Can cats predict death? Myth, science and real cases, https://www.notigatos.es/los-gatos-pueden-predecir-la-muerte/,www.notigatos.es,true,381,5,
There are many beliefs and myths that surround these magnificent animals, but although the vast majority of them are just that, thoughts, there are others that do have some truth to them or, at least, are supported by real observations from caretakers, veterinarians and families who live with them.
One of the most asked questions is whether cats can predict deathThis idea blends superstition, intense personal experiences, and some scientific data about feline smell and behavior. If you want to know what's true, what's myth, and what science can explain, keep reading.
Oscar, the cat that »predicts» death
Cats are animals that have always drawn the attention of human beings, sometimes for the better as in Ancient Egypt, others for the worse, as during the Middle Ages. Today many are still very much alive Myths originated at that time, to such an extent that, for example, there are still many people who think that having a black cat It's considered very bad luck. Proof of this is that, when it comes to finding a family, a black cat will have a much harder time than one of another color, even though its temperament has nothing to do with bad luck.
But when we ask ourselves if these furry ones They predict deathThere will surely be many who think it's just another myth, although it isn't entirely false. In July 2007, in a well-known medical publication, the New England Journal of Medicine, there was talk about the case of a cat named Oscar, who lived in a sanatorium and who, according to his medical team, could anticipate the death of patients even several hours before it arrived.
The staff at the center noticed that Oscar would curl up next to people in the very advanced stages of illness and stay with them in their final hours. Over time, his behavior became so predictable that when the cat chose a bed and settled there, the staff would notify the family members so they could be with their loved one in those final moments.
It is said that if he was thrown out of the room of the terminally ill, The furry creature began to meow He became very insistent on being allowed back in. When the patient finally died, Oscar would lick them and calmly leave. This case is not unique: there are numerous accounts of cats in hospices and nursing homes that show similar behaviorslooking for those who are most seriously ill or who are about to die.
These behaviors have led many people to believe that Cats have a kind of sixth sense or a special connection with the spiritual world, acting as messengers who warn that someone is close to dying, especially if it is their caregiver or a much-loved family member.
How is it possible that they can do it?
The most widely accepted explanation from a scientific point of view has to do with the cat's sensory capacityand specifically with their sense of smell and their ability to detect physical and behavioral changes in people. The most reasonable answer is that they do. smelling and other physiological changes.
When animals (including humans) are dying, our bodies produce an odor originating from the secretion of chemical substances associated with advanced disease and organ failure. Cats have a much more developed sense of smell than we do, and can therefore smell aromas that we don't even know exist. In addition, they are able to notice variations in the body temperature, a person's breathing and the way they move or speak.
In addition, the furry ones that live with humans they tend to reproduce some of their behaviorsIn Oscar's case, the cat was probably imitating the healthcare team that cares for the sick: he saw that certain people received intensive care, frequent visits and different treatment, and he associated those patterns with the final stages of life.
Many caregivers report that when a family member is very ill, their cat begins to show unusual behaviorsYour cat may be curling up more than usual, keeping a watchful eye on the bed, meowing differently, or even seeming more restless. It's possible your feline is reacting to changes in your environment. home energy, to the emotional stress of the family and the physical signs of the patient himself, rather than to a rational understanding of death.
From a more esoteric perspective, some argue that cats can see entities of the lower astral plane or sense presences that humans don't perceive. When a cat stares fixedly at a point in space, raises its fur for no apparent reason, or follows something invisible to us, some people interpret it as sensing energies or spirits related to the transition between life and death.
Science, however, qualifies these beliefs: feline behavior experts explain that there is no conclusive evidence that a cat can predict the future or understand the concept of death. What is clear is that their sensitivity allows them to detect very subtle changes before we do, and that can give the impression that they "know" what is going to happen.
How cats behave when someone close to them is going to die
The behavior of cats when they perceive that a person is very ill or close to death can vary, but there are some frequent behaviors which are repeated in many testimonies:
- Greater proximity and affection towards the dying person, such as cuddling up next to them, sleeping with them, or staying in the same room for hours.
- Monitor sleep of the sick person, positioning themselves at their feet, on their chest, or in a high place from which they can observe them attentively.
- Changes in the meowSome cats meow differently, more deeply, insistently, or, on the contrary, become much quieter than usual.
- Restlessness or nervousnesspacing back and forth, constantly sniffing the person, or frequently changing position.
These behaviors have led many people to believe that cats possess a special intuition or a connection to the spiritual world that allows them to perceive the approach of death. Whether through energy, smells, or changes in breathing and pulse, cats seem to sense that something important is about to happen and react by offering something. company and protection.
In other cases, especially when the sick person is its primary caregiver, the cat may also show signs of anxietyThey eat less, hide away, or become more dependent on other family members. This is largely due to their perception of a change in routine, increased stress at home, and the lack of regular interaction with the person they are closest to.
Other events that cats seem to predict
Beyond death, many people believe that cats have a exceptional sensitivity towards what is happening around them and that can anticipate other types of important events or changes in the environment.
- Moods of people: they detect when someone is sad, anxious or sick and adjust their behavior, being more affectionate or keeping a certain distance if they notice tension.
- Arrival of visitors or their caregiver: many cats anticipate someone's arrival home, waiting at the door or window before the car or keys are heard.
- Diseases such as diabetes, epilepsy or certain types of cancer, thanks to their ability to detect specific smells or bodily changes; there are cases of cats that alert before an epileptic seizure or that become obsessed with an area of ​​the body where a tumor is later detected.
- Natural disasters, tremors and earthquakes, reacting nervously, fleeing to high places or hiding before the event occurs.
- Presence of bad energies or tense environments, reflected in changes in behavior, rejection of some rooms or fixation on specific corners of the house.
All of this contributes to the fame of cats as animals mysterious and protectivecapable of moving between the physical and the spiritual. Although science can only explain a part of these abilities through their senses and their capacity for observation, the experience of thousands of people keeps alive the myth of their connection with the invisible.
Cats never cease to amaze us. Whether it's because of their extraordinary sense of smellWhether due to their sensitivity to human emotions or the mystical aura that surrounds them, their presence with the sick and in the most delicate moments of life brings comfort, companionship and, in many cases, the feeling that someone special accompanies us on the last stretch of the journey.
Although scientific studies insist that cats do not understand death as a concept nor can they see the future, they do acknowledge that they are extremely sensitive to physical, chemical, and emotional changes. That mixture of biology and mystery makes them, for many, still silent guardians capable of sensing death and, above all, of offering a last gesture of love and companionship when it is needed most.