Cats

[foxhaven]

All the so called experts insist cats whiskers are the same width as their body - well I must disagree because their whiskers don't grow when they are pregnant or get very overweight. Also what about rex cats with very short curly whiskers?
They say their tails are used for balancing and okay this is probably true but what about Manx cats? or cats that have lost their tails through injury.
Anyone got any ideas/opinions?

[ummmm]

Their whiskers let them know if they can get trough a gap.

[foxhaven]

Yes I know this is the theory but as I said it isn't always right when the cats shape changes.

[dzug2]

..as I said it isn't always right when the cats shape changes. ..

Well so what? Just because there are odd circumstances doesn't mean they are wrong - just that they haven't been pedantic enough to list every possible anomaly

[Booldawg]

If my cats think they can't get through a gap they come back from the shed armed with a lump hammer, a hacksaw and several crowbars.

[mccfluff]

murphy has whiskers that can wrap round her body .. twice... and you can plait them

[mccfluff]

she's a lovely cat, very placid and mellow....

[foxhaven]

I wouldn't call being pregnant or overweight a possible abnormally, its quite a frequent occurrence with cats - and surely a pregnant cat stuck in a small gap has a good reason to question why her whiskers did not do their job. [yes I am being silly now] - but really how can they [the experts] write things in books or put them into tv documentaries when they are obviously not entirely correct.

[Prudie]

Because their whiskas let them know their head, which is not squishable, can get through. Their bodies can be squeezed through surprisingly narrow gaps, as can dogs.

[ferlew]

Great reply Prudie :)

[foxhaven]

Okay - I accept that, I like the fact that cats heads are not squishable [unless of course they encounter a vehicle]
'as can dogs' - yes, I have known my neighbours German Shepherd get through the small gap in my fence that is meant for foxes and cats.

[Prudie]

Who'd have believed it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3wG7By7578

[wolf63]

Have you factored in the fact that some cats are incredibly stupid and will try to use brute force to fit their bodies through the smallest of gaps?

I had a cat with only half a tail and he was not very good at balancing on things like bookcases. He would just wobble or fall off - it didn't stop him from trying.

Cats are pretty good at adapting to changing situations. They are good at manipulating and bullying humans too - even the stupid ones.

[woofgang]

foxhaven are you bored today?

[Old_Geezer]

Yeah but what about big headed cats who think they can get through any hole ? I think they'd be stuck for an answer to that one.

I reckon tails help but are not essential. One can manage with care having lost all sorts of bodily bits.

[pastafreak]

Why do you refer to "so-called" experts?
If you have watched this weeks BBC documentary on cats,I'm sure you'll realise those involved have a lot more expertise than most regarding cats behaviour and abilities.

[pastafreak]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04lcqvq

[foxhaven]

I referred to 'so called experts' because after watching the 3 programmes mentioned I noted that the main contributor [ the man] was said to have 25 years experience in cat BEHAVOUR, not all things cat related [ ie. he seemed not to understand genetics when it comes to breeding].

No more bored than usual, why should you ask this just because I posed a question.