away knowing your furry family member is in good hands.

Health conditions easily mistaken for whisker fatigue

There are a number of conditions the symptoms of whisker fatigue can be mistaken for:

• Dental disease
• Oral tumors
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Nausea 
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Other environmental stresses (such as moving house and loud noises) 

Since many of these conditions can also change how your purr pal behaves around food, it’s important to take your cat to the vet to rule them out.

How to prevent whisker fatigue in cats

Whisker me this – if your furry friend’s suffering from overstimulated whiskers, what can you do about it? The good news is, once your vet’s ruled out any underlying health issues, you can solve the problem of whisker fatigue pretty easily.

The best way to tackle those tired whiskers is by swapping out your furry friend’s food and water bowls for wide, shallow ones. Always opt for stainless steel bowls specially designed for cats, as these are less likely to interfere with their whiskers. You could even try feeding your kitty on a completely flat surface, like a plate, where their whiskers won’t touch the sides at all. Your feline will appreciate the whisker-friendly dining experience!

And remember, you should never, ever cut your furry friend’s whiskers – it would be like cutting off your own fingertips! Trimming your kitty’s whiskers won’t prevent cat whisker fatigue and could cause even more problems, since their natural sensors won’t be able to do their job properly.

Meet our veterinary expert, Hannah

This article has been checked by veterinarian Dr Hannah Godfrey BVetMed MRCV.

Hannah graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011 and worked in mixed practice for a few years before focusing on small animal work. Clinically, she worked in a busy, multi-center hospital practice until 2018, where she underwent training in advanced canine and feline dentistry and began working towards a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice. She then moved to a local independent practice to care for the pets nearby, allowing more time to focus on other career avenues, which include writing for a diverse range of pet websites, vet practices, drug companies, journals, and veterinary educators.

Sources:

Evaluation of whisker stress in cats