Can cats see ghosts? Vet-Approved Signs to Watch

My cats have always been weird. They have piercing eyes, graceful ways of moving, and moments of behaviour that seem to us inexplicable, so it’s little wonder why humans have often wondered if they possess abilities beyond our grasp.

The question of if Ghostcrab can actually see ghosts is one of the most intriguing with these kinds of creatures.

Taking inspiration from centuries of folklore and personal experiences, this idea remains equally fascinating to cat lovers and sceptics alike.

Whether you believe in the supernatural or are a firm believer in science, the fact that you can ask whether cats can see ghosts forces us to look at where myth crosses over with biology and the inexplicable. Let us see, can cats see ghosts?

Cats and the Supernatural: The History 

Cats have shared the supernatural throughout history more than any other animal. Ancient Egyptians held cats in such high esteem that they were considered sacred possessed a divine connection.

Bastet was a goddess, often portrayed with a lioness’s or domestic cat’s head, with which she protected homes and guided upon the afterlife.

In many cultures, this reverence for cats carried into superstition and belief that having cats in your house would ward off evil spirits.

But in mediaeval Europe, cats were given a darker reputation. And they would often be associated with witches and considered their familiars, supernatural entity that would assist with magical practices.

In particular, black cats became a symbol of misfortune and were thought to be bearers of death or of the spirit.

Even while steeped in fear and superstition, these associations have kept cats connected in the minds of men to the world somewhere beyond human vision.

Understanding a Cat’s Unique Senses

But to get into the reasoning behind cats as ghost detectors, we should first understand how supernormal their sense of smell is. Vision and hearing of cats are far better than human realm.

Because they have a reflecting layer called the tapetum lucidum in their eyes, their eyes are designed to see in low light.

This allows them to pick up on the tiniest amount of movement and changes within their environment where we wouldn’t.

Oh, including hearing, that is equally impressive. Their frequency range lies from 48 Hz to 85 kHz, which is quite far from what a human ear can pick up, from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

With this acute sense of hearing, they can pick up noises which we can’t hear, like a murmur of a mouse or even the hum of electrical appliances. Or could it also help them to hear sounds from another realm?

There’s no scientific proof for it, but their sensory capabilities at least offer fertile ground for the imagination.

Scientific Perspective: Can Cats Detect Energy?

Energy sensitivity is often twinned with the idea that cats can also perceive ghosts.

Animals (and cats, as some scientists propose) are perhaps more sensitive to minor shifts in the electromagnetic field.

It has been speculated that because these fields attract some associated paranormal activity, cats may be able to detect and tune into energies that we can’t.

Although little research has been done in this area, some studies have shown that animals can react to changes in their environment that go undetected to humans.

For example, cats have been known to do strange things before an earthquake or before a storm and perhaps can feel or detect a shift in atmosphere or vibrations.

So if cats know these sorts of physical changes, might they then be able to detect a ghostly presence? Although the scientific community is sceptical about the possibility, it is tantalising.

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Behavioural Signs That Make People Believe Cats See Ghosts

Frequently, cat owners will claim their cats seem to be communicating with something an outsider can’t see. These behaviours include: 

• Squinting into an empty corner of the room. 
• And watching their eyes move to follow invisible movements. 
• Hissing or growling suddenly, but at nothing in particular. 
• About sudden or excited movement or behaviour without an apparent cause. 

This kind of actions can prove unsettling enough during times in environments that we already know to be haunted.

Admittedly, these behaviours can be explained, but do reaffirm the thought that cats just have a sixth sense for perceiving spirits.

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Cats and Ghost Beliefs Around the World

Cats have been connected to the supernatural in many ways around the world. The mythical, highly disturbing is a shape shifting cat from Japanese folklore, able to speak with the dead.

Celtic traditions have the Cat Sìth, a spectral black cat from the Scottish Highlands, wandering about, either bringing you good luck or bad.

In many cultures, the cat is still thought of as a spiritual guardian in more modern contexts. Some think that a cat protects a house from negative energies or wandering spirits.

There are these cultural narratives about cats because people believe that cats are sensitive to the spiritual realm, and this is one that has stuck around.

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Instinct’s and Evolution’s Role

Seen from this evolutionary perspective many of the behaviours which people ascribe to ghost sightings can be solved with the behaviour of a cat, simply because of the cat’s survival instincts.

Cats are hunters by nature and are always on alert when at home, always trying to sniff out threats or prey.

Through millions of years of evolution, they have become finely tuned species that are constantly assessing their environment, all with heightened senses, knowing even the slightest anomaly could be a signal for danger.

Sometimes even this hyper aware state will manifest in seemingly odd or inexplicable behaviour.

For instance, perhaps if a cat stares at an empty corner, it’s not due to a TV or a person moving by, but instead, it’s the reaction to a sound or shadow so faint that we can’t hear or see it.

It can be tempting to chalk it up to the supernatural, but it might in fact be the cat’s instinctual sense of detecting alarm.

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Skepticism: Strang Cat Behavior Explained (logically)

There’s a believer somewhere for every cat who sees ghosts and a sceptic with logic. The environmental factors, however, explain many factors associated with ghost sighting behaviours.

Try to imagine yourself watching a small bug or even a cat looking into a space that’s perfectly empty as far as you’re concerned and reacting to something that you can’t actually see.

His ears pricked up and he hissed or growled suddenly if he didn’t know a scent or perceived a threat.

Other than this, cats are habit creatures, and they are sensitive to changes in the environment around them.

A new piece of furniture, scattered draft or even changing the light of the room can cause the most unusual ‘behaviour’ but it is just perfectly natural.

Both of these explanations might not tickle the fancy of those who explain paranormal things happening but in the broad scheme of a cat’s life, they are definitely well explained.

Also read: Why Is My Cat Ignoring Me? 7 Hidden Reasons Explained by Vet

Personal Accounts: Cats and the Paranormal

Cat owners have no scientific evidence to prove that their pets can sense the supernatural, but they are not lacking in members of the cat community who swear that their pets can.

There are stories galore of cats reacting to invisible presences, causing such a reaction in their owners that the cats must have seen a ghost.

A typical version tells the story of a cat behaving weirdly in a room where your loved one just died as if they can feel their spirit.

These anecdotes are compelling, but they are inherently subjective.

Unfortunately, without proof, there’s no way to know if these experiences are actual moments with the paranormal or just misinterpretations of everyday feline behaviour.

Wrap up on Can Cats See Ghosts?

Can cats see ghosts? That question remains unanswered, to ride the fence between science and superstition.

To one side, the extraordinary senses and incredible behaviours only add weight to the suggestion they could make sense of things humans cannot.

Yet, logical explanations in terms of biology and environmental factors make their actions not so mysterious.

At the end of the day, whether or not a cat can see ghosts really depends on the cat and the way they’ve experienced life and the way they’ve been told stories.

Whether you view your cat’s odd behaviour as evidence of the supernatural or simply a quirk of their unique nature, one thing is certain:

There will always be things about cats that will remain a mystery, will always be things that will keep us guessing and that will continue to capture our imaginations.

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FAQ: Can Cats See Ghosts?