My cat's whiskers were cut or trimmed. What should I do if I'm worried?

If everything else looks normal in the area, its probably fine to monitor. Sometimes the hair cycle can sync up. As long as the whiskers are regrowing, this is normal. If you see lesions on the skin, this could indicate pathology and DMX should see his veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

As long as they aren't causing serious wounds to each other, it's fine for them to play fight. If they are biting each other hard enough to draw blood, or scratching to the point where they bleed, then yes I would stop them from play flighting by distracting them with a toy or treat. The kitten whose whiskers are broken off will grow back over time, cats will shed them on their own as well. I hope this helps!

This type of swelling could be something fairly simple and harmless such as an ingrown hair or an insect bite, or something more serious such as a localized infection or even a skin tumor of some kind. If the swelling doesn't seem to be bothering her and she is acting normal otherwise, you could wait to see if it goes away on its own within the next week or two. If it doesn't, or if it gets larger or becomes itchy or painful, then I would recommend having her examined by a vet to determine what it is - he/she may prescribe antibiotics or short-term oral steroids to treat the swelling, or may do a simple test called a fine needle aspirate to diagnose the problem if it appears to be a growth of some kind.

It is possible - many cats are sensitive to changes like this. As long as he is eating and drinking I would wait a day or two to see if his behavior goes back to normal. If his behavior is abnormal for more than 48 hours or you notice any other signs like vomiting or diarrhea I would recommend seeing your veterinarian to make sure everything okay. You could also ask the groomer if anything out of the ordinary happened this time when he was groomed - if he was particularly anxious he might benefit from a sedative before his next appointment.

Hi there. All pets have different lengths of hair and different ways in which their hair follicles function, just like people. Oscar's whiskers are normal for him, so nothing to worry about. I hope that helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I am sorry to hear about your kitten! From the photos you show, the thinned hair in the areas in front of the ears can be a normal variation. If you notice any redness/bumps/scabs on the area or the hair thins so much that there are bald spots then this would be concerning and we would worry about things such as external parasites, ringworm (a fungal infection), bacterial infection. We may also worry about infection inside the ears from bacteria, yeast, or mites, if the kitten is rubbing/scratching at the ears there thereby rubbing the area in front of the ears as a result causing damage to the skin. If there are other pets or small children in the house I would wonder if the longer whiskers were removed from play with them, or if the kitten goes outdoors. I would, however, recommend an examination if your kitten is acting lethargic. This is a very vague symptoms so there could be a multitude of causes and a physical exam may better help the vet determine the possible cause of lethargy.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It looks like a superficial wound or scratch. Luka may have lost one of his whiskers, it will grow back. You should clean this area twice daily with cotton buds and warm, boiled water or an antiseptic skin solution (for example 4% Hibiclens). As long as it is healing OK and it is not bothering Luka you can manage this at home. However, if you notice that the lip becomes swollen or painful, you should take Luka to your local vets for an appointment.