Of course, they can. In fact, when we’re sick, our bodies go through many changes, and most of these changes can be detected by our cats.
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Body Temperature Changes
When pathogens invade the human body, the immune system may raise the body temperature to fight off the invaders—essentially causing a fever. During this time, cats may become particularly sensitive to changes in their owner’s body temperature. As a result, many cats tend to stay closer to their owners than usual.
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Changes in Scent
When there’s inflammation in the body, the number of white blood cells increases rapidly to fight the pathogens, which changes our “scent.” Additionally, being bedridden causes sweat to accumulate and ferment, which also alters our body odor… A 2017 study in Applied Animal Behavior Science pointed out that some of these scent changes can be detected by the V1Rs receptor genes in a cat’s Jacobsen’s organ.
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Changes in Breathing, Heart Rate, and Sound
Certain illnesses can cause changes in a person’s breathing and heart rate, such as a faster rate during a fever or a slower rate with hypothyroidism or some heart conditions. Additionally, respiratory infections can change the tone and pitch of one’s voice. Cats’ ears are capable of distinguishing different sounds from up to 15 meters away, so even the most subtle changes can be easily recognized, should they choose to pay attention.
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Changes in Emotions
When we are suffering from illness, it’s common for our mood to be affected, often leading to feelings of sadness or irritability. A 2020 study found that cats can recognize these emotional signals and, under the influence of their owners’ negative emotions, they may exhibit stress or anxiety-related behaviors.
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Changes in Behavior
Cats are creatures of routine, and they keep a mental schedule of things that need to be done at specific times. When you’re sick and lying in bed, they will notice that the person who normally feeds them at a certain time hasn’t gotten up yet. So, given that cats can detect these changes, they certainly sense that something is different. However, for cats, it’s hard to understand the concept of “being sick.” They just know that their owner seems to have changed in some way…
As a result, cats may show different behaviors:The Caring Type—These cats offer their companionship and comfort, helping their owners get through tough times.The Rebel Type—These cats continue to “do their own thing” at home, remaining stubborn and bossy, offering no help, and even creating a bit of chaos.In reality, no matter how a cat behaves, just being by our side is already its way of applying its own “healing magic” on us.
