Everybody loves kittens. They’re just precious, and they’re a little crazy. Even if you don’t want to have one yourself, you probably still enjoy watching them wreak havoc on their families. Those little kitten livestreams are my favorite!

I do love a classic, cutie little kitten, though. Recently, one brown kitten’s mom took to TikTok to show off his arms, except there was something odd about them. This precious little guy has actual whiskers on his arms:

Smiggy Smalls is adorable. Videos like this are part of why I love social media: pretty much immediately, there were two types of responses in the comments:

1. “They’re called Carpal Whiskers! It helps them detect prey and gauge space!”

2. “Them’s his arm whiskers.”

I was on Team 2 until I read the first comment… Even still, a little bit. Them’s indeed his arm whiskers! He doesn’t seem to mind them, either: he just lets them do their thing. You can only really see them when he has his front paws up like they are in this video.

Related: Super Rare ‘Cocoa Truffle’ Ragdoll Cat Is a Sight To Behold

Smiggy lives with several other cats in this house, and he definitely plays favorites. Hid first favorite, of course, is his mom. She snuggles him and takes him for walks. When he can’t snuggle with her, he likes his grey siblings.

When he’s looking for someone to match his freak though, he heads right for his brother, who’s orange:

They really are perfect for each other. He’s going to grow up to be one very well rounded cat!

More About Carpal Whiskers

All cats have carpal whiskers, though some might have longer ones than others. They only appear on a cat’s front legs, on the back of them. They really do help cats detect prey and get a sense of their surroundings! They’re also sometimes referred to as “sensory hairs.”

Carpal whiskers look and feel exactly like the whiskers you see on a cat’s face, and they’re just as sensitive. Be sure to refrain from cutting, plucking, or intentionally stroking them. It can be painful!

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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Dec 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.