I thought I was fairly knowledgeable when it comes to most things cats, but when I first heard about ‘whisker fatigue’ I thought it was just another clever marketing gimmick to help drive sales of designer cat food bowls. In my research I am finding there’s more to it than that. Did you know that your cat’s whiskers can get tired? It is true and whisker fatigue could be causing your cat some serious stress around mealtimes. Whisker fatigue is something that a lot of cat owners have probably never heard of, but it could be making your cat an unhappy feline.

Whilst a cat’s whiskers are essentially just thick, long hairs that protrude from the sides of their face what makes them special and ultra-sensitive is the fact there is a sensory organ called a proprioceptor at the end of each whisker, which sends messages to the cat’s brain and nervous system. A cat’s whiskers are so sensitive that they can detect movements in the air, sensing the size and shape of nearby objects before they reach them. This allows a cat to sense and navigate around a piece of furniture in a room in the dark of night, judge tight spaces and whether they’ll fit, and sense the outline of prey when hunting to capture and kill in the most effective way, even it’s only a toy mouse in the comfort of your living room.

Whiskers are vitally important to your cat, so if they get damaged, fatigued or become stressed by coming into frequent contact with a surface such as the side of a food bowl during meal times it can cause huge discomfort. This can quickly turn meal times from a pleasurable experience for your cat into a stressful and painful situation. A water bowl with high sides can cause the same problem for cats that suffer from whisker fatigue.

If your cat exhibits any of the following behaviors at meal times, whisker fatigue could be the problem:

Cats are known for their finicky eating habits. Often we assume that when a cat isn’t eating at meal times, the problem is the food. But sometimes, and especially if your cat is showing signs of whisker fatigue, the problem could be the food bowl. Preventing whisker fatigue is simple; you just need to minimize any contact between food and water bowls and your cat’s whiskers.

There are several cat food bowls on the market that are designed to relieve and prevent whisker fatigue. Look for a food bowl that’s designed with a shallow, wide shape so your cat can easily access her food without having her whiskers stimulated or pulled back. The right design will also prevent your cat from having to painfully push their nose into the inside edges of the bowl in order to get to the food there. When it comes to water bowls, on the other hand, look for one that’s wide so your cat can drink the water from the middle of the bowl without affecting the whiskers.

When shopping for your cat’s food and water bowls opt for those that are made of non-porous materials. Stainless steel is the best option, followed by glass and ceramic. Plastic cat food bowls are not recommended, even if they are deemed “food safe” because the material can develop micro-abrasions where bacteria could grow. The bacteria, which might persist despite the bowls being washed, would then come into contact with your cat’s face and nose, potentially resulting in feline acne.

Mealtime is an important part of your cat’s day, so if you find that your pet is hesitating or wants to take their food to go because they would rather not eat out of the bowl, they may be suffering from whisker fatigue. A simple swap of the food bowl for one that’s ergonomic and designed to prevent whisker fatigue could help.