Do Cats Really Protect Their Owners?
Cats have a reputation for being aloof and independent creatures. However, many cat owners swear their furry companions watch over them and even come to their aid in times of distress.
In one astonishing case, a cat named Oscar living in a nursing home predicted patients’ deaths by curling up beside them in their final hours. The staff took Oscar’s actions as a sign to notify families. While Oscar’s morbid vigil baffled doctors, it demonstrated the intuition and attentiveness cats can show towards humans.
This article will examine whether felines truly watch over and protect their owners. We’ll explore cats’ observant nature, their ability to detect human emotions and health changes, and real-life examples of them safeguarding their people. While not all cats are guardians, the evidence shows that some forge remarkable bonds with us.
Cats Are Observant
Cats are attentive and observant creatures by nature. They closely follow movements and sounds using their sharp senses, especially sight and hearing. According to Catster, cats are very observant of other animals or people in their surroundings. Their observant nature likely stems from curiosity about what is happening around them.
Cats use their excellent eyesight to notice even subtle motions. Their eyes have a wide field of vision and can see well in low light. Cats also have excellent hearing and a great sense of smell. They use these senses in combination to closely observe everything happening nearby. Even when cats appear relaxed or aloof, they are often attentively watching their environment.
Cats Can Sense Human Emotions
Research suggests cats have the ability to recognize and respond to human facial expressions and emotions. According to a 2020 study published in Current Biology, cats seem able to distinguish between positive and negative emotional expressions in humans. When shown photographs of smiling or angry faces, cats tended to respond differently based on the emotion depicted.
Cats exhibited more behaviors like ear moving, head turning, and pupil dilation when shown angry faces compared to happy ones. This indicates they may have an innate ability to detect the emotional state of their owners. Experts theorize evolution has allowed cats to develop sensory capabilities to recognize human social cues, similar to dogs. So your cat likely understands when you are happy, sad, angry or upset based on visual and audio cues.
Cats React to Owner’s Medical Changes
Cats have a remarkable ability to detect changes in their owner’s health and medical conditions. This is likely due to their highly advanced sense of smell. Cats have up to 200 million odor-sensitive cells in their noses, far more than dogs, and can detect subtle changes in odor that humans cannot. Some studies suggest cats may be able to detect biochemical changes that indicate disease or an oncoming seizure or heart attack. https://cats.com/can-cats-sense-illness-in-humans
There are many anecdotal reports of cats alerting others in the household when an owner has a serious medical emergency like a seizure or heart attack. Some cats will meow loudly or keep pawing at the owner to get attention. Others will alert another human directly. While cats don’t necessarily understand the full extent of human medical conditions, they can often tell that something is wrong and try to get help.
Cats are especially attuned to their owners and spend a lot of time observing them closely. This helps cats notice subtle changes in behavior, scent, skin temperature, or appearance that comes with illness or medical events. Their close bond with their owners makes them sensitive to these changes. While not all cats demonstrate these protective behaviors, their observant nature and loyalty often compel them to alert others when owners need medical assistance.
Protective Behaviors
Cats often demonstrate protective behaviors towards their owners. According to Hill’s Pet Nutrition, cats may place themselves between their owner and a perceived threat. For example, they may puff up their fur to look bigger and hiss at strangers, dogs, or other animals that approach their owner. Cats have been known to attack or scratch intruders in the home in an effort to defend their owner.
There are many examples of cats displaying protective behaviors when their owners are in danger or under threat of harm. Some cats will follow their owners around the house and keep a watchful eye on them. They may even guard their owner while they are sleeping or resting. These behaviors suggest that cats can be highly protective of and feel a bond with their human owners.
Why Do Cats Watch Over Us?
There are several possible explanations for protective behaviors in cats:
Territorial instincts – Cats are territorial animals, and they may see their owners as an essential part of their territory that needs protecting. According to one source, “Cats are territorial animals, and they may see their owners as an essential part of their territory that needs protecting” (https://puainta.com/es/blogs/care-healthy-living/why-does-my-cat-guard-me-when-i-pee).
Recognition of family bond – Cats that are closely bonded with their owners will want to watch over and protect them as they would a fellow cat. The protective behavior shows the cat recognizes its owner as family.
Instinct – The predatory instincts of cats mean they are hardwired to be alert to potential threats. Watching over an owner may simply be an innate behavior for some cats.
Not All Cats Are Protective
While many cats do exhibit protective behaviors, individual cat personality plays a big role. Not all cats are wired to defend and guard their owners in the face of potential threats. According to https://www.petcarerx.com/article/can-cats-protect-humans/3347, some cats may be more timid and apt to hide or flee when they sense danger, rather than confront it. Much depends on the cat’s unique temperament and natural instincts.
For instance, a naturally confident and territorial cat that bonds strongly with their owner will be primed to act defensively. On the other hand, a skittish, fearful cat may opt to remove themselves from the situation for self-preservation. According to cat behaviorists, female cats tend to be more protective on average than male cats.
While protective behaviors come naturally to some cats, others simply don’t have those ingrained instincts, regardless of their relationship with their owner. So while cats can potentially protect their owners, it’s not necessarily an innate trait or guarantee in all cats.
How to Bond With Your Cat
Building a close bond with your cat takes time and effort, but it is absolutely worth it. Here are some tips for strengthening your connection:
Make playtime a daily habit. Set aside 10-15 minutes each day for interactive play with your cat. Wands, feather toys, and laser pointers are great for mimicking prey and triggering your cat’s natural hunting behaviors. This is a fun way to bond and provide your cat with much-needed physical and mental stimulation. As this article notes, playtime is one of the best ways to build trust and affection with your cat.
Use positive reinforcement. When your cat solicits attention or exhibits behaviors you want to encourage, respond with treats, praise, or affection. This shows your cat that good things happen when you interact. Food puzzles and clicker training are also great for positive reinforcement.
Establish a routine. Cats feel more secure when they can anticipate daily feeding times, playtime, snuggles, etc. Set up a schedule for when you interact with your cat and stick to it. This consistency helps build trust and comfort.
Initiate frequent, gentle handling. Pet, brush, pick up, and hold your cat daily so they become comfortable with human touch. Start slow if your cat is skittish. The more positive physical interactions you share, the deeper your bond will become.
Signs Your Cat Cares
Cats show their affection in subtle, unique ways. Here are some signs that suggest your cat is forming an attachment to you:
Rubbing and bunting. When a cat rubs its head or body against you, this is called “bunting.” It deposits pheromones that mark you as “theirs.” Bunting shows your cat feels a social bond with you and wants to mix scents.
Grooming. If your cat licks your hair or hand, this is a sign of affection. Cats groom each other to reinforce social bonds, so if your cat grooms you, it sees you as part of its group.
Bringing gifts. Your cat may leave “gifts” of dead mice or birds at your feet. Though unpleasant, this shows your cat wants to provide for you and thinks you should learn to hunt.
Kneading and purring. When your cat kneads you with its paws and purrs, it is content in your presence. This is a sign it feels calm and safe with you.
Slow blinking. Slow blinking is a cat “smile.” If your cat slowly blinks at you, it indicates trust and affection. Slow blink back to say “I love you too!” [1]
Conclusion
In summary, cats can often demonstrate protective behaviors and seem to watch over their owners. This is due to their observant nature, ability to sense human emotions, and react to medical issues or other changes. Forming a close bond with your cat and understanding their signs of caring are key to seeing this watchful side emerge. While not all cats may act protective, those that feel strongly attached to their owners do seem to keep a close eye on them. As the old saying goes, “cats will gaze at humans with affectionate eyes but remain ever independent.” Yet behind that independent gaze, a watchful caretaker often lurks inside.
Cats observe us closely and can perceive when something is wrong, demonstrating their hidden role as silent protectors (source). While not every cat may choose to spring into action, those that bond closely with their owners tend to watch over us in their own subtle way. So take comfort next time your cat stares at you with those all-knowing eyes – they just might be looking out for you.
