Can a Cat tell if you have Cancer? Myths & Facts
It is quite common to turn on the news to see the beautiful and amazing stories of pets animal heroics.
It is no secret that some breeds of dogs such as German shepherds and Rottweillers, etc, and other K9 dogs have helped to save families and society at large.
Pet dogs have been used by security operatives around the world to curb crimes such as smelling narcotics firearms, running after and apprehending criminals, guarding, etc.
It has also been reported and currently researched that some dogs have been able to sniff out illnesses in human beings, giving more rise to their heroics.
But what of our feline companions? what has been said or recorded about their capabilities if any other than them being an amazing companion?
Can a Cat smell Cancer:
You might be wondering if cats can do miraculous and amazing things like dogs such as detecting cancer.
Well, let us dive right in to answer your curiosity on “Can a Cat tell if you have Cancer? Myths & Facts”
The Myths if a Cat Can Smell or Detect Cancer:
Some years ago, we had a friend named Curry Favour who lived with us for some months while she was undergoing a divorce from a broken marriage filled with physical and emotional abuse.
Curry preferred to be always indoors because she wanted to be away from the world for a while.
While she was staying with us, our gentle giant cat was fond of her and loved her companionship more than any other person that had ever visited.
She was always sniffing, purring, and sleeping in her chest region which was quite unusual for her.
Some weeks later, a metastasis was detected in her right lung after an ultra scan.
Our friend Curry was diagnosed with cancer at stage 1, while others usually detect theirs at stage 3 or 4.
She exclaimed, Koda (our cat) just saved my life!!!
If Koda was not exhibiting a behavior we found weird for cats, Curry wouldn’t have visited the doctor to run a thorough scan.
Later on, our friend Curry was cancer-free after some months of chemo and surgery and she was also back to being her best after a messy divorce.
She eventually adopted a 6-year-old cat and named it Life because of her life-changing experience.
She happens to be one of the campaigners of the discussion and I am sure your guess is as good as mine on where she stands.
Well, for clarity’s sake, she stands for both the myth and fact cause she is a living witness.
The Facts: Can a Cat Smell or Sense Cancer:
Cats are just like dogs and have an incredible sense of intuition (smell and hearing) which can help them detect subtle changes in their human companions.
These subtle and sometimes sudden changes in health or behavior can sometimes be detected in our smell, movement, and attitudes by our feline companion.
While they might have a strong sense of smell, there are no medical facts or scientifically proven evidence that they can diagnose cancer by smell.
However, they might be able to notice some changes in your general well-being without recourse to any specific health condition.
Here are the ways they can do that.
Scent Indicator of Cats:
The acute smell of the average cat is superior to the best of humans.
They can easily detect any subtle changes in our body smell and the smell and scents of our possessions that they interact with.
Some people do think some illnesses can alter body smell which has also been linked to scent detection by cats.
While this might not be scientifically proven, it has remained a bone of contention for many.
Behavioral Changes:
Cats are highly intelligent animals that are easily accustomed to changes in routines and behaviors of their owners.
They can easily tell when you are upset, angry, sad, frustrated, or ill and they can adjust their behaviors to suit your mood or feelings.
Some persons have claimed that cats know when a sick person is dying and they can become more compassionate, caring, and clingy when a sick person is nearing the end.
Physical Symptoms:
Some cats can be very curious to paw at areas where their owners or caregivers are experiencing physical difficulties such as pain, injury, or discomfort.
Their curiosity has helped some cat owners to seek medical attention for their physical symptoms, trusting the cat’s instinct as a diagnostic tool.
While there might be some myths as a result of people’s personal experiences, there is no medical evidence to support the claim that a cat can tell if you have cancer.
It is best advised to visit a medical facility to run every necessary test to be sure if you have cancer or not.
Trusting a cat’s intuition no matter how developed they might seem, is not a wise decision especially as it regards human health.