Do cats take on the stress we feel?

I absolutely believe our pets take on the stress we feel. I know when I have a migraine, Sherlock paces. Yes, my dog actually paces. He'll come over and sniff my head (not sure why), and occasionally whine. Every move I make he jumps to attention. And one the migraine is gone, he sleeps. These migraines can last days, and while I still have one, he won't even eat.

I'm sure its true. I have had my cat Tobi for going on 7 years and hes very in tuned with my emotions... though you bring up an interesting point. I wonder now if my emotions actually affect him. If I am very sad, Tobi will appear, sometimes out of thin air it seems and nuzzle me, or cuddle with me. Also, this may sound strange but he has a favorite song. Smoke and Ashes by Tracey Chapman. If I play this song (usually while I am cleaning) Tobi comes up to me and meows. This means he wants to get up on my shoulders and dance with me. I know I sound weird hehe. I think he likes it because I used to sing to him when he was a kitten... and he must have liked that song in particular. Sorry.. I could talk about my kitty for hours... hehehe. Anyways, very interesting point... I will have to take notice in the future.

Yes, cats will always pick up on our emotions. My cats knew that my brother was gone when we came home from the hospital the day that my brother past away. They could feel what we were feeling.

I think all animals are very sensitive, but cats are supposed to be really sensitive and intuitive to what is going on around them, and yes can pick up on our moods no matter what they are. I have an interesting story here about the sensitivity my one cat Pyewacket had one time. Pyewacket always liked to jump up on the sofa and often kept my mother company. She had been diagnosed with cancer the year before but she was in remission, so getting better...or so we all though. Then all of a sudden I couldn't help notice Pyewacket didn't jump up on the sofa or wanted to be near my mother for nearly two weeks. Then on August 11, 2006 (two years ago exactly) I had to call the 911 to get an ambulance. My mother was often prone to pneumonia and I suspected she had it then...not a bad case, but there. So the ambulance comes and we all go over to the ER. Since I knew how speedy the ER worked and knew she wouldn't get admitted to a room until like four in the morning, I had to leave her and told her I would come and visit her the next day. I was in for a shock. When I went to visit her she was on a respirator and life support...like WTF happened? She hadn't been that bad and I suspect they must have given her some kind of medications that triggered her condition even worse off. She was in this medicated induce coma for two weeks...then on August 26th I'm talking on the phone to a friend of mine late at night,,who happens to be an animal lover and has cats herself. As I'm talking to my friend I all of sudden could see Pyewacket jump up on the sofa and I even commented on that to my friend and we both agreed....it must have meant something...since as I indicated he hadn't jumped up on the sofa for about two weeks prior to my mother going into the hospital or during the two weeks she was in the hospital. The next day, August 27th, I went to visit my mother on what would be the last time...while I was there she "crashed"--meaning her vitals went haywire...they tried to revive her but no luck and she passed away. Now you tell me....did Pyewacket somehow sense that something was wrong with my mother before going to the hospital and during and his refusal to jump on the sofa, and then out of the blue the night before she was to pass away that he sensed that too?

Well, everytime I go on vacation my pets have a difficult time dealing with the separation even if I leave them with a good person. I guess they have feelings just like us too.

For my own experience I can tell you, Cats are so special, they will confort you when your sad, sick or lonely. They will cheerfully enjoy your best moments in life, as well! For over 21 years I have been lucky to share my life with these wonderful creatures, long enough to "know" they feel you, as you feel your own!

yes cats and dogs know when we are stressed or depressed..Have you ever been sad and your cat came up to you and started rubbing against you?? That is a way for him or her to say it's ok I am here and I love you.. And yes if the house hold is stressed so will the cat and dog be stressed..That is why your cat was puking everytime you and your husband fought.. A cat or dog has feelings just like us..They just can't tell us there feelings..They know how to love,they know saddness and they know happiness..

Yes, it's very important to be calm around a cat. They do feel your emotions, especially stress.