Do cats know if you have cancer?

[Nimbostratus100]

Just wondering if your cats' response to you has changed when you've been ill? I have two, both used to be normally affectionate - but since I have been ill, one won't leave me alone at all, and the other won't come anywhere near me. I have a friend who was convinced her cat was head butting her breast tumour before she herself realised it was there. Maybe we smell different, or act different?

Sorry you are not well. But in regards to your post I think you are right. Pets , especially dogs and cats can sense/smell 'illness'. Many dogs have been trained for people with epilepsy etc to warn them before they have a seizure so I imagine you are right. When I was pregnant my cat knew and was very affectionate all of a sudden

Yes definitely, you can train dogs to be service dogs for all sorts of things these days e.g. detecting low bloody sugar or a seizure coming

Interesting! Did she change her behaviour before you knew you were pregnant?

Similar to what @quietnightmare said, my dog has become incredibly clingy recently and more than one person has advised me to do a pregnancy test!

are you going to do one???

when my dad had cancer our cat became super affectionate and never left his side so I think they definitely can tell I assume through smell but I've known cats bite moles/lumps they know are harmful as well

The first time I was pregnant my cat was obsessed with lying on my stomach. Suddenly he wouldn’t sit with me and I later found out I’d had a missed miscarriage. I went on to have 2 further miscarriages and eventually a successful pregnancy but he never sat on me like he had that first time.

My two cats used to sit with me all the time when I was particularly down in the dumps (I suffer from depression). They always seemed to know when I was blue and just be there. They also behaved better (didn't like each much but would both sit with me without grumping at each other). I miss them. I could do with a cat cuddle right now. I always sit with my legs sideways and one would lie across my lap and the other would curl herself round my feet and lick my toes.

I definitely think cats can detect illness, and also changes in mood. When I'm struggling with my mental health one of my cats constantly wants to sit with me, sometimes literally lying across my neck like a scarf. She follows me around as if wanting to check on me. So I wouldn't be surprised if they can detect cancer! Their sense of smell and perception of our behaviour is amazing.

@Nimbostratus100
Yes my cat was all over me all the time, following me around and trying to lie on my stomach before I even knew I was pregnant. Usually she would sit next to me only in the evenings

@Nimbostratus100 yes I did one, not pregnant thankfully just a clingy dog!!

And hopefully he's not smelt something more sis other...

Argh sinister!

I have a service dog who can sense an oncoming attack of PTSD and respond to it to stop me going into a full on attack. Dogs can definitely do loads of stuff - they are now training them to detect covid too. I see no reason why cats can't react simlarly to changes, they are simply not trainable in the way that dogs are for useful applications of the ability.

My female cat was very different when I was pregnant. She wanted to be sitting on me all the time. Male cats no different.

2 huge ovarian cancer tumours illicited absolutely no response from any of them.

When I was pregnant my cat behaved differently around me, was constantly wanting to be on my lap and hugging into my stomach. I think animals definitely sense things.

😄

My cat stopped sleeping on my bed when I had cancer.

sorry to hear you are unwell too