Whiskers Near a Cat's Wrists

Cats have sensitive vibrissae beyond the face: so-called carpal tactile hairs grow on the inner side of the forelegs, just above the “wrist.” Anatomical studies have identified specialized receptors there. When these hairs touch an object or move in response to its proximity, they may add information about what is happening near the paw. This could be useful when exploring objects or contacting prey, but the exact role of carpal vibrissae is less well studied than that of facial whiskers.