If your cat has only lost a few whiskers and seems to be healthy otherwise, then it's not likely that he's sick. Just as humans shed their hair and eyelashes, so too do cats lose their whiskers every now and again. Your cat's whiskers will eventually grow back to be shed again another day.
Cats who are under some degree of stress or who are being fed an inadequate diet are more likely to shed their whiskers than cats that are happy and well-nourished. If your cat is under some degree of mental duress or has recently experienced a change in its diet, then their whisker loss may be a result these stresses or changes. As long as your cat has only lost a few of its whiskers, then a return to normal - or at least a return to calmer circumstances - should help stop the shedding.
Elderly cats are also susceptible to whisker loss. Enhancing or supplementing an older cat's diet might help reduce the rate at which their whiskers are lost.
When your cat has lost more than a few whiskers over a short period of time, then its whisker loss could be a sign of a greater problem. In this case, you'll want to perform a cursory inspection of the animal to check to see if they're exhibiting other symptoms. Check the cat's ears, eyes, nose and anus for any discharge, check their mouth for bad breath, examine their fur for any sparse or bald patches and test the brittleness of their claws. In the event that your cat is showing any of these symptoms, you should consider taking them to the vet.
Really though, your cat will lose some of its whiskers from time to time. If yours isn't making a regular event out of whisker-shedding, then there's really nothing for you to worry about at all.
Cats who are under some degree of stress or who are being fed an inadequate diet are more likely to shed their whiskers than cats that are happy and well-nourished. If your cat is under some degree of mental duress or has recently experienced a change in its diet, then their whisker loss may be a result these stresses or changes. As long as your cat has only lost a few of its whiskers, then a return to normal - or at least a return to calmer circumstances - should help stop the shedding.
Elderly cats are also susceptible to whisker loss. Enhancing or supplementing an older cat's diet might help reduce the rate at which their whiskers are lost.
When your cat has lost more than a few whiskers over a short period of time, then its whisker loss could be a sign of a greater problem. In this case, you'll want to perform a cursory inspection of the animal to check to see if they're exhibiting other symptoms. Check the cat's ears, eyes, nose and anus for any discharge, check their mouth for bad breath, examine their fur for any sparse or bald patches and test the brittleness of their claws. In the event that your cat is showing any of these symptoms, you should consider taking them to the vet.
Really though, your cat will lose some of its whiskers from time to time. If yours isn't making a regular event out of whisker-shedding, then there's really nothing for you to worry about at all.
