Our cats are lucky in that they live in a super sensory world compared to ours. They can see, hear and smell things that are far beyond our abilities. Their physiology makes the ears, nose, eyes and tactile receptors such as whiskers incredibly sensitive in most areas and ranges that far exceed what you and I could do. I’m sure you’ve noticed that your cat seems aware of everything that goes on around it.
The cat’s whole body is sensitive to vibration with the paws especially so. It is thought that this sensitivity is linked to reports of cats that have predicted the proximity of earth tremors. They can ‘feel’ the pre-tremors or perceive the changes in the earth’s magnetic field. While we humans need very expensive specialized machinery for this sort of understanding, a cat appears to sense the atmospheric changes we miss. Science tells us that positively charged ions are released into the air just before some earthquakes. It seems very likely that our beautiful domestic cat can sense a change in the atmospheric static electricity through their fur. There are well documented occurrences of cats leaving villages mere hours before an earthquake.
The ability of the cat to detect changes in the atmospheric pressure is also thought to be why cats appear to be able to predict the weather. A cat may find a chair in a sunny spot before the clouds lift. They will also curl up in a secluded place or refuse to go outside if they sense rain. Some cats will vigorously rub and wash their ears before a storm as it is their very sensitive inner ear which detects these atmospheric changes.
It is thought that cats hold an internal ‘mapping’ of visual and scent aspects of where they are and other familiar routes they take. This is how they ‘find’ themselves when lost. They come across a previously ‘mapped’ area and it triggers a message in their brain which allows them to then find their way home. This is particularly marked in cats that have formed a strong bond with their family. Perhaps it is the vibrations and the cat’s sensitivity to them. It is believed that cats navigate using ‘homing’ instincts similar to those used by homing pigeons and migrating birds. Salmon are a perfect example of this as they unerringly find their way to where they were spawned when the time is right.
There have been many documented cases of cats travelling hundreds of miles to be reunited with their family, even though the way is not ‘mapped’ internally. There are also documented cases of cats who have accidently been left behind walking many hundreds of miles from the old home to the new home of their family. I cannot explain this as there can be no internal ‘mapping’ in these instances yet these cats will do anything to be reunited.
Is this ESP? A sixth sense? Or is it just five very well developed senses and an incredible bond with their family.
- Cat eyes can be so expressive.
Cat eyes can be so expressive and tell you so much. They can gaze directly at you and if you’re not used to it, this can be quite disconcerting. When cats are angry their eyes change completely and almost appear to flash. I’ve heard that if your cat gazes into your eyes it can be likened to a ‘cat kiss’. I know that when Cassie looks at me steadily I feel very warm and privileged.
Your cat’s eyesight is really much sharper than ours. I’m sure you’ve seen cats catching a mouse you can’t even see. Their eyesight, along with their keen sense of smell gives them this ability to catch prey. Cats have a third eyelid called a nictitating membrane. This inner eyelid protects the eyes from harm such as scratches and also from dryness. When a cat is sick, this membrane will somewhat close so if you notice this, call your vet. The pupil of your cat’s eyes can also tell a story.
If you notice that one pupil is larger or smaller than the other then it can be an indication of inflammation. It can also be a the sign of a neurological disorder called Horner’s Syndrome. If you notice this, take your cat to the vet as soon as possible. Cats are not totally color blind as they can see some color.
- Notice the difference in the pupils of this cat’s eyes compared to the picture above.
They certainly don’t see as clearly as we do, but their eyes are very sharp and can pick up tiny movements. I have read that cats have much better long distance vision than we do and this becomes obvious
when they spot their prey. The reason they they ‘lose’ the mouse when it escapes from their paws is because their close up vision is much more blurry. When they are this close they use their sense of smell.
Cats have some nocturnal vision but they are unable to see in complete darkness. The muscles on their iris that surround the pupils of their eyes are constructed similarly to ours in that they narrow into a vertical split when they are exposed in the bright lights and open fully when cats are in dim light. If you notice any problems with your cat’s eyes, call the vet immediately. You wouldn’t want your cat to lose their sight.
They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. This is certainly true for cat eyes as well.
