Do Cats Have a Sixth Sense?
Cats possess extraordinarily keen senses that allow them to detect subtle changes in their environment. With an advanced sense of smell 14 times stronger than humans, cats can detect faint odors and chemical changes in the air that humans can’t perceive. Their powerful hearing enables cats to hear sounds at a much broader range of frequencies. Cats can also sense subtle variations in air pressure and vibration through their whiskers. This heightened sensory perception allows cats to detect approaching storms, earthquakes, and other phenomena earlier than humans.
There are many anecdotal stories of cats detecting health problems or “bad” people. For example, some cats seem to sense when their owner is unwell and will remain by their side. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove cats possess a supernatural “sixth sense.” While cats have demonstrated an uncanny awareness in certain situations, they are simply processing sensory information and cues that humans cannot perceive. Cats do not have psychic or extrasensory abilities. Their extraordinary senses, high intelligence and intuition help explain cats’ seeming ability to detect things we cannot.
Cats Read Body Language
Cats are extremely perceptive and attuned to subtle body language cues from humans. According to Tuft & Paw, cats notice small details in a person’s body language and facial expressions that reveal their true feelings and intentions1. For example, cats may detect if a person is tense, uncomfortable, or behaving strangely around them. Cats rely heavily on body language to communicate with each other. So they are very adept at picking up on even the most subtle body language signals that people exhibit.
Research shows cats notice things like a person avoiding eye contact, making sudden movements, stiffening their body, or displaying nervous gestures like fidgeting2. These are all signals that cats associate with untrustworthy behavior. So when a person displays this type of body language around a cat, the cat may see it as a cue to be cautious and keep their distance.
In essence, cats seem to “know” when a person’s body language indicates they are not being fully authentic or trustworthy. While cats don’t judge character in the same complex way humans do, their innate ability to read body language provides them with information about who they can trust and who they should be wary around.
Cats Remember Experiences
Cats have excellent memories and are able to recall both positive and negative experiences from their pasts. According to research published in Current Biology, cats have episodic memory similar to humans and dogs. The study found that cats could remember specific details about an event, such as what, when, and where something occurred (https://phys.org/news/2017-01-cat-ways-similar-humans-dogs.html).
If someone was previously mean to a cat, such as startling them or forcing them into unwanted petting, the cat is likely to remember this and be wary or avoidant of that person in the future. Cats have been shown to remember traumatic events from many years prior. On the other hand, if someone was kind and gentle with a cat before, the cat is more likely to recall this fondly and feel safe and trusting around that person (https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2017-02/cats-may-have-episodic-memory-like-people-dogs/).
According to research on cat cognition and memory, cats have excellent long-term memories, especially for details related to sources of danger or reward. So experiences with specific people, good or bad, tend to create strong memories in cats that guide their future interactions and relationships (https://www.livescience.com/58602-do-cats-dogs-have-long-term-memories.html).
Cats Sense Emotions
There is some evidence that cats can detect human emotional states. According to research by the Department of Animal Science at the University of Milan, cats seem to recognize emotions based on cues like tone of voice, posture, and pheromones (Quaranta et al., 2020). In one study, cats reacted differently to the same words spoken in either a happy or angry voice by their owner (Quaranta et al., 2020). This suggests cats may potentially be able to sense if someone is in a positive or negative mood.
Some cat owners report their cats behaving differently when they are sad or upset. According to Basepaws, cats can detect shifts in hormones and pheromones, changes in breathing and heart rate, as well as subtle body language that may indicate their human’s emotional state. While cats may not fully understand complex human emotions, they can pick up on signs we are experiencing distress.
Cats Bond with Caregivers
Cats form close attachments and social bonds, especially with their human caregivers. According to research, cats see their owners as a source of safety and form secure attachments [1]. This is evidenced by behaviors like greeting their owner at the door, sticking close by, and soliciting petting. Kittens that are handled gently and frequently by a caregiver early in life are more likely to become socially bonded adults [1].
Cats tend to prefer companions who treat them well over strangers [2]. They remember positive interactions and will seek out people who provide food, affection, play time, and other care. One study found that cats had stronger bonds and were more receptive to their owners compared to strangers [3].
So cats may be more cautious or wary around new people compared to their trusted owners who care for them daily. However, with gradual positive introductions, cats can form bonds with additional family members or friends over time.
[1] https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2021-10-15/cats-and-power-human-animal-bond
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8228645/
[3] https://petpartners.org/publications/exploring-the-cat-human-bond/
Cats Have Individual Personalities
Like humans, each cat has a unique personality. According to a study published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, researchers have identified five main personality dimensions in cats: neuroticism, extraversion, dominance, impulsiveness, and agreeableness 1. These traits exist on a spectrum, with each cat having varying levels of each one.
Some cats are extroverted and approach everyone without fear. They enjoy attention and interacting with people. Other cats can be extremely shy around strangers, hiding when guests come over. A social, extroverted cat may like all people, while a timid cat may be more selective and only bond with their owners.
Understanding a cat’s unique personality helps owners better meet their individual needs. With patience and care, owners can help shy cats become more confident. But ultimately, each cat has quirks and preferences wired into their personality.
Cats Display Caution Around Unfamiliar People
Cats tend to be cautious around new people until they get a sense of someone’s character. Some cats will warm up quickly, while others can take more time. A cat staying back doesn’t necessarily mean someone is “bad.” It can just indicate wariness.
According to veterinarians, the best way to decrease fear in cats is to socialize them while they are young. Even in cat breeds that are naturally more wary around strangers, early and frequent positive experiences help kittens become friendlier adults (source).
However, cats that were under-socialized as kittens or have had frightening experiences may become anxious or hide when visitors come over. Their caution does not necessarily reflect judgement about a person’s character. With patience, treats, and gentle interaction, many shy cats will eventually relax and show their friendly side.
Cats Have Basic Instincts
Even though cats have been domesticated, they still have natural survival instincts from their wild ancestry. These include caution around potential threats and responding to sudden movements. According to a 2021 study published on sci.news, “This study reassures owners of cats who hunt that the motive to hunt is instinctive, not driven by nutritional needs.” So even friendly cats may react out of instinct, not because someone is good or bad.
As descendants of solitary hunters, cats are wired to be cautious and assess risks in their environment. Their wariness comes from instinct, not any sense of human morality. Sudden sounds, quick movements, and unfamiliar smells can trigger a cat’s prey drive or defensiveness. These automatic responses helped feral cats survive in the wild.
While domestic cats bond with and rely on their human caretakers, they still possess natural instincts from their ancestry. Their reactions don’t necessarily indicate how they feel about a person’s character. With patience, care, and positive conditioning, friendly cats can overcome some ingrained wariness. But ultimately, instinct will influence their behavior in certain situations.
Cats Don’t Have a Human Sense of Morality
Cats do not share human concepts like morality and character. As stated in a 2018 study published in the journal Animal Morality, “It has been argued that some animals are moral subjects, that is, beings who are capable of behaving on the basis of moral motivations.” However, the complex reasoning required to judge if someone is fundamentally “good” or “bad” in a human sense is beyond feline capabilities.
While cats have excellent memories and can learn to associate certain people with positive or negative experiences, they lack the abstract thinking needed to make moral value judgments. As this 2019 science article explains, cats are skilled at social cognition but cannot comprehend complex human concepts. We must avoid anthropomorphizing cats as having human-level intelligence.
In short, cats do not possess the same sense of morality as humans. Their intellect is tuned towards survival and assessing immediate situations, not making abstract judgements on human character.
The Verdict on Cats Judging Character
While cats can pick up on cues and remember experiences, they likely don’t judge human character in the same way humans do. Their responses are based more on instinct, caution, and memories vs. understanding morality.
Cats do form close bonds with caring humans who provide them with food, shelter, and affection. Studies show cats remember positive interactions and will approach those people for attention and care.
However, we should be careful about ascribing human-like intelligence and judgement to our feline friends. Cats don’t have an inherent sense of human morality or character. Their instincts drive much of their behavior toward strangers – either showing caution or curiosity.
So while your cat may recoil from someone displaying threatening body language, or eagerly approach someone familiar, they aren’t making calculated judgements on that person’s character or moral compass. Their responses are based on instinct, experience, and emotion rather than an understanding of what makes someone “good” or “bad.”
The bottom line – cats feel safe and content around those who care for them well. But beware of thinking they share our human ideals of morality and character.