I just found one of Milo's whiskers lying on my desk top. What does this signify?

Sometimes cats shed their whiskers. I find them around my own home, occasionally. Usually it doesn’t mean anything, but I like to monitor any changes that I notice in my pets. Is Milo eating the same food as always? Is he behaving strangely, or exhibiting changes in bathroom habits?
You could keep an eye on him, but most likely it is nothing to be concerned about.

He seems to be fine. I am the one who frets. I may save this with the curls from my children’s first hair cuts.

I wouldn’t worry until you start finding lots more in a fairly short amount of time. Sometimes, cats shed their whiskers.

It means that one of Milo’s whiskers fell out of his face. Nothing to worry about. Cats lose their whiskers occasionally, for one reason or another. Is this the first time you have found one of Milo’s whiskers lying around? That seems odd to me. My Bugsy had ragged whiskers and I would occasionally find one loose and it would be kind of ragged and pathetic but my Casper, he had the most beautiful, amazing whiskers ever. If I found one of his whiskers lying around it was always intact and in perfect condition.

Mine lose whiskers from time to time, too. I wouldn’t worry.

Cats shed whiskers now and then. It’s nothing to worry about. My husband has collected them in an envelope and has some splendid specimens dropped by the (I think) ten cats who’ve lived here over the years.

I’d take it as a warning, he’s saying you’re a whisker away from libel action for constantly misquoting him on these pages, a fairly subliminal message for a cat I have to say.
It’ll be a horses head on your pillow next, mark my words.
Waits with mild anticipation for the expected response from his royal kittiness.

Vibrissae are just modified hairs, they shed them, too.

It is a message. Whiskers are one of their sensory organs. She will come for your eyes soon.

If he were missing, I’d say it’s a form or ransome note. But now that I say that, I’m pretty sure Milo wouldn’t go without a fight.

I asked this question partially in hopes that Jeruba would confirm my memory of her husband’s collection.

@Jeruba: Did you say that finding that envelop confirmed your feelings that you loved this guy?

The whisker is perfect and has one edge that looks very much like the edges of my pepper plants that the rabbits sheared off..a clean cut.

@ragingloli: Milo is a male…note details in question. (Note hundreds of other responses.

@ucme; From now on, look both ways when you cross the streets and an have a companion with you at all times after dark.

@cprevite: Milo won’t go from my lap to the floor without a fight.

@syz; Ooh, vibrissae. What are tiger whiskers like? Tent poles?

Cats shed whiskers as a normal part of their lives.

@gailcalled Actually, they’re long enough and stiff enough that I know some people that have braided them into a ring.

@all; sorry for typos in answer above. That’s what comes, always, of rushing.

@syz : Oh, “ring” and not “rug.” I was starting to worry.

@gailcalled You know, I just might as well.

@ucme: Here

Now, now…...

Milo here;Ooh, isn’t he a handsome devil. Who is his dresser?

@gailcalled, I don’t remember mentioning it before, but yes, how could I help being sweet on a guy who keeps an envelope labeled “kitty whiskers” on his desk?

None of our cats has ever shown any distress at dropping a whisker. There are always plenty left to flaunt about with proper feline pride.

@Jeruba I think I might be in love with your husband, now.

Feel free to blow him kisses, Auggie. From a distance, of course.

I always thought it was a sign of good luck : )