OMG - my six year old has cut the cat's whiskers!

[MimiSam]

One one side only, maybe about an inch or so of whiskers left. Cat is approx 5 month old female. My daughter has been appropriately (ie seriously) punished, but I have 2 questions:

1. will the whiskers grow back normally and how long will it take?
   
2. if there are any vets reading this, would you think it odd if parents asked to you to have a stern word with their small child about this? We have talked to her lots and impressed upon her the seriousness of it, but feel a word from an authority figure outside the family might also help to drive home the message.

[RightsaidFreud]

oo dear, no real advice re the whiskers, but i think having a word from a vet is a really good idea- not to scare her, but just as you said to drive home the message! Has

[RightsaidFreud]

sorry didn't finished typing

Has she ever done anything like this before? did she give reason as to why she did it?

[itscockyfoxagain]

Oh your poor puss, I am not a vet or anything but I do know that whiskers fall out and regrow over time so eventually I I expect thry will grow back.

[monopoly123]

I'm pretty sure cats whiskers constantyl shed and grow back, our cat had a bent one for a while but that disappeared.
Whether to get the vet to speak to her is down to if you think you've got the message across.
It sounds like something a 6yr old would just do without thought - a bit like cutting a Barbie dolls hair with no thinking through - I don't think you'll get a reason for it out of her.

[DropYourSword]

I think the whiskers will grow back! My dog shreds her whiskers like the rest of her ridiculous amounts of fur so I imagine a cat would be the same.

I don't agree with getting the vet to talk to her though. That's like saying other people have more authority than you. She should always listen to what YOU as her parents are telling her.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I am a vet, they will grow back fine. I would be very reluctant to talk to your child in this manner for you, so of my colleagues would be more direct with a no.

[Cataline]

My sister did this to both our cats when she was around 4. All whiskers and eyebrows on both cats. Our mum was understandably very cross and said my sister would be very sorry if one of the cats got stuck in a hole because it couldn't judge whether it could fit through (apparently this is the purpose of a cat's whiskers/eyebrows?).
My sister cried and cried. I helpfully suggested that the cats might get stuck in a hole and die....
Neither cat came to any harm, the whiskers and eyebrows all eventually fell out and new ones grew in. My sister remained a scissor fiend for many years, cutting her own hair, my hair, dolly's hair, curtain tiebacks etc- but never touched the cats again!!

[Pennythedog]

My sons did this to my poor cat too. His whiskers and eyebrows grew back within a few months. He didn't have any accidents in the meantime. They haven't done it since but kids that age are very scissor happy.

I think it is over-kill to get the vet to talk to her. You said she has been punished. Just keep the scissors out of reach unless supervised.

[cozietoesie]

I'd agree with dealing with the matter yourself. I also think it would be a good idea to supervise her a tad more closely for a bit and during the same time, to ban sharp instruments such as scissors except under close and direct supervision. 6 is an age where they might just experiment to find out what else they can cut/gouge/play around with.

[Cailleach]

i had to laugh as i did exactly this at the age of four to our long-suffering burmese.

i would explain why cats have whiskers and what they use them for; they are necessary sensory organs, not like our hair.

[Ttls172126]

I am so shocked I thought no child would ever think about doing this, I was sat with kitty and thought her whiskers were different then my six year old said Iv give her a trim they were getting to long grrrr googled feel a bit better not the only one with a crazy child

[Ellmau]

They will grow back. Some cats (kittens anyway) chew down siblings' whiskers, and they do regenerate.

But make sure DD doesn't have unsupervised access to cat again.

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

But make sure DD doesn't have unsupervised access to cat again.

Or make sure DD doesn't have unsupervised access to scissors again?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Zombie thread. Kids in secondary school.

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

Oops

[Itwasntme1]

I did this to our family cat when I was seven - only a trim, about an inch.

I remember my mum explaining why cats needed whiskers and I remember feeling very ashamed. Lesson well and truly learned.

If it’s ant consolation I am now a very responsible human being and pet owner!

[Itwasntme1]

A cm not an inch!

[madcatladyforever]

My son did this when he was 5, 30 years ago, he didn't realise the implications.
The cat grew her whiskers back pretty quick but spent the first month bumping into chairs and table legs.
There didn't seem to be any long lasting effects.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Our male is proudly striding about with a feather stuck to his whisker , I cannot remove it without cutting (so I left it)
He had something stuck to his fur , from a tree , sticky plant thingy .

Male Cat tells me he needs his whiskers to tell widths , even though they are twice as long as his bum is wide .
It's like one of those ladders on a van with a rag tied to it