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Whether it’s psychic powers, superior senses, cat or dog intuition, or daily changes, your pet may sense danger and you need to know about it.
October in Northern California is known for earthquakes and wildfires, including the Loma Prieta earthquake on October 17, 1989, and the Oakland Firestorm on October 20, 1991. I have experienced and survived both natural disasters. Like me, many people in the Golden State who experience natural disasters such as wildfires and earthquakes believe that their cats (or dogs) knew about these events before they happened. I am. However, whether cats can actually foresee danger is still a matter of debate. So what do you do the next time Felix starts acting weird? Do you roll your eyes, or do you prepare to not be scared just in case? Read on and decide for yourself.
Is it ESP?
“Cats have an uncanny ability to sense impending earthquakes, usually 10 to 15 minutes before they occur,” says the author of The Cat Lover’s Book of Facts: A Felicitous Look at Felines. Ed LeCaire explains. “Kittens exhibit nervous behavior such as banging and scratching on doors and windows, and are above average concerned about their safety.”
In fact, the late California geologist Jim Birkland relied on cats (and dogs) to predict other major earthquakes. Such earthquakes include the infamous magnitude 7.1 Loma Prieta, California earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area on October 17, 1989 with a roaring sound for 15 seconds. It shook Candlestick Park, which was in the midst of the World Series. The earthquake was felt throughout Northern California, including Tahoe. 67 people were killed and over 600 injured. He believed that some cats had mystical psychic powers.
fire detector
Smell may play a role in why cats are often good fire detectors. “For some reason, cats may be able to detect fire or (perhaps) notice something in the air before humans can,” said a spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department. “And that may be contributing to why cats are able to escape harm before firefighters come to their rescue.”
In fact, cats have a keen sense of smell, with 60 to 80 million olfactory cells, while humans have 5 to 20 million. Sharp hearing also helps in detecting fires. A crackling fire can trigger a cat’s fight-or-flight response. On October 20, 1001, many indoor and outdoor cats fled for their lives to escape the intense heat as black smoke billowed overhead during the Oakland Berkeley Hills fire. The fire raged for almost two days before being brought under control, setting off six alarms and killing 25 people.
Responding to change
Most people realize that cats don’t really like change. Perhaps felines are not “sensing” danger, but rather responding to changes in their daily routines and environment. Ethologists argue that these particular cues may be novel, rather than cats realizing they are dangerous. And often it’s fear of the unknown. According to cat experts, cats tend to act out when they feel fear.
Some disaster experts have noticed that many cats can sense impending darkness and doom. The question of whether cats can predict catastrophes hours or days in advance requires further research.
But scientists admit that they can’t predict earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes with certainty, so is monitoring cats really that far-fetched?
Cat experts advise cat owners to do so. “A cat’s first instinct is to survive, and cats are the best survival machines Mother Nature has ever developed,” says Eric Swanson, author of Hero Cats: True Stories of Daring Feline Deeds. I am concluding. Whether cats have any visual gifts or not, cats continue to inspire spiritual qualities that cat lovers respond to. It’s impossible to say what they actually see and what we see in their eyes.
Lake Tahoe has not historically experienced major earthquakes or wildfires in October, but be aware that both events are possible given the region’s geological and climatic conditions. That is important.
(Adapted from “Soulmates with Paws” by Cal O’Ree)
Cal O’Ree, Massachusetts, is a best-selling author and novelist specializing in themes such as adventure, health, romance, and science. She holds a BA and MA in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, Rescue Me! The trilogy “The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes” and the new book “The Courage to Have Legs,” which will be published this fall. She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is http://www.calorey.com.
