Like humans, cats can sense energy shifts in the people they’re close to. Of course, your kitty will know you’re angry when you’re yelling or throwing things. It’s not hard to tell what you’re feeling when you’re clearly showing signs of strong emotions. But did you know that your cat can also pick up on silent feelings, like when you’re internally stressing out about bills coming due or a particularly challenging project at work? It’s a fantastic feline superpower, but it can negatively affect them, too. So as a short answer, yes your kitty can sense negative energy.
Keep reading to learn more about cats and their ability to sense energy.
Can Cats Sense Bad Energy?
Yes! Cats are instinctually aware of negative energy, so much so that some believe they may even start absorbing it.
Cats may not be able to understand our words, but they’re highly intuitive and gifted at reading our emotions. Throughout the years, your cat will become better at mastering and understanding the faces you make when you’re feeling emotions like happiness, anxiety, or anger.
How Can Cats Sense Energy?
Humans receive much interesting information about one another through olfaction (smelling). The airborne molecules that elicit a response are called pheromones. The pheromones you release can send signals about your moods and your genetic makeup. Though humans can’t smell pheromones, they certainly affect our moods. For example, one study 1 found that women given a pharmacological dose of a specific type of pheromone showed improvements in mood and focus.
Though there are no clear-cut studies on the capability of animals to detect human pheromones, it’s clear that cats can smell the hormones our bodies release.
Take, for example, a cat named Oscar 2, who lived in a nursing and rehabilitation center in Rhode Island. Oscar was able to predict the deaths of 25 patients simply by lying on the patient’s bed when it was their time to pass. It’s unlikely that he determined that death was near due to emotions, but instead, the chemicals and hormones that the dying bodies release.
Strong emotions will release changes in your hormones, thus changing the scent you’re giving off. Cats and dogs are highly receptive to scents which is how they sense energy and mood shifts.
How Do Cats React to Different Emotions?
It’s not just negative juju that cats can pick up on. They can feel all energy shifts.
For example, if you’ve ever felt down in the dumps, you may have noticed that your cat is extra affectionate or snuggly. It’s thought that cats can sniff out the hormones released through your tears.
When you’re afraid, your body may release adrenaline to initiate the flight or fight response. If you’re interacting with your cat while you’re scared, it can smell your fear and respond to the subtle changes in your demeanor and heart rate.
If you or someone you know has ever been pregnant, you may have noticed your cat’s behavior changes in response to the pregnancy. For example, it could become more affectionate, curious, or anxious. Your kitty may have even picked up on the baby before you even knew you were pregnant. When a woman becomes pregnant, the body produces higher levels of certain hormones. These hormonal shifts subtly change the way the body smells. Though we can’t smell these changes, a cat’s sensitive olfactory system certainly can.
What Do Cats Do When They Sense Bad Energy?
There are several responses your cat can have to bad energy.
First, they may run and hide when they pick up on negative energy from someone. This safe spot gives them protection and may be a hardwired response in cats as a survival mechanism from when they lived in the wild.
Other cats may respond to bad energy through aggressiveness, especially if feeling threatened. For example, they may swat at you are start growling or hissing.
They might also decide to ignore you. Cats can choose who they want to be around, and if your energy gives them bad vibes, they might walk away from you to keep their peace.
Final Thoughts
Your cat can pick up on your moods and bad energy in the house. Cats are sensitive to their environment, and subtle changes can throw off the balanced equilibrium they’ve come to know and expect. So, the next time you’re starting to see red, think of your kitty and how your outburst will affect it.
Featured Image Credit: Luisella Planeta LOVE PEACE , Pixabay
