Do Cats Know When You Are Sad?Can Our Pets Sense Emotions?
- Abi
- February 13, 2022
- 7:53 pm
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Can cats sense emotions? Do cats know when you are sad? The fact that cats can tell how you’re feeling has often been said about cats. Cats do seem to be able to feel or sense the mood of their owners. They look at their owner with a piercing gaze; without words, they seem to say that everything will be all right.
Bob was often referred to as doctor Bob in the book ‘A Street Cat Named Bob.’ He had a keen sense of how his owner was feeling and would sit on James’s chest and purr. Bob was even credited with helping James become drug-free and motivating him to get his life back together. If you’ve even been a cat owner, you can probably relate to this story. Having a cat gives us a sense of responsibility (‘I work hard so that my cat can have a good life,’) and a reason to get up in the morning.
Cats can soothe us with their presence; a cat that sits next to his owner has a positive influence on the nervous system. The loving presence of the purring animal or a cat snuggle reduces the breathing rate; it relaxes muscles and lowers blood pressure.
We’ve all seen cats who seem to have an uncanny ability to sense when their person is upset or not feeling well. Cats are thought to be very sensitive animals that can sense when something is wrong with their owner. You may even find that your cat will try to do something to make you feel better. This article will answer the question, ‘do cats know when you are sad?’
Do cats know when you are sad?
Cats offer unconditional love however their owner is feeling. They never judge their owners or get mad if we get distracted from time to time or come home a little later than usual.
Many cat owners report that their feline companions seem to sense human emotions. They do not necessarily rely on spoken words or facial expressions to recognize what we feel and how we’re doing. Cats have an additional sense and can perhaps feel the energy in a room.
If you’ve ever walked into a room where someone has just had an argument, you may feel like there’s ‘bad vibes’ or a bad atmosphere. Your cat will be able to feel this as well. Some cats will make themselves scarce in this situation, while others will stay and comfort their owners.
The purring sounds your cat makes can be very therapeutic for you as well as your cat. The rhythmic sound will make you feel better and calms your emotions. The cat’s purring is considered to be like human meditation; it has a positive effect on the autonomic nervous system, which can help reduce stress levels.
Related article: Why do cats sit on your chest?
Can cats sense depression?
Cats are very good at sensing whether their owners feel happy, excited, sad, feeling blue, or sick. Just by observing your cat’s behavior, you can tell whether he senses that you are upset for some reason.
If your mood changes, for example, if you’re feeling down and sad, the cat will notice this immediately. How your cat reacts will depend on the bond you have with your pet. Most cats will stay close to their owner and keep an eye on everything around you. Cats comfort their owners by snuggling against them or sitting on your chest and purring. While we don’t know what our pets are thinking, we know how cats act when we are sad or depressed.
Can your cat get sad?
Cats experience a broad spectrum of emotions, just as all animals do. They have been known to grieve for their owners who have died and can suffer from depression. Cats will often become more lethargic if their owners are depressed.
Cat behavior is very dependent on external stimuli and will change if they are feeling sad. They may stop eating and become withdrawn, sleeping most of the time. If you have a cat that becomes aggressive, it may be induced by depression or anxiety disorders.
Cats copy their owners and can often become depressed if you’re having a bad day. If your cat seems sad, you may need to pay him more attention and observe his behavior. Some cats will also suffer from separation anxiety if they are left at home alone for long periods of time or if they’ve been used to spending a lot of time with their owner in the past.
How do cats know how we feel?
Cats will sense their owner’s emotions by the tone of their voice and body language. They can pick up on the smallest changes: if you think cats don’t notice when you’re feeling sad, think again.
Not all cats are as sensitive or attentive as other cats may be. Some cats will not pay attention to what their owners are feeling, while others will only sense the moods of certain people in the home.
It’s even been reported that cats and dogs can detect changes in their owner’s body, including cancer and pregnancy. Our pets can smell hormones and can sense pregnancy at three to four weeks before their owner is even aware that they are expecting.
Learning from domestication
Cat and humans have been sharing the same house and life for thousands of years. During this time, cats have become very domesticated, and their experiences with people have helped them learn to understand and coexist with humans.
Cats know their surroundings very well and seem to have a sixth sense. They are sensitive to changes in their environment and the mood of their owners. Your cat will likely see or feel changes in your behavior which indicates your sadness.
Are cats emotionally intelligent?
Specialists define emotional intelligence as awareness and control over emotions and the ability to recognize feelings and emotions. There may not be evidence to support the idea of a cat being aware of his feelings. Cats learn how to act around humans depending on how you react to them. If you want to cuddle your cat more when you are sad, your cat may be receptive to the extra attention. Most cats love to be stroked and look for a warm place to sleep. Therefore, while it seems like cats can sense emotions, they may not be deliberately comforting their owners.
Your cat is there for you... kind of
Cats can help people deal with issues such as loneliness, depression, anxiety, and sadness. Cats may lack the emotional intelligence necessary to recognize that you need comfort if you’re sad, but they seem to have good intuition and are willing to pay you attention. If your cat associates your sadness with affection and interest, he’ll find you at all of your lowest moments.
Where does the saying 'crazy cat lady' come from?
Cat owners with too many cats are often considered crazy, especially if they live alone with a large colony of cats. The word ‘crazy’ here means eccentric, not mentally ill. These ladies don’t have a mental illness they just love their cats and perhaps have too many.
Related article: How many cats is too many?
“Cats are like potato chips, you can never just have one” Check out more cute cat quotes here!
Do cats know when you are sad?: Final thoughts
Cat’s ability to read emotions in their owners translates well to the species’ survival. Cats can learn from us and are familiar with our lifestyles. Sadness will affect our daily activities, and your cat is likely to notice this and be affected.
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