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.
Although I sometimes temporarily care of some brown rats, I still consider myself to be a beginner in brown rat keeping. In the beginning of this year, a white lab brown rat ended up in my temporary care. I noticed that Běluše (that’s how I called her...
It sits with great difficulties. It also looks like it is very painful. It seems that any contact of the tail and ground causes great pain. As well as any touch when I try to find out what’s wrong with its tail. We came back from swimming where our dog...
Summer fun begins now. And I can’t imagine a summer without our activities together with my dog. What about you? Plan where you and your doggie could spend time before the temperatures are scorching and not a single branch moves on trees and we all...
Some dogs are already born with sensitive digestion, at some it may occur later in life. Or an allergy for a component of the food they used to like and we considered as suitable may occur. For such cases, meat cans can be a great supplement of normal...
If you decide to head to the streets of your city during a hot summer day, remember that pavements you will be walking on are much warmer that the air. In general, I try to go out with my dog during hot summer days as least as possible but if we go...
That brown rats are social rodents and love and look for the closeness of not only other brown rats but also their owners is a well-known fact. They feel lonely and sad without any interaction
Weekend or holiday is here and you are thinking about what to pack? You definitely shouldn’t forget your first-aid kit. And also the one for your dog! Properly equipped first-aid kit is a must. If you are struggling with deciding what should be...
Our personal experience is what influences us most in our opinions. But if we don’t have it or can’t get it at least from a friend or family member, it is more difficult for us to imagine how living with a giant furry friend looks like. And if it comes...
The best option for living of a small rodent are big aquariums, plastic boxes or cages. And I don’t mean big as high but rather with as big area as possible. Hamsters are naturally running creatures and need enough space. Max has a space of the...
If you are going for your holiday by car, you may be considering bringing another passenger with you. Your dog can be a great companion, so you don´t want to leave it at home. However, your time off by the sea might hide various obstacles, starting...
Turkey, the homeland of angoras and Turkish Vans is almost cats’ paradise. Even though veterinary care is quite expensive here, also cats living outside are taken care of well. Even in large cities like Istanbul and Ankara you can encounter a lot of...
When I was a child, our dog changed my life. He taught me lifetime love for living beings but also responsibility, patience and caring for others. Scientist has found out those are not the only benefits the life with an animal has for children....
