For daily wit & wisdom, sign up for the Almanac newsletter.
What is the origin of the phrase “raining cats and dogs”? Can cats predict if a thunderstorm is on its way? How do cats seem to know about weather changes before we do? Let’s explore the wonders of our felinefriends!
You can blame this article on the cat sprawling across my keyboard when I was trying to write on a rainy day.I started to think about cats and weather—specifically, the phrase “raining cats and dogs.”What doanimals falling from the sky have to do with torrential downpours?
Can you imagine anything more improbable than raining cats and dogs or, for that matter, more uncomfortable? (Then again, why does a keyboard seem to be the ideal place for a catnap?)
Raining Cats andDogs
Some authorities tie the idea to Norse mythology. Odin, the Viking god of storms, was often pictured with dogs and wolves, symbols of wind. Witches, who supposedly rode their brooms during storms, had black cats, which became signs of heavy rain.Therefore, “raining cats and dogs” referred to a storm with wind (dogs) and heavy rain(cats).
“Pluie de chats.” Source:Wikipedia
While the story sounds good, the expression didn’t become popular until the 1700s, when Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels) used it in asatire.
He pictured snobby upper class aristocrats solemnly fretting that it would “rain cats and dogs.” Suddenly the saying caught on. Apparently, the English spent a lot of time chatting about rain and it was the latest hitphrase.
Cats and WeatherFolklore
The cat/witch connection created a lot of superstitions. Many European cultures believed that cats could influence or even forecast theweather.
- In Britain, especially Wales, it was believed that rain was likely if a cat busily washed itsears.
- In Holland, cats could predict the wind by clawing at carpets andcurtains.
- In early America, if a cat sat with its back to the fire, it was foretelling a cold snap and if it slept with all four paws tucked under, bad weather wascoming.
Sailors were particularly superstitious or just so bored that they spent a lot of time watching the ship’scat.
- If a cat licked its fur against the grain, it meant a hailstorm was coming; if it sneezed, rain was on the way; and if it was frisky, the wind would soonblow.
- Some believed cats could start storms through magic, so sailors always made sure cats were content. (I’m sure the cats encouraged thisbelief!)
Source: Wikimediacommons
So, Can Cats PredictWeather?
It turns out that catsare more sensitive tochanges in atmospheric pressure. Yes, their heightened senses can allow them to pick up hints that a storm is coming. Cats’ inner ears may detect the sudden fall in atmosphericpressure.
A cat is also more sensitive tosounds and smells. Therefore, your cat will hear the rumble of a thunderstorm before you do.Likewise, your cat is more likely tosmell the incoming rain or that metallic odor of lightning in theair.
In truth, cats aren’t the only animals who are attuned to nature and weather, but we’ll give our feline friends some credit; after all, they already know they’re superior to us humans,right?
LearnMore
Discover more animals that can predict the weather!
Ever head of the annual Cat Nights, which occur in August? This bit of folklore also gives us the saying, “A cat has nine lives.” Learn more about Cat Nights.
FAQs
It turns out that cats are more sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure. Yes, their heightened senses can allow them to pick up hints that a storm is coming. Cats' inner ears may detect the sudden fall in atmospheric pressure. A cat is also more sensitive to sounds and smells.
Can cats predict weather changes? ›
Cats and many other animals are more sensitive than humans to sounds, smells and changes in atmospheric pressure, and their heightened senses can allow them to pick up hints that a storm is coming well before their owners catch wind of it.
How do cats know when there's bad weather? ›
A cat's inner ears are much more sensitive to ours and will alert the cat to air pressure changes. They will have learned that this drop in atmospheric indicates that bad weather is approaching, which should prompt them to find shelter.
Can cats predict natural disasters? ›
Scientists have postulated that cats can perceive the vibrations and low-frequency sounds produced by the shifting tectonic plates deep beneath the Earth's surface. This early warning system is an invaluable tool for humans, as many have reported their cats acting skittish or anxious shortly before a seismic event.
What happens if a cat sits in the sun in February? ›
Cat Weather Folklore
When the cat lies in the sun in February, she will creep behind the stove in March. If a cat sits with its back to the fire, frost and hard weather can be expected.
Can animals tell when a storm is coming? ›
Some have highly sensitive hearing or smell, while others can detect changes in atmospheric pressure or electromagnetic fields. For instance, birds are sensitive to air pressure changes and often hunker down before a big storm.
Do cats have a sixth sense? ›
Cat's sixth sense
Despite some cat lovers claiming they witnessed their cat predicting imminent danger or communicating with persons unseen, there is no solid evidence that cats are able to detect things beyond what the usual five senses are capable of.
What do cats think about storms? ›
Like some dogs, some cats couldn't care less if it's storming outside, and remain as calm and collected as they would be on a sunny day. Many cats, however, do become anxious during storms, and they typically show their fear by hiding in closets or under furniture until the storm passes.
What does it mean when a cat cleans behind its ears? ›
French fishermen, in particular, would watch their cats closely to predict weather changes. They believed that is the cat pressed her paw behind her ears while grooming, it was going to rain. From that belief came this little rhyme: “When the kitty washes behind her ears, we'll soon be tasting heaven's tears.”
Can cats sense something wrong with you? ›
Cats might smell changes in their owner's pheromones when they're ill due to changes in the body's chemicals. Due to cats having such a tight bond with their owners, they'll be able to recognize when you're not acting yourself either. These changes prompt them to act differently.
Your cat might start to show signs of stress when a storm is on its way and typically show their fear by trying to find somewhere to hide until the storm passes. Some cats will have a strong fear response where they may show a raised coat and bushy tail, sometimes even hissing at anything or anyone.
What natural disasters can cats sense? ›
Studies have shown that cats tend to sense tsunamis long before they happen. It is thought to be the vibrations caused by tsunamis that alert the cats. Some cats become frantic and display abnormal behavior before the wave hits.
Can cats predict danger? ›
Due their heightened senses, cats are often in a state of hyper-vigilance, on the lookout for potential threats. Although there is no evidence to suggest that cats have a sixth sense, this common misconception probably arises because cats have much sharper senses than we do.
Do cats predict earthquakes? ›
Berkland's theory was that cats who knew in advance that an earthquake would occur and would run away from home to escape the catastrophe, although there was no scientific evidence to support this hypothesis.
Why do cats freak out when a storm is coming? ›
Causes of Thunderstorm Phobia in Cats
Cats with thunderstorm phobia respond with fear to loud and unexpected noises and unexpected flashes of light. Like many other animals, cats are also sensitive to and detect subtle changes in the atmosphere's pressure brought on by thunderstorms.
Do cats freak out before storms? ›
We know they're scared. But cats, too, can be fearful of the atmospheric light and sound shows, reacting to pressure changes, loud wind and rain, and electrical discharges. “It's suspected that there are probably more cats bothered by thunderstorms than we realize,” says Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB, who practices in St.
How do cats respond to environmental changes? ›
We assessed cats' responses to the quality of housing (room and cage) environment. Cats in unmanaged rooms ate and eliminated less than cats in managed rooms. Cats in unmanaged rooms hid more and were less likely to approach a stranger. Indicates room environment may be as important as the cage environment to the cat.
“Pluie de chats.” Source:Wikipedia
Source: Wikimediacommons