Is your cat losing its whiskers? It can be surprising to find a lost whisker around the house, but, calm down! See what the experts have to say before you panic.
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To help learn more about why cats may lose their whiskers, and when it may be a cause for concern, check out what two vet experts say.
Is it normal for cats to lose their whiskers?
Pet owners may be relieved to know that, yes, it is entirely normal for a cat to lose its whiskers. However, they won’t lose their whiskers as frequently as they shed their fur.
“Cat whiskers occasionally fall out as part of the regular hair growth and cycle,” Justine Lee explained to POPSUGAR website. “It’s not common, but it occasionally happens.”
Melissa Brandley pointed out that it’s important to keep in mind that while it is normal for cats to lose their whiskers, it does not happen to all of them at the same time and it is not seasonal. “In a healthy cat, an individual whisker is shed about every two months,” Dr. Brandley said. “At any given time, individual whiskers will be at different phases of the shedding cycle.”
When does whisker loss become a cause for concern?
While whisker shedding is normal, pet owners should know that it can be something more serious if it is excessive or observed with other skin or health issues. For example, Dr. Brandley explained that if several whiskers fall out at the same time, or if whisker shedding is accompanied by skin lesions, hair loss, crusts or scaly skin, a vet visit is recommended. “These signs can indicate the presence of an infection, allergy, or, more rarely, a more serious skin disease,” she warned.
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