Ted Davis wrote:
On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 12:50:26 GMT, BC wrote:


While stroking my cat earlier i noticed that he had a clump of longer
hair sticking out of a lump of hard skin on the back of both of his
forelegs and was wondering if it was normal, as i have never noticed it
on a cat before.

Will try and explain its location;

If you look at his paws he has the four pads with claws and then the
large pad, followed by the pad on the side with another claw, then
another pad just off centre on the back then slightly higher is this
lump with long hair.

Does everyone elses cat have this?
Have visions of everyone examining their cats paws now!


I think you are talking about the vibrissae (tactile hairs) on the
back of the lower front legs - they are similar to whiskers and are
quite normal, in fact their absence would be abnormal.

Thanks for that, have never noticed them on any of my previous cats.
They are very obvious on my white cat. I guessed they would be normal,
but wanted to check. Any idea what their purpose is, as I am intrigued
now it seems a strange place to have any type of whiskers?

--
Badger Badger Badger