Can Cats Sense Earthquakes ? 6 Other Things that Cats Can Predict

A recent study claims cats have a sixth sense that lets them predict earthquakes, and it could be that we humans are sharing our seismic ability with our pets.

Have you ever noticed when a cat runs across the room, its tail starts flicking back and forth before it lands? This is called ‘whisking’, and it’s a signal to other cats that they’re in danger.

This ‘early warning system’ is a skill cats have evolved over thousands of years. But do other animals have similar senses? Is it possible that animals, including us, can sense earthquakes?

Cancer-Sniffing Cats

Reports have been around for generations suggesting that cats and other animals knew long before the humans realized that an earthquake was approaching.

If your cat starts behaving abnormally even for her take note. The Earth really could be on the point of changing.

Earthquake Behavior

If you’ve never experienced an earthquake, or at least not one with a cat at your side, you might wonder what the weird behavior is that many report occurs anywhere from a few hours to a few days before seismic activity.

Human members of cat families have described an assortment of behaviors, ranging from whining or excessive meowing to seeming scared, frightened or bewildered.

Some cats flee away, as though hunting for a safer area to ride out the stress, even carrying their kittens with them, if they have any.

How Do They Do It?

Knowing when an earthquake is approaching, especially when modern technology hasn’t been able to decipher that code, is an astounding achievement. It’s also one that hasn’t been figured out yet.

Cat owners would want to believe their fluffy little felines are psychic, but that belief hasn’t caught on in the scientific world.

Some researchers claim cats have a sensitivity to the Earth’s magnetic fields that lets them recognize when disaster is on the horizon.

Others suggest that more than a sensitivity to magnetic fields, the ability is a sensitivity in general that allows cats to sense tiny tremors that occur before a major earthquake that people aren’t aware of.

Can Cats and Dogs Sense Earthquakes Before They Happen?

The German scientist Helmut Tributsch wrote a book about earthquakes and animal behavior.

In it, he proposed that animals could be able to sense a flow of ions electrically charged air caused by the grinding together of the Earth’s subsurface plates right before earthquakes.

Tributsch theorized that animals are more sensitive to the electrostatic charges that precede earthquakes because their body surfaces are dryer than human beings’ (animals don’t sweat as people do).

Other Amazing Feline Abilities

Whether you’re getting up from your La Z Boy to feed her (in which case she’ll race you to the kitchen) or pill her (in which case she’ll hide before you’ve even gotten your behind off the seat), your cat can read your body language and react accordingly.

In addition to being able to foresee your and the planet’s movements, cats have many other remarkable skills. Some cats have been known to follow their owners for thousands of kilometers, even to completely unfamiliar locations.

J. Anne Helgren, author of a book on cat communication, relates how Japanese fishermen and sailors relied on their cats to foretell the weather, sometimes even bringing them aboard ships to be the first to know if a storm was on its way.

This was an especially useful skill to have before the advent of radio and the Weather Channel.

Before making any changes to your pet’s diet, medication, or exercise regimens, consult with your veterinarian.

Please consult a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment advice, since the information provided here is not intended to replace professional advice.

What’s The Science Behind Cats Predicting Earthquakes?

Some researchers have found that the myth that cats can sense impending earthquakes has some basis in fact.

The German scientist Helmut Tributsch published a book in the 1980s purporting to provide conclusive evidence that animals are very sensitive to the onset of earthquakes.

The theory that animals, such as cats, can smell the ions released when the planet’s subsurface plates shift and rub together is the scientific basis for Tributsch’s assertion.

Cats are able to detect electrostatic differences more readily than humans do because their skin is far less oily.

Cats, it is said, may sense earthquakes before people do because they are just more sensitive than us.

In the late 1980s, a geologist called Jim Berkland used the amount of missing pet advertising in local newspapers to anticipate a pair of earthquakes in California. He reasoned that feline inhabitants would seek refuge outside during an impending tremor.

What Do Cats Do When They Feel An Earthquake Coming?

There is not yet scientific evidence that cats can accurately forecast earthquakes, but there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence to support the claim that cats have this ability.

The following are some of the most often reported earthquake-related cat behaviors:

If you need further evidence that cats can sense earthquakes and take preventative action, just watch one of the countless videos on YouTube that feature cats doing just that.

6 Other Things that Cats Can Predict

1. Natural disasters

It has recently come to light that, like humans, cats can detect the occurrences preceding some natural disasters, such as earthquakes.

Cats’ heightened sense of hearing and smell allow them to notice subtle environmental shifts, and this isn’t some sort of magical ability. As a result, they may pick up on subtleties that we miss.

Many cats will be aware of the impending danger of a volcanic eruption, cyclone, tsunami, or hurricane. This, however, does not imply that every single cat can see them; only that the vast majority can.

Can you please explain why this is the case? All of these natural disasters do not happen instantly after they are predicted.

Several environmental factors, like barometric pressure, temperature, wind direction, and earth motions, all undergo change before they are released, and your cat will be able to detect these before they are released.

2. Can cats predict illness?

Studies have revealed that cats can smell the presence of some diseases in the human body and in their own feline counterparts, but they cannot forecast their occurrence.

There are several accounts of people who first noticed they had cancer when their pet repeatedly landed on a specific spot on their body.

3. Diabetes and epilepsia

When a person with either type of condition experiences a fast increase in sugar levels or an epileptic seizure, the results can be deadly.

There are anecdotes and documented stories of owners whose lives were saved by their cats during times of crisis, much as those whose lives were spared during cancer treatments.

In this scenario, alterations in the organism would be detectable to cats through their sense of smell.

4. Can cats predict your mood?

Mood prediction is beyond their capabilities, yet they have excellent perception anyway.

Whether you’re feeling sad, nervous, or concerned, your feline companion can sense your emotions and adjust to them accordingly, so you’ll have companionship during the tough times.

They’ll be more inclined to join in the fun and games when you’re in a good mood and giving off positive energy.

5. Guests

You may have observed that your cat’s demeanor shifts, becoming more eager and restless, just before everyone in the household returns home. This is because felines do have the ability to sense the presence of a loved one.

It’s all because of their incredible sense of smell and hearing. Cats can detect familiar odors from far away, so yours will be waiting for you at the door long before you get there.

A person’s primary noises and gait might be used as indicators of identity.

6. Can cats predict death?

Many people have wondered for decades if cats can sense when someone is dying. There have been research that seem to confirm this. Again, this is because of how well they can smell.

At the end of life, the body undergoes a number of physical changes that cause it to release particular compounds.

Cats can sense them and understand what they’re saying. That’s why plenty of people say their dogs were present when they died.

Conclusion

To answer your question “Can cats sense earthquakes?” I believe it is possible to train them to do so. I also believe that they can feel vibrations. But I can’t say for sure whether or not they can smell an earthquake or feel vibrations.

We know that they can hear loud noises, and we can also see that when they are outside, they are sensitive to vibrations in the ground.

This may be why many cats are terrified of thunderstorms, and also why they often disappear before a thunderstorm comes.

source https://catshint.com/can-cats-sense-earthquakes/