My cat is seeing things

wannahelp · Feb 22, 2015

Last week, my male was in the kitchen and suddenly seemed spooked. He took off in the opposote direction, ran into a board that almost fell on him, then darted into another room. I thought someting might have pinched his paw but I didn't find anything.
A few nights later, he was sittng on my dining room table just staring ahead at nothing. This is unisial behavior for him.
This cat is always hungry and he's constantly looking for food in the sink, taking food from the dog, and stealing food from the other cats. A couple of times recently, however, he left a significant portion of food in his bowl. He has never done that.
One night when I got home, I was told that he was chasing something that didn't seem to exist. Tonight, he ppeared to be salking something but I didn't see anything. He wasn't playing with a toy and my other cat was nowhere near him. I'm a little concerned about the strange behavior. I didn't mention it but all the cats in the house are fixed.

detmut · Feb 22, 2015

how old is he?

tabbysia · Feb 22, 2015

It sounds like he is seeing a ghost. Animals are supposed to be more perceptive to that kind of thing.

Or, could he have hit his head recently? That could be causing the hallucinations and weird behavior. If he is an older cat, he could just be getting senile.

wingwalker · Feb 22, 2015

My cats see "ghosts" daily. I heard that´s quite normal for a lot of cats. In our house "ghosts" are around mostly in the morning. The cats are chasing them out of the house and when they are done doing this, they are having breakfast.

wannahelp · Feb 22, 2015

He is a young cat and if he hit his head, I'm not aware of it. I don't feel any bumps on his head either. You're serious about ghosts?

dave_l · Feb 22, 2015

That sounds like normal cat behavior. They can sense things, such as shifting light patterns or shadows, or sounds, that we don't notice. I've heard the sudden urge to run referred to as the "zoomies."

Or he could be receiving instructions from the mother ship.

tabbysia · Feb 22, 2015

I'm about 99% sure that ghosts/spirits are not real, but like I said, I have heard that animals are sensitive to the supernatural. Maybe I just watch too many of those ghosts television shows, lol.

Are you sure that there is not another animal hanging around outside the house that is stressing him out, like a neighbor's cat or something? Maybe he smells its scent and it makes him uncomfortable.

betsygee · Feb 22, 2015

Dave_L said:
Or he could be receiving instructions from the mother ship.

Love it.

That's how my cat Ozzy acts--he 'sees' things all the time that the rest of us don't see. He'll suddenly look past me with a startled look like there's somebody behind me. I'll turn around quick and of course there's nothing there. I swear when I turn back around he's smirking, and the thought bubble over his head is "Made you look!"

And he gets the 'zoomies' all the time. He will suddenly start racing from one end of the house to the other--down the hall, around the couch, back down the hall. Crazy cat.

But on a more serious note, is he mostly eating all right? Using the litter box okay? Are there any behaviors that would make you think he's ill?

wannahelp · Feb 22, 2015

But on a more serious note, is he mostly eating all right? Using the litter box okay? Are there any behaviors that would make you think he's ill?

As I said in my original post, this afternoon he didn't finish his food and once or twice last week, which is VERY unusual for him. So, I don't know if he's ill or stressed out by whatever this is-a neighbor's pet, "ghosts", or whatever. I have also noticed a little bit of what I'd call choking, a couple of times but I'm wondering if he's got some kind of allergy to the new cat tree or scratcher. I haven't noticed the choking while he's on the tree thought. I thought he may have had a hairball but tonight I might have heard a sneeze. My female has a chronic condition that the vet's can't agree may or may not be Feline Herpes. He's vaccinated but I guess he could have caught it from her. Also, I posted before about the fact that he shakes his head. He's done it since I got him but the vet said his ears are clear.

However, I don't think that would explain this behavior. If he does have something like that and it's aggravated by stress, I still won't know what's stressing him.

We had snow recently and I didn't see any cat footprints but it's also extremely cold, so I don't know if anyone would let a cat outside or not. My neighbors directly next to and across the street don't own cats. There aren't really any dogs that he's ever seen or interacted with, especially since he's inside all the time. He is afraid of loud noises but there aren't any when the odd behavior occurs.

I guess a trip to the vet might be in order.

betsygee · Feb 22, 2015

wannahelp said:
As I said in my original post, this afternoon he didn't finish his food and once or twice last week, which is VERY unusual for him. So, I don't know if he's ill or stressed out by whatever this is-a neighbor's pet, "ghosts", or whatever. I have also noticed a little bit of what I'd call choking, a couple of times but I'm wondering if he's got some kind of allergy to the new cat tree or scratcher. I haven't noticed the choking while he's on the tree thought. I thought he may have had a hairball but tonight I might have heard a sneeze. My female has a chronic condition that the vet's can't agree may or may not be Feline Herpes. He's vaccinated but I guess he could have caught it from her. Also, I posted before about the fact that he shakes his head. He's done it since I got him but the vet said his ears are clear.

However, I don't think that would explain this behavior. If he does have something like that and it's aggravated by stress, I still won't know what's stressing him.

We had snow recently and I didn't see any cat footprints but it's also extremely cold, so I don't know if anyone would let a cat outside or not. My neighbors directly next to and across the street don't own cats. There aren't really any dogs that he's ever seen or interacted with, especially since he's inside all the time. He is afraid of loud noises but there aren't any when the odd behavior occurs.

I guess a trip to the vet might be in order.

It's cute when they see things or do the 'zoomies' and we know it's just the way they are/play, but if you're not sure and it's new behavior, a trip to the vet would probably be a good idea.

bigperm20 · Feb 22, 2015

This behavior sounds like a standard day in the Williams household. Finicky eating, hallucinations, strange behavior.... Yup! That's my kitties in a nutshell

blackcat416 · Feb 22, 2015

Cats ears are much more sensitive then humans as are their eyes. So when one of mine goes running away from what appears to be some non existing noise. I know they heard something that I didn't or couldn't hear. My house is well over a 125 years old so the house has many noises that I don't hear yet the cats seem to hear. With the heavy snow we have had in the northeast I wouldn't doubt what he may be hearing is the water running thru the gutters or even stack pipes. Could even be the water circulating in our refrigerators. Remember cats hear the sound of a mouse walking. They don't smell it as they don't have the scent sensors like a dog but their highly tuned ears can hear so much more. Sometimes my cats just stare at a wall I believe because they heard something from the neighbor next door or a stone falling between the stone wall and sheet rock.

I don't like the fact he is off his feed. That's normally a medical situation. Bouncing off walls is by nature a cats job. But missing meals is not normal. I would watch him carefully and if he looks like he is losing weight a vet visit is in order. Good luck.

furry · Feb 23, 2015

I'd agree it sounds like spirits. They are more tuned in than most of us, just like babies. Anyone who has had a baby will know how often they laugh at things that aren't there, even when their eyes have fully developed.

kntrygrl256 · Feb 24, 2015

wannahelp said:
He is a young cat and if he hit his head, I'm not aware of it. I don't feel any bumps on his head either. You're serious about ghosts?

LOL yep ghosts....seriously.

Cats can perceive and sense more things than we could even imagine. My ex-inlaws had a cat that did the exact same thing. I've had them that would be sitting quietly one minute then look crazy and fly out of the room, just before a cool breeze would move through...without open windows. Many people say it's ghosts but I believe that every living thing has a spirit and those spirits travel from place to place. Why go around an object when you can just pass through it.

felineutopia · Feb 27, 2015

Oh my goodness! I needed this thread! Ok so when I was sleeping with my cat I suddenly woke up because i felt claws in my leg and when I used the flash of my iPhone to see I saw that my cat was at the edge of my bed hissing at something. His hair was sticking straight up and his tail was in defensive mode and I saw NOTHING. He kept hissing at nothing so I went to go pet him to try to calm him down and he almost bit me! And keep in mind that my cat is not aggressive towards me AT ALL. I've had him since he was born. It was the strangest thing

kntrygrl256 · Feb 27, 2015

felineutopia said:
Oh my goodness! I needed this thread! Ok so when I was sleeping with my cat I suddenly woke up because i felt claws in my leg and when I used the flash of my iPhone to see I saw that my cat was at the edge of my bed hissing at something. His hair was sticking straight up and his tail was in defensive mode and I saw NOTHING. He kept hissing at nothing so I went to go pet him to try to calm him down and he almost bit me! And keep in mind that my cat is not aggressive towards me AT ALL. I've had him since he was born. It was the strangest thing

He was saving you from the spirits in your room

bikerblossom · Feb 27, 2015

Have u chance his food recently? Is he a indoor or outdoor cat? If he outdoor he may be eatin when out so not to hungery when home. Think u meationed gaggin could possibly be a hair ball my boys do the same stare in to space get the 'zoomies' go off their food then gagg and throw up a hair ball.
Maybe keep a dairy of his behauier so u could tell if theres a pattern. But as long as he is eatin something and his weight hasnt drop quickly i wouldnt worry to much.

Also try to check his temp he he will let u.

jcat · Feb 27, 2015

Have you seen this?
Cats Have Super, Psychedelic Vision

Given their sleek ways, cats have long been a symbol of mysticism, and now the reputation gets a boost from new research that finds common house cats see things that are invisible to us.

Everything from psychedelic stripes on flowers to flashy patterned feathers on birds are likely detectable by cats and certain other animals, while humans remain oblivious to such things. We are also -- perhaps luckily -- missing out on seeing a whole world of urine markers blanketing the landscape.

The secret behind the feline vision "superpower" is ultraviolet light (UV) detection. A new paper, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, found that cats, dogs and certain other animals see this form of light that is usually invisible to humans.

Cats and Dogs May See in Ultraviolet

A house cat's bizarre antics may be more than just feline folly. The kitty may be seeing things that human eyes can't.

Unlike humans, many animals see in ultraviolet, and a study now suggests that cats, dogs and other mammals can, too. Knowing these animals see things invisible to humans could shed some light on the animals' behavior, the researchers say.

wannahelp · Mar 1, 2015

jcat said:
Have you seen this?
Cats Have Super, Psychedelic Vision
Cats and Dogs May See in Ultraviolet

That seems reasonable. It's easier to accept than spirits, at least.

jcat · Mar 1, 2015

This thread reminds me of "greeblings". :lol3: OUR ALIEN CATS - EARTH'S ONLY DEFENSE AGAINST GREEBLINGS

My cat is seeing things

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Just what part of meow don't you understand.

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Just what part of meow don't you understand.

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Mo(w)gli's can opener

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Mo(w)gli's can opener