Research overview: whisker movement, active sensing, and whisking in cats

Some animals sweep their whiskers rhythmically to explore, and this overview reviews the extent and nature of active whisker movement in cats. While cats do not whisk as continuously as rats, they can protract and aim the mystacial whiskers, notably sweeping them forward around prey at close quarters, an active-sensing behaviour that positions the array where information is needed. The muscles of the whisker pad drive these movements. Researchers study whisker kinematics through high-speed video and electromyography. Why it matters: active control of the whiskers means cats do not merely receive touch passively but direct their tactile attention, especially during the critical close-range phase of hunting, and it connects feline vibrissal behaviour to the broader study of how animals actively gather sensory information from their environment.