Unraveling the mystery: Can cats predict the weather?
There has been a lot of folklore through the years about cats and weather changes, but the Farmer's Almanac suggests there could be some truth to the legends.
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According to James J. Garriss, a weather contributor for the Farmer's Almanac, many European cultures believed that cats could influence or forecast the weather. Examples include:
It was believed in Britain and Wales that rain was likely if a cat busily washed its ears.
In Holland, it was believed that cats could predict the wind by clawing at carpets and curtains.
In early America, when a cat sat with its back to the fire, it was foretelling a cold snap. If a cat slept with all four paws tucked underneath, it was a sign that bad weather was coming.
Whether there's truth to these beliefs is up for debate, but Garriss states that cats can predict weather changes due to their heightened senses.
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Garriss writes that cats are more sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure, which can allow them to pick up hints that a storm is coming.
Cats are also more sensitive to smells and sounds, which means they could likely smell incoming rain or hear thunder before their human companions.
Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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