Whisker Fatigue Syndrome

Cat's whiskers are sensing hairs that give them extra signals about their environment. The sensory organs at the base of the whiskers, called proprioceptors, tell cats a lot about their world. They provide your cat with information regarding her own orientation in space and the what and where of her environment

While cats can voluntarily 'turn on' the sensory focus of their whiskers exactly where they want, whisker receptors mostly respond to a cat’s autonomic system — the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves that respond to the internal and external environment without conscious control.

The Whisker Fatigue Syndrome is a sort of information overload that stresses out your cat. Because whisker hairs are so sensitive, every time your cat comes into contact with an object or detects movement, even a small change in air current or a slight brush against her face, messages are transmitted from those sensory organs at the base of her whiskers to her brain

Not all vets believe that whisker fatigue is a real condition or cause for concern.

Whisker fatigue is not a disease and appears to manifest primarily with the repeated daily contact with food and water bowls. However, a cat who is stressed is not happy, and if she avoids eating and drinking, she might become malnourished and/or dehydrated.

Preventing or stopping Whisker Fatigue Syndrome means reducing stress. That can be achieved by simple means, like replacing your cat’s food and water bowls with wider bowls so that her whiskers don't touch the sides of the bowl while eating and drinking.