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Why cats have whiskers on their front legs
Key Takeaways
- Cats have four to six specialized whiskers on the back of each front leg.
- These carpal vibrissae are rooted in nerve-rich structures that make them highly sensitive.
- Leg whiskers help cats sense prey and objects near their paws at distances where vision is weaker.
- The feature supports hunting and close-range navigation as part of a broader tactile sensing system.
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DT Editorial Team··via livescience.com