Cats are often said to be very empathetic and some believe they can sense how people feel or if they’re suffering from any pain. It’s clear that living with them improves the quality of our lives as well as our health. However, can our cat companions sense our human pains and respond to them?
If it’s up to me to say if cats can sense our emotional or physical pain and I should judge it according to my cat, I would definitely say no. She’s a master of ignorance. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean she doesn’t sense it – she simply doesn’t have the urge to respond to it. The experience of a lot of other people (and even my own with different cats) prove that cat companions don’t only sense our pain, but they also respond to it.
It’s clear that the individual cat’s sense of empathy and its sensitivity differ, as they do for humans. Some might be able to create a very strong connection with their owners. According to a survey of an American blog, The Catnip Times, 80 % of 700 respondents stated that their cats can sense their physical or emotional pain.
Of course it also depends on how sensitive we are with respect to the signs in cats’ behaviour. Some of us might not notice the cat’s response to their health or emotional condition. You might not realize that your furry friend lied on the spot that hurt you and purred for a long time. It’s a known fact that cats’ purring has a healing effect not only on the creatures themselves but on us as well.
Cats’ purring reduces the stress level, mild symptoms of respiratory difficulties and listening to purring reduces blood pressure and slows down the heart activity. Certain purring frequencies even improve bone strength and promote wound healing. According to a study, the risk of heart attack is 40 % lower for cat owners and according to statistics, they go to a doctor 5 times less that those who don’t have a cat. Purring vibrations help to heal infections and swelling, muscles, tendons and ligament injuries. They also help to cure soft tissues. A purring cat also improves digestion and helps recovering from some digestive tract diseases. Scientists from the Gerontology Institute even claim that cat owners live on average ten years longer and a significantly lower cholesterol level was measured in them.
At least, you definitely noticed that your dog or cat gets nervous when you are nervous yourself or that it changes behaviour when you are stressed. So, it’s clear they can sense how we feel and it doesn’t only apply to being nervous. They can also sense when we are sad, something is bothering us or even when we suffer from depression.
According to me, it is a matter of how sensitive your cat is, how sensitive you are yourself and how strong your bond is. What do you think about it? Does your furry friend respond to your pain? Do you have any interesting idea that might prove it? There are thousands of stories online about how cats were great mental support of their owners in rough times, how they helped to cure them or even saved their lives.
In the first part of the interview with the Slovak musher Katarina Vigodová, we talked about how to prepare for a skiing trip with your furry friend. Today we are going to hit the skiing trails with Katka. What commands should the dog know? Why are a...
Spring is round the corner together with extreme dog races. What can we look forward to this year? And what is this dog sport all about?
The shared history of humans and domesticated animals is full of interesting facts. Expand your horizons with the following forty interesting facts about pets, spanning over centuries.
Breeding supplies are currently becoming a fast growing sector and as with any other industry, even here we can trace the development trends of new products coming to the market. Let's take a look at the biggest trends in the world of our furry...
An interesting trend brought by the pet industry. Compared to other sectors, this one is growing at a dizzy rate. Why is that? Let's take a look at the newest trends in pet acquisition and adoption, and whether shelters and breeders really are as...
Obesity isn't a civilization problem concerning only humans but also pets. It is a condition where the body receives more energy than it expends. What is the main cause and how to deal with obesity in pets? Answers are provided in the following...
Are you wondering how to create the perfect meal plan for your guinea pig? What is crucial for larger rodents and what is better to avoid? Everything about guinea pig nutritional requirements can be found in the following interview with the breeder...
We've become accustomed to the sight of dogs in public places. Probably everyone has experienced a dog in the workplace, in a park, in a café, etc. Dog owners should therefore always bear in mind the handling and training of their pets. Let's go...
We recently wrote about planned musher races. The canicross events aren't being left behind and the fans of running with a dog have plenty to look forward to this year.
Winter is showing off in all its glory. And winter sports fans are setting off for the mountains. They're often accompanied by their four-legged friends. Especially more and more popular is becoming ski mountaineering. Furry companion's presence is...
For pet owners, smart toilets are a welcome replacement for the traditional litter box, which has to be cleaned every day. You can even control them via a mobile phone application and monitor the frequency of the toilet usage, especially when your cat...
Fresh meat, insect protein or sustainable pet food. New trends in dog nutrition. Adding fresh meat into dog food enhances the taste and smell of the product, but it's also easier to digest.
